I'm 16 days off of Lorcets (40 mg per day). Then I took Methadone for about 9 days - beginning with 10 mg per day and tapering down to 2.5 mg per day.
I'm sick! Period. I don't have the energy to bathe. I can't just keep feeling like this. I'm not sleeping well and have little appetite.
Is there anyone out there who can advise me? I CANNOT GO FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP.
I need advise from someone who has been there.
Thanks,
If you were just coming off Lorcette's I could tell you what to expect and how long it would last, etc. (3 to 4 days for the worst of it)
But I've never taken Methadone. It has a much longer half-life in the body I'm told, so the withdrawals last longer.
That's why I never messed with the stuff. Withdrawals from pain pills and natural opiates is difficlult enough!! The same with Suboxone. The half lives of these new man made opiate replacements are too long.
Good luck. It will get better. So just hang in there. I'm sure others with a better knowledge of Methadone will answer you soon.
Mark
But I've never taken Methadone. It has a much longer half-life in the body I'm told, so the withdrawals last longer.
That's why I never messed with the stuff. Withdrawals from pain pills and natural opiates is difficlult enough!! The same with Suboxone. The half lives of these new man made opiate replacements are too long.
Good luck. It will get better. So just hang in there. I'm sure others with a better knowledge of Methadone will answer you soon.
Mark
The last Methadone I took was...10 mg Friday, 5 mg Saturday, and 2.5 mg Sunday - with nothing since. So I'm day 6 at this point.
Truthfully, I feel like I shot myself in the foot - and now wonder why my foot hurts. How stupid I have been.
However, reading this forum today has helped me soooooo much.
Thank you - more than I can express - to everyone who posts on this website - kind and helpful words.
Truthfully, I feel like I shot myself in the foot - and now wonder why my foot hurts. How stupid I have been.
However, reading this forum today has helped me soooooo much.
Thank you - more than I can express - to everyone who posts on this website - kind and helpful words.
You've got to be over the worst of it by now! Even with Methadone. The poor sleep will continue and mess with you for a while, but the acute pain part of withdrawal are surely almost over.
Either way, you must continue down this road! Just know it will get better.
I withdrew from a 15 bag a day heroin habit by just crawling in bed. That was a couple months ago. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Our bodies and brains rebel and try to get us to get more dope. Best to just starve ourselves of dope till our bodies finally come to terms that there will be no more.
Once our brain and body gets the message, things calm down.
You are showing great strength and courage by your actions. Keep it up!
Either way, you must continue down this road! Just know it will get better.
I withdrew from a 15 bag a day heroin habit by just crawling in bed. That was a couple months ago. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Our bodies and brains rebel and try to get us to get more dope. Best to just starve ourselves of dope till our bodies finally come to terms that there will be no more.
Once our brain and body gets the message, things calm down.
You are showing great strength and courage by your actions. Keep it up!
OH Mark,
Thank you for your replies today. I am so....scared that I'll never feel good again. "I need to leap tall building in a single bound!"
That's how I got into this mess. I had a great childhood. I was not molested. I have none of those bad things in my history. I went to a drug counsler once - he started trying to convince me that I had repressed memories of abuse or something. No
I started taking pain pills for energy. I worked long hours, when to school at night, kept house, and raised a family. Without the pills, I don't have the energy to do laundry!
I have until Tuesday. On Tuesday, I must be capable of cleaning the house and packing for a week long trip.
God...what I'd give for just a half of a lorcet! Or something - maybe tramadol or something like that.
I'm afraid that if I take anything it will delay the inevitable or just perpetuate the problem.
God I hope I've finally learned my lesson. Please pray for me. I really don't have anyone to discuss this with.
I would lose my clearence to go to treatment.
Thank you for your replies today. I am so....scared that I'll never feel good again. "I need to leap tall building in a single bound!"
That's how I got into this mess. I had a great childhood. I was not molested. I have none of those bad things in my history. I went to a drug counsler once - he started trying to convince me that I had repressed memories of abuse or something. No
I started taking pain pills for energy. I worked long hours, when to school at night, kept house, and raised a family. Without the pills, I don't have the energy to do laundry!
I have until Tuesday. On Tuesday, I must be capable of cleaning the house and packing for a week long trip.
God...what I'd give for just a half of a lorcet! Or something - maybe tramadol or something like that.
I'm afraid that if I take anything it will delay the inevitable or just perpetuate the problem.
God I hope I've finally learned my lesson. Please pray for me. I really don't have anyone to discuss this with.
I would lose my clearence to go to treatment.
Can't you just have swine flu or something to buy you a few days?
I used to hide my problem for years and only use my sick days. lol
Funny, years ago I had a secret clearance and stayed addicted to H for a long time and no one knew. I even went overseas three times in the course of my job. Twice addicted.
The thing to remember is that you have gone this far and you need to finish this thing NOW! Now is the time. Are you feeling any better? At all?
Sleep will be the rare commodity for a while. But I've heard that when our bodies need sleep, they'll let us sleep.
You have much to be proud of. Remember that you are doing one of the hardest things there is to do. And you are doing it of your own free will.
That's huge!
It's early because you aren't even through acute withdrawals, but not too soon to consider what you will do to prevent a recurrence. Do you have a plan?
I'm pulling for you. And saying a prayer for you.
Mark
I used to hide my problem for years and only use my sick days. lol
Funny, years ago I had a secret clearance and stayed addicted to H for a long time and no one knew. I even went overseas three times in the course of my job. Twice addicted.
The thing to remember is that you have gone this far and you need to finish this thing NOW! Now is the time. Are you feeling any better? At all?
Sleep will be the rare commodity for a while. But I've heard that when our bodies need sleep, they'll let us sleep.
You have much to be proud of. Remember that you are doing one of the hardest things there is to do. And you are doing it of your own free will.
That's huge!
It's early because you aren't even through acute withdrawals, but not too soon to consider what you will do to prevent a recurrence. Do you have a plan?
I'm pulling for you. And saying a prayer for you.
Mark
Hello and Welcome to the Board - Like Mark I've never taken methadone so I can't answer that question about how long.
I did take pain killers for energy. I felt I wasn't good enough on my own. There weren't enough hours in the day to get done all I needed to do. I felt the pain pills helped give me energy and courage to do the things I needed. The emotional pain of living that way was too much and I needed to change. I've used pain pills for many years myself. For me one is too many and a thousand not enough. What would a few pills do for you now? Tomorrow you would be back to square one.
You said you can't go for professional help. What about NA? It's anonymous, free and you can't get any more professional than a roomful of addicts. We've all been there. Most of us work, have families, and are not the steriotypical drug addicts.
You are brave for coming here and posting. Asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness. You have made it through six days. For someone like me, that is a long time. I couldn't get a day for years. Give yourself a break. don't fool yourself into thinking you can start over anytime. If you pick up it might be years before you get another clean day. Last year this time I went away and was withdrawing. It wasn't easy and I felt pretty crappy but there were things I had to do and I did them. In the end it took my mind off of my suffering. Believe me when I tell you that you will be able to do laundry again. It may not be this week but you'll be able to again. I know exactly where you're at with that. I finally decided that I was more valuable than the dust bunnies under my bed. They would wait. I was sick and I needed to go through some things to come out the other side. I will have a year on October 4th. How did I do it? I took it one day at a time. I didn't jump right into NA but I did eventually go. I am proud of being a member of such a group of fighters. You and your situation are not as unique as you might think. There are many of us that suffered with this dark secret. I wish you to make it through today. Repeat again tomorrow.
Withdraw is hell. The aftermath is not easy. It can be done and it is worthwhile. Baby yourself for a few days. Do what you can and leave the rest. It will be there for you. If you're traveling for your job; take it easy. Do the minimum and beg off with a virus. It will be worth it. Good luck. Alice
I did take pain killers for energy. I felt I wasn't good enough on my own. There weren't enough hours in the day to get done all I needed to do. I felt the pain pills helped give me energy and courage to do the things I needed. The emotional pain of living that way was too much and I needed to change. I've used pain pills for many years myself. For me one is too many and a thousand not enough. What would a few pills do for you now? Tomorrow you would be back to square one.
You said you can't go for professional help. What about NA? It's anonymous, free and you can't get any more professional than a roomful of addicts. We've all been there. Most of us work, have families, and are not the steriotypical drug addicts.
You are brave for coming here and posting. Asking for help is a sign of strength not weakness. You have made it through six days. For someone like me, that is a long time. I couldn't get a day for years. Give yourself a break. don't fool yourself into thinking you can start over anytime. If you pick up it might be years before you get another clean day. Last year this time I went away and was withdrawing. It wasn't easy and I felt pretty crappy but there were things I had to do and I did them. In the end it took my mind off of my suffering. Believe me when I tell you that you will be able to do laundry again. It may not be this week but you'll be able to again. I know exactly where you're at with that. I finally decided that I was more valuable than the dust bunnies under my bed. They would wait. I was sick and I needed to go through some things to come out the other side. I will have a year on October 4th. How did I do it? I took it one day at a time. I didn't jump right into NA but I did eventually go. I am proud of being a member of such a group of fighters. You and your situation are not as unique as you might think. There are many of us that suffered with this dark secret. I wish you to make it through today. Repeat again tomorrow.
Withdraw is hell. The aftermath is not easy. It can be done and it is worthwhile. Baby yourself for a few days. Do what you can and leave the rest. It will be there for you. If you're traveling for your job; take it easy. Do the minimum and beg off with a virus. It will be worth it. Good luck. Alice
Thanks guys!!
It amazes me how much reading other peoples experiences seems to help me. I'm not even sure how or why. It's kinda like...wow surely I can get through this too. You guys are both so strong.
Anyway, I'm still here. Perhaps I even feel a bit better this morning. I was able to sleep about 3 hours and I think that helped.
I appreciate your encouragement and advice so much.
It amazes me how much reading other peoples experiences seems to help me. I'm not even sure how or why. It's kinda like...wow surely I can get through this too. You guys are both so strong.
Anyway, I'm still here. Perhaps I even feel a bit better this morning. I was able to sleep about 3 hours and I think that helped.
I appreciate your encouragement and advice so much.
I was addicted to pain pills off and on for the last 35 years.
I'm 55 now and just got clean around the 4th of July.
This time, I made the decision to do something about it, besides just swearing to myself that I'd never use again. It was apparent that wasn't working... Duh
The disease of addiction is progressive and fatal. I am a control freak, so I thought I could control it.
Looking back, I can see that each time I started with the pain pills, within a day or two, I was taking as much as I had been taking when I quit the time before!
Then, my usage would get higher before I quit again. And so on...
That's the progressive nature of this thing.
A little less than a year ago, I met a girl that liked to shoot heroin. I hadn't used that since the Vietnam war. But I tried a little shot of it, just for old times sake.
Bad idea.
After kicking that habit a couple months ago, I walked into an AA meeting and introduced myself. The room had bare concrete floors, cheap folding chairs and tables, and was lit by fluorescent lighting. Not very impressive, to say the least. If I had the strength, I would have turned around and walked out.
I was a mess, I was still sick from the withdrawals. But I found such acceptance and love and support in that room that I've been going back every day since then.
Now when I walk in, I don't see the room and it's sparse furnishings. I see the people.
They saved my a**. I'm on my way to being the man I was intended to be.
This addict is in recovery and I've never been happier.
The people on this board helped me immensely when I was in your shoes. They pointed me in the right direction and have supported me every step of the way.
There are angels here.
Mark
I'm 55 now and just got clean around the 4th of July.
This time, I made the decision to do something about it, besides just swearing to myself that I'd never use again. It was apparent that wasn't working... Duh
The disease of addiction is progressive and fatal. I am a control freak, so I thought I could control it.
Looking back, I can see that each time I started with the pain pills, within a day or two, I was taking as much as I had been taking when I quit the time before!
Then, my usage would get higher before I quit again. And so on...
That's the progressive nature of this thing.
A little less than a year ago, I met a girl that liked to shoot heroin. I hadn't used that since the Vietnam war. But I tried a little shot of it, just for old times sake.
Bad idea.
After kicking that habit a couple months ago, I walked into an AA meeting and introduced myself. The room had bare concrete floors, cheap folding chairs and tables, and was lit by fluorescent lighting. Not very impressive, to say the least. If I had the strength, I would have turned around and walked out.
I was a mess, I was still sick from the withdrawals. But I found such acceptance and love and support in that room that I've been going back every day since then.
Now when I walk in, I don't see the room and it's sparse furnishings. I see the people.
They saved my a**. I'm on my way to being the man I was intended to be.
This addict is in recovery and I've never been happier.
The people on this board helped me immensely when I was in your shoes. They pointed me in the right direction and have supported me every step of the way.
There are angels here.
Mark
Glad to hear you are still hanging in. It will get better. I promise. There are good days and bad but eventually the good seem to be greater than the bad. I found the first few months that my mind was in turmoil. That inner turmoil is a dangerous thing. It can bring us right back to using. That is why it is good to talk to another addict, go to a NA meeting, post on the board. We understand what non-addicts do not.
If you were to go back to last year this time you would see how different I was. Also check out Mark's posts from the day he joined. I don't know how strong we are. I do know that sobriety is a gift not to be taken for granted. Hold on tight for another day.
Also don't worry about the housework. In a short period of time you will return to doing what has to be done. Leave the rest until you're feeling better. You are sick. Take care of yourself the way you would care for a sick loved one.
If you were to go back to last year this time you would see how different I was. Also check out Mark's posts from the day he joined. I don't know how strong we are. I do know that sobriety is a gift not to be taken for granted. Hold on tight for another day.
Also don't worry about the housework. In a short period of time you will return to doing what has to be done. Leave the rest until you're feeling better. You are sick. Take care of yourself the way you would care for a sick loved one.
Hi.first off I real;ly hope your feeling better and I commend you for just "jumping off"methodone.From what I read you decreased it quickly right?Some people decrease even the smallest amount of that.So I do give you credit.
The ONLY thing I really wanted to warn you about was the Tramadol - Ultram though alot of Drs say its "not addictive" They can be and are very addictive & the W/Ds are horriablr.So give thought to them before going onto them.
I wish you well
mj
The ONLY thing I really wanted to warn you about was the Tramadol - Ultram though alot of Drs say its "not addictive" They can be and are very addictive & the W/Ds are horriablr.So give thought to them before going onto them.
I wish you well
mj
Hey WM,
I'm so glad you've found your way to the board. Although I can't be of any help in the Methadone department either, I can say that, one day soon, you'll wake up and the physical withdrawals will be but a memory. It sounds like you've got a trip planned. I'm thinking that the distraction will help get you over the hump. When I was feeling overwhelmed by withdrawals or later, by the urge to use, I just remind myself how great it is not to be enslaved by the pills, how wonderful it is that I don't have to continue devastating my mind and body anymore. Those thoughts take away a lot of the fear that cripples us when we think we can't function without our pills. Soon, you'll begin to see that you do indeed function much better when the dynamics of being in active addiction are removed from your life.
As addicts, we're an amazingly hardy bunch and in most other aspects our willpower is unequalled but we need a way to help us stay clean and sober. What plans have you made to ensure that you won't use again?
Take good care and keep posting to let us know how you're doing!
Callie
I'm so glad you've found your way to the board. Although I can't be of any help in the Methadone department either, I can say that, one day soon, you'll wake up and the physical withdrawals will be but a memory. It sounds like you've got a trip planned. I'm thinking that the distraction will help get you over the hump. When I was feeling overwhelmed by withdrawals or later, by the urge to use, I just remind myself how great it is not to be enslaved by the pills, how wonderful it is that I don't have to continue devastating my mind and body anymore. Those thoughts take away a lot of the fear that cripples us when we think we can't function without our pills. Soon, you'll begin to see that you do indeed function much better when the dynamics of being in active addiction are removed from your life.
As addicts, we're an amazingly hardy bunch and in most other aspects our willpower is unequalled but we need a way to help us stay clean and sober. What plans have you made to ensure that you won't use again?
Take good care and keep posting to let us know how you're doing!
Callie
I am going to live. I am starting to feel better.
I have to share that I've been sitting here reading the various posts for the last couple of hours. I am so... {no word} at how many other folks have tried to lessen the withdrawals of one drug by taking some other drug - only to be worse off than before.
That is exactly what I did.
Anyway...I feel like I've learned more in the last few days than I've learned in the last ten years!
I have to share that I've been sitting here reading the various posts for the last couple of hours. I am so... {no word} at how many other folks have tried to lessen the withdrawals of one drug by taking some other drug - only to be worse off than before.
That is exactly what I did.
Anyway...I feel like I've learned more in the last few days than I've learned in the last ten years!
HEY GOOD FOR YOU......Im so glad your feeling better.Its never easy or trying to quit drugs,
Please keep in mind Im not trying to be a "downer"but I did want to mention whats been the hardest for me & well many others.
Now that your body is feeling better its time to REALLY TRY to keep your mind in check.Our brains are very complex & well...tricky.It will try to get us thinking many things that get us to believe we NEED that pill.We just CANT live without that "energy"
For me....OMG thats the HARDEST.Im not a lazy person by nature.I LOVE to move about & get things done.HOWEVER,I still feel so lagged out & lazy.
Though I am on Suboxone,Ive been lowering my dose alittle at a time.I relapsed on a "different"type of drug last year.After the hellof the physical part...I realized that was actually the easy part.Quitting drugs no matter HOW hard it is its still a "cake walk"compared to learning to LIVE without drugs.
I want to suggest somekind of mental support.Whether that be N/A meetings,private therapy,or even comming here for some support & encouragement.
Please know Im so proud of where your at,I only wanted to warn you incase your mind starts messing with you
mj
Please keep in mind Im not trying to be a "downer"but I did want to mention whats been the hardest for me & well many others.
Now that your body is feeling better its time to REALLY TRY to keep your mind in check.Our brains are very complex & well...tricky.It will try to get us thinking many things that get us to believe we NEED that pill.We just CANT live without that "energy"
For me....OMG thats the HARDEST.Im not a lazy person by nature.I LOVE to move about & get things done.HOWEVER,I still feel so lagged out & lazy.
Though I am on Suboxone,Ive been lowering my dose alittle at a time.I relapsed on a "different"type of drug last year.After the hellof the physical part...I realized that was actually the easy part.Quitting drugs no matter HOW hard it is its still a "cake walk"compared to learning to LIVE without drugs.
I want to suggest somekind of mental support.Whether that be N/A meetings,private therapy,or even comming here for some support & encouragement.
Please know Im so proud of where your at,I only wanted to warn you incase your mind starts messing with you
mj
Thanks MJ,
I'm scared. Though I certainly feel better, I am very aware that I'm still deep in the woods right now.
I'm scared. Though I certainly feel better, I am very aware that I'm still deep in the woods right now.
You may feel that way for awhile.Thats why finding that extra mental support right now is so important.
Are you able to go into therapy or anything?Im learning that we need to sort of retrain our minds to get it to KNOW...doing without drugs wont kill us...doing drugs will
Im here in the mornings & will try to help anyway I can as Im sure many others here will too.
Ive been a member...2-3 years,Ive had good times & times Im truley ashamed of.BUT I realized there are ALOT of caring people here that dont BS & want to help.
mj
Are you able to go into therapy or anything?Im learning that we need to sort of retrain our minds to get it to KNOW...doing without drugs wont kill us...doing drugs will
Im here in the mornings & will try to help anyway I can as Im sure many others here will too.
Ive been a member...2-3 years,Ive had good times & times Im truley ashamed of.BUT I realized there are ALOT of caring people here that dont BS & want to help.
mj
I'm not feeling well. Nervous and shakey. I'm not sure why I feel worse now than I did at 2:00 am this morning.
I did take the time to setup an avatar. It's a boxed avatar, but an exact depiction of my sofa mates.
I need to be packing....doing laundry, so many things. My trip is not business. It is pleasure, but I can't get out of it either way.
I'm ashamed to admit it - but right now - this minute...I just miss my little pink helpers.
I did take the time to setup an avatar. It's a boxed avatar, but an exact depiction of my sofa mates.
I need to be packing....doing laundry, so many things. My trip is not business. It is pleasure, but I can't get out of it either way.
I'm ashamed to admit it - but right now - this minute...I just miss my little pink helpers.
Today has been a better day than yesterday. Thank you God.
I am trying not to be so angry at myself or feel sorry for my self either.
I got myself into this mess. But I can do something about it.
I am trying not to be so angry at myself or feel sorry for my self either.
I got myself into this mess. But I can do something about it.
Yes you can do something about it. And you are. Yay for you!
You never have to use those drugs again!
To me, that was the neatest thing of all. Still is.
F those drugs and the horse they rode in on.
Mark
You never have to use those drugs again!
To me, that was the neatest thing of all. Still is.
F those drugs and the horse they rode in on.
Mark
Hey all.
I'm still here - sorta. I still haven't taken anything. Though being honest...I have had drinks. To be honest...at this point I don't think I can give up everything at once. I'm back from my trip. I did better than I thought I would. But I did have drinks.
I' m still very far from myself. I have no energy. I'm so tired of feeling bad - but I'm also scared to take anything - narcotic. I need to quit smoking, I need to quit drinking beer/rum...but right now- I just want to quit missing my pain pills. I know this message is policically incorrect = sorry.
I'm too far into this to turn back now. By the same token...I'm so tired of feeling like crap. I have no energy. I'm sorry....I know I should be more positive.
I am just a big baby I guess. I'm lucky to be alive.
I havent' told everything. Truth is..l've been struggling with pain med's or methodone for thirteen years. Some times I wonder if I should just stay on some thing like Methodone for ever.
anyway, I am close to a month without those med's . But I still miss it/them. I miss feeling good. Sorry. I shouldn't even post this.
I'm still here - sorta. I still haven't taken anything. Though being honest...I have had drinks. To be honest...at this point I don't think I can give up everything at once. I'm back from my trip. I did better than I thought I would. But I did have drinks.
I' m still very far from myself. I have no energy. I'm so tired of feeling bad - but I'm also scared to take anything - narcotic. I need to quit smoking, I need to quit drinking beer/rum...but right now- I just want to quit missing my pain pills. I know this message is policically incorrect = sorry.
I'm too far into this to turn back now. By the same token...I'm so tired of feeling like crap. I have no energy. I'm sorry....I know I should be more positive.
I am just a big baby I guess. I'm lucky to be alive.
I havent' told everything. Truth is..l've been struggling with pain med's or methodone for thirteen years. Some times I wonder if I should just stay on some thing like Methodone for ever.
anyway, I am close to a month without those med's . But I still miss it/them. I miss feeling good. Sorry. I shouldn't even post this.
