Aa
Methadone withdraw
Hello, I got on methadone ten years ago wanted to stop doing drugs. It worked I got my life together stopped using had take home bottles.. The clinic kept saying you need to stay on it.. I have tried to detox three times all unsuccessful.. It is worse than kicking opiates. (Ten times,worse), now I am trying again to get off I have gotten myself down from 130 mg. To 62 mgs. I feel like crap.. My bones hurt I can't think clearly.... Does anyone have any suggestions to how Ican get off tthis stuff once and for all ? Thanks
There are a LOT of "alternative" ways to get off of opiates. It's fascinating to go on YouTube and watch all the stories about medically supervised ibogaine, or, the "rapid detox," methods, etc. But the thing is, they all seem to have inherent risks -- so much so that I would never recommend any one method over another. It would have to be a 100% personal decision, where one weighs the risks versus reward/results.
And, once you get off of the methadone, what will you do to STAY off of it?
The safest, in my opinion, would be a super-long, medically supervised wean, with lots of behavioral treatment (e.g. "meetings," "psychotherapy," etc., for when the brain tries to trick the person into NOT quitting, relapsing, etc.).
However, in my usual "out of the box" style of coming up with ideas, I've got a special idea for you. What's your "spirituality" like these days? Have you ever considered doing something wild and out of the ordinary like spending some time in an Ashram, or, a meditation/Eastern-Philosophy retreat?
Over the years, I have heard countless stories about people having these deep spiritual "heart-opening" experiences where all their desires for drugs just fall away naturally during a religious experience. There are several scenarios -- month-long retreats where you chant, meditate, and study eastern philosophy and do communal work.
In the olden days, such sojourns were limited to hippies and their ilk; nowadays, everyone from business people, rock stars, to politicians may do one of these retreats, and come back revitalized, clear-headed, and free from various addictions. In my opinion, the brain/mind has untapped power (heck, the brain itself actually creates BETA-ENDORPHIN, 33 times more potent than morphine!), so why not tap this power, naturally!?
Just a thought.
And, once you get off of the methadone, what will you do to STAY off of it?
The safest, in my opinion, would be a super-long, medically supervised wean, with lots of behavioral treatment (e.g. "meetings," "psychotherapy," etc., for when the brain tries to trick the person into NOT quitting, relapsing, etc.).
However, in my usual "out of the box" style of coming up with ideas, I've got a special idea for you. What's your "spirituality" like these days? Have you ever considered doing something wild and out of the ordinary like spending some time in an Ashram, or, a meditation/Eastern-Philosophy retreat?
Over the years, I have heard countless stories about people having these deep spiritual "heart-opening" experiences where all their desires for drugs just fall away naturally during a religious experience. There are several scenarios -- month-long retreats where you chant, meditate, and study eastern philosophy and do communal work.
In the olden days, such sojourns were limited to hippies and their ilk; nowadays, everyone from business people, rock stars, to politicians may do one of these retreats, and come back revitalized, clear-headed, and free from various addictions. In my opinion, the brain/mind has untapped power (heck, the brain itself actually creates BETA-ENDORPHIN, 33 times more potent than morphine!), so why not tap this power, naturally!?
Just a thought.
This is really the wrong forum for this, but let me offer advice as a person who has used opiate analgesics for a long time, and has experience with methadone.
Methadone is an effective pain medication, but is also used to treat opiate addiction. It has a very long half-life, which means that it stays in your body for a long time -- anywhere from 48-100 hours after dosing. This is one reason it is so difficult to withdraw from methadone.
The extra pain you are feeling is called hyperalgesia and is a common side-effect of opioid withdrawal. It will pass with time if you keep lowering your dose.
You can use other remedies to help -- antihistamines to help with runny nose, OTC diarrhea medications (Pepto Bismal is good for both diarrhea and stomach cramps), etc.
However, I think you need medical management to help you wean off methadone.
Weaning from methadone is a slow process that requires patience and time. A few years ago I weaned from 200mg/day down to 40mg/day, a process that required over a year of reducing my methadone dose by 5 or 10% per month. That 40mg was my basement floor -- I couldn't get any lower w/o severe hyperalgesia and debilitation. My pain doctor helped get me off the last 40mg.
A board certified pain specialist bearing the credentials MD, DABPM will help you wean. My doc weaned me off methadone by using a secondary short-acting opioid for a few months that helped me wean off the methadone and on to the other opioid without the long half life.
It is tough -- get help. And please listen to the medical advice at your clinic. They may have an addiction specialist that can offer alternatives to the method I described. Suboxone is popular these days.
Get help.
Methadone is an effective pain medication, but is also used to treat opiate addiction. It has a very long half-life, which means that it stays in your body for a long time -- anywhere from 48-100 hours after dosing. This is one reason it is so difficult to withdraw from methadone.
The extra pain you are feeling is called hyperalgesia and is a common side-effect of opioid withdrawal. It will pass with time if you keep lowering your dose.
You can use other remedies to help -- antihistamines to help with runny nose, OTC diarrhea medications (Pepto Bismal is good for both diarrhea and stomach cramps), etc.
However, I think you need medical management to help you wean off methadone.
Weaning from methadone is a slow process that requires patience and time. A few years ago I weaned from 200mg/day down to 40mg/day, a process that required over a year of reducing my methadone dose by 5 or 10% per month. That 40mg was my basement floor -- I couldn't get any lower w/o severe hyperalgesia and debilitation. My pain doctor helped get me off the last 40mg.
A board certified pain specialist bearing the credentials MD, DABPM will help you wean. My doc weaned me off methadone by using a secondary short-acting opioid for a few months that helped me wean off the methadone and on to the other opioid without the long half life.
It is tough -- get help. And please listen to the medical advice at your clinic. They may have an addiction specialist that can offer alternatives to the method I described. Suboxone is popular these days.
Get help.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pain Management Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
