Hi,
For the last 10 years I have been prescribed methadone for chronic pain. My old doctor left and the new doctor taking over as my pcp started lowering me off of methadone, 1, 10mg pill a month(well every 28 days). Previously for the majority of the 10 years I was taking 60 mg a day, with Norco 1, 2 times a day for breakthrough pain. This last refill I was down to two a day (20 mg total) and it hurt, a lot of stressors outside of being taken off of this medication and my own stupidity I ran out early. So New Years Eve I took my last dose 1/8 of the 20mg a day. I have read that the withdrawals (which are horrible currently) can last a long time, but tend to peak between day 5-7. Today has by far been the worse day yet and physical discomfort is almost unbearable, it seems to come in waves as well...like I am on a line of misery and then bam it spikes and last anywhere from20min-to around an hour and then I start to go back to the line of misery...the waves are worsening today and almost unbearable. So far the worst is the RLS and elbows/arms, which then I get highly agitated and anxious. I am also experiencing nose drainage (on top of the reg flu, which I think I am overcoming the flu), bad pain and cramps in legs, icy hot sensations and like a random hot needle being plunged into different parts of my body, sick stomach, hot cold flashes, even twitching around the left side of my top and bottom lips. I cannot sleep no matter how exhausted I am. At times my heart seems to be beating hard, headaches ect. My question is how long can I expect the peak of these symptoms to last, my pcp told me to go to ER, but other docs say ER cannot do anything for me...also called a 800 # to find treatment/detox both inpatient and/or outpatient and the rep said nothing for outpatient (nearest is 170miles away) in patient is 300 miles away. I DO NOT want to go on Suboxone at all, I feel like I would be trading one problem for another personally and I just want to get this over with...the only doctor an hour and half away that can prescribe it needs a referral (about the only thing the local ER can and would do) if I even wanted to go that route and with the winter storms moving in I don't think that would be an option anyway.
Talked to someone on live chat(they gave me the 800#) and he said can expect a week of this, but did he mean a week total until symptoms may start slowly getting easier or a week of it at its peak? I have never had to go through anything like this, meth was 100Xs easier for me to kick as an18yr old than this is.
Any help with advice(on what to expect, I'm not worried about the depression/psychological side, been dealing with that all my life, just the physical ) or ideas on what I can do to ease the discomfort is so appreciated more than you can know. Also my fianc of over 12 years is going through the same as me, only he had been on a higher methadone dose and then he was put onto OxyContin and oxycodone and is now cold turkey from those...he is worse off then I am at this point. We both thank you for your time and any advice or info.
I am concerned that some of your symptoms sound severe and a dr said to go to the ER.
What is your doctor's plan after you withdrawal if you need pain meds?
keep reading about withdrawal symptoms in the other posts. write notes about what helps everyone, and put together a plan. it sounds like those who have tapered for a long time and have other meds to help, have easier withdrawals.
lots of water, healthy foods,
something to sleep - melatonin, chamomilla tea
Hot bath with Epsom salt
exercise - get outside in fresh air - breathe deep - no matter how small an effort - every little bit helps.
vitamins - B complex and C
go to healthfood store - and ask for help in choosing supplements - sorry it might get expensive, try to pick what you need the most
look on line for supplements to use for withdrawal.
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/r...ate-withdrawal/
sorry I couldn't be more help - let us know how you and your partner are doing.
What is your doctor's plan after you withdrawal if you need pain meds?
keep reading about withdrawal symptoms in the other posts. write notes about what helps everyone, and put together a plan. it sounds like those who have tapered for a long time and have other meds to help, have easier withdrawals.
lots of water, healthy foods,
something to sleep - melatonin, chamomilla tea
Hot bath with Epsom salt
exercise - get outside in fresh air - breathe deep - no matter how small an effort - every little bit helps.
vitamins - B complex and C
go to healthfood store - and ask for help in choosing supplements - sorry it might get expensive, try to pick what you need the most
look on line for supplements to use for withdrawal.
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/r...ate-withdrawal/
sorry I couldn't be more help - let us know how you and your partner are doing.
So far my primary does not have a plan, as I was on a pain contract (I go through Tribal Health) and ran out of meds early so I am cut off, all she said when I called was go to ER, nothing more. Thank you for the advice esp on vitamins herbal remedies, I had hoped maybe there would be some sort of supplement to help support my body during this time. I do have another option for a different pcp at a different office and I am going to be calling them in the morning to see if I can get in and at least come up with a plan as well as get vitals checked and all that other stuff. So far these waves of agony are happening more often and a bit more intense each time...I hope I can hope that it is coming to a peak. My fianc is even worse off and I am trying to get him to go to ER, his symptoms are far more intense and he just can barely sit or lay there. We made the mistake of calling ER to see if they would even be able to do anything other than check his vitals and the lady recommended he come in and also said he would need to be weaned off his meds...he is on day 4 almost 5, and doesn't want to get this relief only to have to go through this all over again potentially, so now he doesn't want to go to ER. I will definitely look into some supplements to help aid in this time. Mentally I feel ok but this body misery is really taking a toll, esp the lack of sleep.
You got some great advice so far. Look Methadone has a long half life so it stays in your system longer.
RLS - use heating pads and then ice helps too.
lots of hot showers, exercise, and tons of water, try and eat good nutritious food, vitamin c lots of that, for sleep listen to a hypnosis for sleep app.
You can do this I promise and it's not easy but Faith in Jesus Christ helped me.
RLS - use heating pads and then ice helps too.
lots of hot showers, exercise, and tons of water, try and eat good nutritious food, vitamin c lots of that, for sleep listen to a hypnosis for sleep app.
You can do this I promise and it's not easy but Faith in Jesus Christ helped me.
Ty you both for the advice, it is so appreciated and it is very encouraging to know others have done this and been successful. I decided to go back to a new pcp, instead of the Tribal Health I made an appointment with a doctor I've only met once but have been on his caseload for about 7 years...only went there for urgent when Tribe couldn't get me in. I talked to his nurse (they have all my meds I was or am supposed to be on) and she ended up having him call me back, he prescribed clonidine(SP?), the last two days have been pure hell with day 6 going into day 7 (today/late night) being the worst yet, almost intolerable for me...but I took that one clonidine and it seemed within a half hour I was out of enough of the withdrawals that were so terrible that I actually fell asleep...so far 7 hours sleep tonight (broken sleep but sleep none the less most I've had in along time even when on the methadone *was not always taking full dose to try to stretch, but then would take more than the 2 at times...a horrible last month and was trying to be there for my fianc and make sure he didn't go through withdrawals as well), second dose hasn't worked as well, but I got sick after I took it and had to wait longer and take another (the pill came up, but wanted to be sure since the doc said to watch BP, mine is always either normal or on low side) so it seems now to be better. I can only hope to be somewhat back to my normal self sometime this year, that is what is giving me strength in part, that and my Mom passed from mixing methadone with benzos and drinking when I was 16 (always been nervous to be on methadone). Mentally other than agitation and anxiety at times I feel very strong and thankful for this process (I fell I understand my mom a bit better) and just glad to be getting off anything that my body/mind is/can be dependant upon...been wanting to get off of the pain meds for YEARS, 10 years later is better than never though.
Thank you guys
Thank you guys
Fight the good fight, it will be hard for maybe even two months with fatigue, depression, and things like that. I had diarrhea for an entire two months, I kid you not. But, I feel good now and it's been around 3 months or so. I'm so happy everyday that I don't have to take those pills or drink that government harm reduction dope methadone. I'm experiencing life again. I don't think people realize what methadone is stealing from them once they are dependent.
Thank you,
I agree completely about realizing one can be dependent on a drug (legal or illegal). It is odd for me because I have known from very early that my body was dependent, if I was a bit late taking my morning dose or any I would start to feel it. I have always been a person who prefers to be in control of my mind and body, that is the reason I stopped meth use cold turkey (got paranoid and knew I had no control over my mind). This methadone seems to be a different beast for me. Day 7, took the clonidine this morning around 9ish and it is working a bit, not nearly as well as last night the first time I took it, could this be the withdrawals are even worse than yesterday so the med is not able to work like it did if/when they were less intense...I have not missed a dose (3 x's a day clonidine) since I started. I am just wondering if that is why it is not working AS well, but still making things tolerable for now. Man if that can be the case then it makes me nervous, yesterday was the worst day of my life physically and agitation/anxiety wise NEVER want to relive that or anything worse. Hanging in there though and mentally other than anxiety at times doing well, cannot wait to feel like myself again, before methadone.
Thank you for your replies, it is very much appreciated and needed.
I agree completely about realizing one can be dependent on a drug (legal or illegal). It is odd for me because I have known from very early that my body was dependent, if I was a bit late taking my morning dose or any I would start to feel it. I have always been a person who prefers to be in control of my mind and body, that is the reason I stopped meth use cold turkey (got paranoid and knew I had no control over my mind). This methadone seems to be a different beast for me. Day 7, took the clonidine this morning around 9ish and it is working a bit, not nearly as well as last night the first time I took it, could this be the withdrawals are even worse than yesterday so the med is not able to work like it did if/when they were less intense...I have not missed a dose (3 x's a day clonidine) since I started. I am just wondering if that is why it is not working AS well, but still making things tolerable for now. Man if that can be the case then it makes me nervous, yesterday was the worst day of my life physically and agitation/anxiety wise NEVER want to relive that or anything worse. Hanging in there though and mentally other than anxiety at times doing well, cannot wait to feel like myself again, before methadone.
Thank you for your replies, it is very much appreciated and needed.
whenever you think you cant do it pls go back to methadone board and read Overfifty posts on how to stop successfully without nasty withdrawals etc. it can be done , good luck :)
It may not be that the meds aren't working as well..it may be that w/d symptoms heightened in different way and would be much worse off without you know? I took as well. Also the amino acid 5htp..(tryptophan) helped me A LOT...i took during day and great calming effect... I was miserable so i KNOW..but got through..just remember it will all pass..
Yeah, that's what the doc said, that the withdrawal symptoms were getting worse. As of yesterday/day 9 in the evening I have been able to a bit longer between the doses of Clonidine, and last night I slept 3hours without waking up enough to get out of bed or take the med, got up for an hour and then slept after taking the dose(s) for 4 hours! That is the longest I've gone without waking up in over a month (due to other stress, before withdrawals) and def since withdrawals. Saw my new pcp today and he put me back on Cymbalta and a couple others...he said he'll keep me on the clonidine probably another week or two, as long as I need it to ease symptoms. Today was the first day I was wanting to be active and productive so I know I am feeling better, still have the icy hot down my legs and arms and rls just not as bad as day 6-8. This last weekend was pure hell with withdrawals when I would start to need to take the clonidine...and my fianc of 12 and half years has had a psychotic break they are saying (he started having it last month or end of Nov. with it getting worse), all the last month we've (his mom and I and even him) have been trying to get help, signed up with behavioral health, ERs even out of town, crisis lines and NAMI advice (told the crisis counselor on Sat. he is in crisis and needs the mobile unit, the night before police were called as he had an loaded gun and was telling his step dad to show him his hands! thought he was someone else while face to face with him, I put myself between them figuring he still recognized me and wouldn't shoot me)...since he was ok enough to not say he was homicidal or suicidal they did nothing! then sat he took off in his moms car, crossed state lines with the one handgun we couldn't find to take and get outta the house the night before...now he is in Cali jail facing felony charges. so stuff has been bad and this morning as I was getting ready to go to doc I found one 10mg methadone pill in a pill holder...I threw it away but man that was tempting AF. So any ideas on how to deal with the stress while in this state of kicking this methadone is appreciated (so far for me today was the first day I walked since bad withdrawals and it felt good, I was exhausted and weak but it felt good to be doing something) also been on the phone trying to get advocates for him and his health records to the jail, but as we are not married officially (Oregon recognizes common law but I don't know if Cali does) they wont tell me s*** if they evaluated him in jail or not, though one amazing officer has been so helpful and kind told me they have noticed he isn't right at times. Sorry so long kind of getting stuff out here but this has been affecting me in a major way, I've lost 7 lbs since late Saturday night, part stress not eating and withdrawals no appetite
Good your doctor adjusted meds and helping a bit. I can't imagine going through it with what happened with your fiance!! How are you now? Did he kick prior to the breakdown? No..ca doesn't recognize common law...but I'm sure a lot has transpired since. I hope you are safe and the both of you ok!
