Getting off Methadone

[radha159]

I have been a chronic pain patient and went on methadone 12 years ago. My pain has improved to being episodic rather than chronic. I'm stepping down from 20 mgs. only but having a terrible time. I can't tell if the new pain in my hips is from the withdrawal or pain masked by the drug that went under cover. Does the length of time on this drug make a difference in the difficulty of getting off of it?Also is there anything that can make it easier?


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[gnarly_1]

hi welcome to the forum I was on methadone for pain management also..my dose was quite high after 6 1/2 yrs though I was at 150mg and went off it slowly.it took me..8 1/2 mo to taper off
taper off you dose slowly like 1 mg a week this will bring you down as comfortably as
possible if your on pills break them into 1/4 and drop a 1/4 pill a week this again is slow
but it will keep the withdrawals manageable ...in the end I don't think there is a completely painless way to detox...your going to experience withdrawals...you can however reduce how sever they will be by doing it slowly...let your body be the judge
if your experencing withdrawals stop for a wile and let your body adjust to the dose
it will take a wile longer but in the end it wont be as sever good luck to you keep posting.....Gnarly

[worried878]

20 mgs is not huge..I had a patient on 300 mgs!  I have used 20-30 mgs for chronic pain for 2-3 weeks but did not stay on it....no wds but 12 yrs is alot longer...but ur dose is very do-able and have seen people taper off of much more...most do not CT sub nor methadone..at ur dose u may be ok cos it is not huge...most taper down slowly//not sure which is best..CT or a taper///some taper over and over only to find themselves back in the hole again

Be sure to communicate with ur MD..he can RX u safe drugs to help u...as a rule methadone and sub wds do not begin til 72 hours...as they both have a long half life/but everyone is different

hang tight and keep posting..the health pages has some great info about methadone,

[Holliee]

yes the longer your on methadone the longer it takes to get all out of your system,... I am also on methadone... Did u have any side effects from methadone..