Hello. Ive been on 60mg of methadone for chronic pain for 9 years but im tired of the stuff and want off it.I have already told my doc and he gave me what will be my last scrip of 168 10 mg pills, I plan on using those to wean myself but I don't know how much to drop down every week. My doctor isn't any help he just told me to get myself off them.I have stopped taking them before but I got so damn depressed I started them again. I'm really scared I don't want to go thru the fatigue and depression again.I would greatly appreciate any help. Alan
Hi Alan,
Welcome! If you have read any of the posts here about detoxing you will see that the majority of those who have been successful did it by doing it VERY slowly, finding this is the best way. After being on it for 9 yrs I don't know if 168 10mg pills will be enough, and shame on your DR for not being more supportive!
If this has helped your chronic pain what are you going to do when you are detoxed? Make sure you eat well, stay hydrated and from what I have read expect some sort of semi- long lasting symptoms after you have finished. Like sleep problems, twitching, upset tummy and the like. It is different from person to person and can be treated symptomatically.
Please be careful and good luck.
granny
Welcome! If you have read any of the posts here about detoxing you will see that the majority of those who have been successful did it by doing it VERY slowly, finding this is the best way. After being on it for 9 yrs I don't know if 168 10mg pills will be enough, and shame on your DR for not being more supportive!
If this has helped your chronic pain what are you going to do when you are detoxed? Make sure you eat well, stay hydrated and from what I have read expect some sort of semi- long lasting symptoms after you have finished. Like sleep problems, twitching, upset tummy and the like. It is different from person to person and can be treated symptomatically.
Please be careful and good luck.
granny
Thank you Granny: The doctor that I was getting methadone from is a V.A. doctor and he just out of the blue at my last appt. decided it was time for me to stop methadone.What I don't understand is why he gave my one last script and told me to wean myself off. I have read a lot of the posts on here trying to see how much to taper myself. I have already dropped down to 30mgs a day, not feeling great but so far im OK.I plan on dropping a 1/4 mg a week until im out.I know I might be in for a tough time.I have contacted a couple of people at the VA trying to get help but it seems useless they are so overwhelmed and poorly trained I don't think I will get much help there. Any support or suggestions from you and others will be a big help.Thanks for replying to my post and I hope to hear from you again.
Granny
You ask me what I was going to do about my chronic back pain after detox, I haven't even begun to think about that yet. I'm still reeling from the doctor suddenly taking me off methadone.
You ask me what I was going to do about my chronic back pain after detox, I haven't even begun to think about that yet. I'm still reeling from the doctor suddenly taking me off methadone.
Hi Alan,
I am so sorry you are having to go thru this. Thank you for your service to our country! It makes me really angry that our veterans aren't treated better!
I don't know what state you are in but it may be helpful to find a methadone clinic close to you and go and talk to them. Because there are many clinics that aren't good at what they do I suggest you find one that is CARF certified. If you aren't familiar with methadone clinics, they should look just like a doctors office, clean, welcoming and with nice staff. If you get a bad or uncomfortable feeling ,leave. You should be treated with respect and dignity.
Talk to the manager and explain what's going on. Hopefully they can get you on a maintenance program for an extended period of time so you can do the detox at a more realistic rate. Keep in touch, we are here for you.
good luck!
granny
I am so sorry you are having to go thru this. Thank you for your service to our country! It makes me really angry that our veterans aren't treated better!
I don't know what state you are in but it may be helpful to find a methadone clinic close to you and go and talk to them. Because there are many clinics that aren't good at what they do I suggest you find one that is CARF certified. If you aren't familiar with methadone clinics, they should look just like a doctors office, clean, welcoming and with nice staff. If you get a bad or uncomfortable feeling ,leave. You should be treated with respect and dignity.
Talk to the manager and explain what's going on. Hopefully they can get you on a maintenance program for an extended period of time so you can do the detox at a more realistic rate. Keep in touch, we are here for you.
good luck!
granny
I'm very sure your depression and pain will be there when you get clean.
When we quit the drugs we find why we need the drugs ... the true underlying problem(s)
Getting clean isn't hard but staying & living clean is quite impossible for an untreated addict.
Are you attending NA meetings in your area. The folks there will help you in your recovery.
Good luck.
Bob R
When we quit the drugs we find why we need the drugs ... the true underlying problem(s)
Getting clean isn't hard but staying & living clean is quite impossible for an untreated addict.
Are you attending NA meetings in your area. The folks there will help you in your recovery.
Good luck.
Bob R
Hello Papa Bear
Thanks for responding,and yeah im sure the depression will be a problem,Ive had bout's of depression most of my adult life, that and the lack of energy is what scares me the most.The Pain I guess I will just have to learn to live with.No I haven't been to AA or Na yet that's something I plan on looking into, I live in a rule area so im limited to whats available.
In a way I look forward to getting off the methadone im tired of planning my life around it.
Thanks for responding,and yeah im sure the depression will be a problem,Ive had bout's of depression most of my adult life, that and the lack of energy is what scares me the most.The Pain I guess I will just have to learn to live with.No I haven't been to AA or Na yet that's something I plan on looking into, I live in a rule area so im limited to whats available.
In a way I look forward to getting off the methadone im tired of planning my life around it.
Hi Alan. doctors suck! Believe clinics recommend 5mg couple weeks and so on. Yes with tapering depression hits fast like a b****! Tried it and did 2.5 mg, always been skinny lost so much weight,started smoking pot to eat, helped for a bit but didn't last. Only got down 5 mg. Year later rapid detox/ct. Know not is recommend & being 100lbs I lucked out health wise. Doing that way depression hits wayyy later! Bout a year. If tapering the route way u want to go, maybe smaller doses with longer stretch of time. Amino acids? I think u can do while tapering but research that,I can't remember. L-tyrosine is ok I believe,gives energy. Feel for u man, hang in there. Toughest s*** to kick but can be done! - Mary
Mary
Thanks for responding. Yeah doctors do suck,I have no choice but to get off methadone only option is a clinic and they cost too much.So far Ive cut back from 60 mg a day to 2.75 it isn't east but im OK.from what I understand when you get down to the lower dosages that's when things get bad. scares me to death I already have problems with depression.I don't know much about amino acids but ill sure look into them.Hope to here from you again it helps knowing others have been thru or are going thru the same thing.I don't feel so alone.Take care
Alan
Alan,
I hope you are hanging in there, I can't imagine what you are going thru. From what I understand it is very common to have depression along with addiction and the two can and should be treated at the same time. Papa Bear is also correct in recommending you go to AA or NA for extra support.
I also understand the unhappiness of having to go to the clinic every day. I had to do it for quite a long while until I started working towards getting my take-homes, one at a time, until I got 6 a week, because of my job hours. Now, many years later, I go twice a month, which is really nice considering how busy my life is and how long I've been clean.
I'd be doing things in steps...prioritize (sp?) what's important in your life. Having to detox when you aren't ready sucks, and can set you back if you aren't careful. "Obamacare" should take care of any methadone clinic bill, it does here in Calif. You may have to have one on one counseling 4 times a month because of it but that may be beneficial, IF you choose to do that.
Once you are stable on the methadone and you are getting treatment for your depression you can create another plan to take care of any other outstanding concerns in your life, if there are any, and then, with a clear mind (not stressing out over having to do a stupidly, not thought out plan of detoxing by your doctor) make a plan to detox off the methadone at a sane rate, with the help of your clinic counselor and your clinic doctor.
If you go back into the older posts here (I think they are in the methadone board) you will find some very lengthy posts here about amino acids and vitamins recommended to use during your methadone use and/or detox.
This of course is only a suggestion... you are in charge of you. Good luck in your journey.
granny
I hope you are hanging in there, I can't imagine what you are going thru. From what I understand it is very common to have depression along with addiction and the two can and should be treated at the same time. Papa Bear is also correct in recommending you go to AA or NA for extra support.
I also understand the unhappiness of having to go to the clinic every day. I had to do it for quite a long while until I started working towards getting my take-homes, one at a time, until I got 6 a week, because of my job hours. Now, many years later, I go twice a month, which is really nice considering how busy my life is and how long I've been clean.
I'd be doing things in steps...prioritize (sp?) what's important in your life. Having to detox when you aren't ready sucks, and can set you back if you aren't careful. "Obamacare" should take care of any methadone clinic bill, it does here in Calif. You may have to have one on one counseling 4 times a month because of it but that may be beneficial, IF you choose to do that.
Once you are stable on the methadone and you are getting treatment for your depression you can create another plan to take care of any other outstanding concerns in your life, if there are any, and then, with a clear mind (not stressing out over having to do a stupidly, not thought out plan of detoxing by your doctor) make a plan to detox off the methadone at a sane rate, with the help of your clinic counselor and your clinic doctor.
If you go back into the older posts here (I think they are in the methadone board) you will find some very lengthy posts here about amino acids and vitamins recommended to use during your methadone use and/or detox.
This of course is only a suggestion... you are in charge of you. Good luck in your journey.
granny
Alan.
I looked for the posts about amino acid treatments, there are MANY, but the ones worth reading are by a gal called majk.
If you enter "posts by majk" in the site search box at the top left part of the page it will take you to what and where she wrote them. Most are in the Family/Partner board but she has done a real job listing what you need to know. If you are interested. She began writing them in July? 2012 but is still actively posting.
Good luck sweetie!
granny
I looked for the posts about amino acid treatments, there are MANY, but the ones worth reading are by a gal called majk.
If you enter "posts by majk" in the site search box at the top left part of the page it will take you to what and where she wrote them. Most are in the Family/Partner board but she has done a real job listing what you need to know. If you are interested. She began writing them in July? 2012 but is still actively posting.
Good luck sweetie!
granny
Granny
Thanks for the info, Ill certainly look into the amino acids.I'm in Indiana and as far as I can tell Obama care doesn't pay anything for clinic visits I guess its up to the state doesn't make sense does it.Thanks for the help wish I could write more but feeling a little tired today.I'm glad your doing so well.
Alan
Alan, your already down to 2.5 in less then a month that's definitely something! so your already at that lower dose that you've heard horrible things about, know what I mean? Once you take that last dose&leaving system for good is..well crazy to say least. Lots of people say physically 4th night worst, for me was my 3rd. I woke after 2 hours and wrote about the way it felt. not trying to scare you, as sure you already are. Ask your doctor for clonidine. Blood pressure med. helps opiate & alcohol w/d. tremors&sleep. Water water water. Multi-vitamin and extra vitamin c As stress on body weakens immune system. Melatonin. Benadryl, muscle relaxers....while I felt nothing truly helped, had to have because I never went 1 night without ANY sleep& have heard many people go with none for awhile, so must have done something. ask about the catapress?/clonidine for sure. Dont mean to overwhelm you, just checking in/trying to help. Hang in there. -Mary
Marykat80
Thanks for responding. I couldn't take the withdrawals at 2.5 mg so im back up to 27.5 mg a day it was just too horrible you know the feeling.I will defiantly ask my doctor for clonidine at my next appt.I plan on dropping 2.50 mg a week until i get down to 2.5 mg a day. I hope that works for me. I was being too optimistic thinking I could do it faster, I should have known better.I will try to write more later still trying to get my energy back.thanks again
Alan
You have been doing it fast, so you bumped yourself up a bit, try not to get down on yourself saying you should have known better,yout went from 60 to what your at now,and while painfull,incredible too....
Alan,
The "omamacare" I am talking about is Medi-cal, or welfares description of it. I think that even if you are not in Calif and even if you have private insurance it should pay for it. Ask your clinic.
granny
The "omamacare" I am talking about is Medi-cal, or welfares description of it. I think that even if you are not in Calif and even if you have private insurance it should pay for it. Ask your clinic.
granny
Thanks Granny
What I really want is to get off methadone I'm hoping the 10 mg pills I have on hand will be enough to do it.What scares me is the depression that may come along when I get down to a low dose,I already have problems with depression.For what ever reason coming here for the advice and hearing others stories helps guess I don't feel so alone.Hope your well and again thanks for helping.
Hang in there buddy I am currently on methadone myself and I have friends that have successfully got ton off methadone and live happy life's. All I can say is hang in there and my hats off for u for trying to get off methadone I am not ready to myself but pleas keep me posted on your progress and hang in there
Hey rjreynolds
Thanks for the encouragement that's something I can really use.Its good to hear others have been able to quit methadone.I have thought about going the suboxone route but that just seems like trading one addiction for another.Good luck to you and when you decide to get off of methadone I hope it goes well for you
I'm craving really bad today how do you guys handle that
