I have been in a methadone maintanence program for 3 years now. I was an IV heroin, oxycontin, dilaudid, etc user. i used heavily frrom age 18 to 23 and finally hit bottom after having several friends die in my hometown. I am currently on about 100mg of methadone---my clinic blind doses so i am not exactly sure. Anyway, i find myself in a interesting situation-----contrary to popular belief all clinics are not client-unfriendly----after 2 years of clean urine screens i worked it out (after begging people at the state level to give me a chance) to have my dose shipped to me---via an RN and pharmacy. My counseling was shifted to the new town i moved to as well. I moved to go to college there and am nearly done with my second year. I know to any person who has spent endless mornings waiting in inpersonal clinics to be dosed my situation seems hard to belief. Well, here is where i find myself----i am four days out without methadone-----what began as a curious test to find out what would happen is now into the early a.m. hours of a fifth day without medicine----i have medication being held for me by a close non-addict friend---if it was close i would convince myself it was essential to take some right now. All i have used during this time is a left over Catapress 72 hour patch-----but i have used them in the past and found them useless-----don't get me wrong i definetly have WD symptoms---cramping, aches, sweats, no sleep what-so-ever, diarehhia, etc,----but i am shocked at how well i am coping-----i mean i've been glued to the couch or in bed for most of the days, but, find myself getting so stircrazy that i just go for drives and listen to music---i can handle that-----should i expect worsw too come?----should i completely abort this route?-----should i find out if i can just come off?----i was planning to begin my first ever taper in May with the plan to taper off over a year, but, now i am curious of how far i could take this---i am afraid to mention any of this to my doctor because i don't want them to make any rash decisions or think i am selling my medicine or something-----anyway any suggestions?---anybody heard of people with long term heavy opiate use having suprisingly mild withdrawl?
Eyes
The answer is NO, I have never heard of it. I took methadone for 2 1/2 years and detoxed at home. I weaned down from about 20 mgs to 2 1/2 mgs and it took me months to feel normal. I went through severe withdrawls. The withdrawls didn't really start kicking in until day 4 and seemed to get worse from there! If you are able to get in a car and drive around listening to music, that is great! It would have been impossible for me to do that even into day 10-14. Since you were on 100 mgs it may just be taking longer for you to experience the serious withdrawls. I say wait it out and see. Everyone is different I guess, so all you can do is wait. If the pain is bearable then don't use. Go buy some Comtrex Cold and Flu- Day and night time pills. The worse symptom for me was restless legs. I have never in my life had so much pain. I would get some Multi-vitamins and B-12. Soak in hot baths and get some Immodium AD. That should help with the stomach cramps. Good luck to you and keep me posted.
Take care! Rae
Ps. I used clonidine patches to. If anything it will help with your blod pressure. It never really touched my physical pain. Talk to you soon!
Take care! Rae
Ps. I used clonidine patches to. If anything it will help with your blod pressure. It never really touched my physical pain. Talk to you soon!
Way to go..if you are able to handle the w/d's and are at day 5..I say keep going. You know if you really need it. But you are probably at your peak of pain right now..days 5-6 are the worst, so if you can hang in there..you should start to feel some relief very very soon! Congrats. Kim
I have to agree with Rae, I tried cold turkey off of methadone too, by day 8 the withdrawals got unbearable. Each day after day 4 or 5 it was just getting worse. I couldn't handle it anymore. I had the cold sweats, My legs and arms were hurting badly, dry heaving, pounding headache, diareah and like I said, each day was just getting worse. I couldn't move either. I wish you the best of luck. I hope you do get lucky here and not get hit so hard with it.Take Care.
Love,
Liz
Love,
Liz
Hey Liz,
Glad to hear from you the other day. So what's up? How's the hubby? Is he coming home? How's the kids? Speaking of kids I have to run Alex to school. Write me back or e-mail me. I would love to hear how your feeling or if your going to rehab etc. Keep in touch! Love Rae
Glad to hear from you the other day. So what's up? How's the hubby? Is he coming home? How's the kids? Speaking of kids I have to run Alex to school. Write me back or e-mail me. I would love to hear how your feeling or if your going to rehab etc. Keep in touch! Love Rae
Hey Rae,
I don't know when my husband will be home. He's healing very slowly. Doesn't look like anytime soon. I'm doing ok, as soon as he gets home I'm going into a rehab. I'm not going to try and detox at home again. I'll be picking my son up today from school and he will be with me until Sunday night. I hope you have a great day and I'll be writing you soon.
Love,
Liz
I don't know when my husband will be home. He's healing very slowly. Doesn't look like anytime soon. I'm doing ok, as soon as he gets home I'm going into a rehab. I'm not going to try and detox at home again. I'll be picking my son up today from school and he will be with me until Sunday night. I hope you have a great day and I'll be writing you soon.
Love,
Liz
