Hello. I have had a methadone addiction for two years now. I really didn't realize I had an addiction until about a year ago. My ex boyfriends mother started giving them to me a few years ago for pain (I have severe nerve damage in my back and leg, scoliosis, and sciatic nerve damage). I was taking 3 20mg methadone a day. About two months ago I started to taper myself off. I first started only taking one in the morning and one at night. Now I've gotten to where I only take HALF at night so I can sleep. I'm so proud of myself for coming this far. I just don't want to be a slave to something and feeling like I NEED this toxic thing to make me happy. I hate it. I was looking for some helpful hints!? I don't go to a clinic. And I'll be out of methadone soon so it'll be cold turkey then. Anything I can do to make the withdrawal any easier? The withdrawal used to be unbearable. I'd have terrible pains all over my body. Hot one second, cold the next. Couldn't eat, sleep and was terribly depressed. But this time is different. I have been going all day without taking anything and the withdrawal feels like its gotten better. I still have body pains and such but not nearly as bad and I'm still moody but again, not as bad. The one thing that is VERY hard for me is not being able to sleep. Any advice or words of wisdom would be extremely helpful!
Another question, how long do you normally withdrawal when going cold turkey? And, can I go see my normal Dr in help to get off? Or is that not a good idea.?
Hi Ally! I have been methadone free since 1-11-12. Over two years so i know it can be done. Although it's not gonna be easy by any means, it's worth it. I can share about what i went through but every person's detox is different. I had the cold sweats for about 2 weeks, didn't sleep a full night for about two weeks, had little to no energy for about two weeks, restless legs ugg, the runs, the stop me ups, moody(happy one minute,crying the next), and overall it sucked. But it only lasted about 21 days for me. Every day got a little better, then days turned into months and i didn't die from lack of sleep, but that was for sure the hardest part for me. I did a lot of jig-saw puzzles to get me through the long nights. If your gonna just stop(which by the way i am sure you should talk to a doctor about) please know that you will have to want this really really bad. You have to be willing to get better. You have to want to be clean more then you want to be high. It doesn't wish itself away. Get something for upset tummy's, drink lots of Gatorade, soak in hot baths with epsilon salt, go for walks,and most of all love yourself be kind to yourself. You didn't become addicted overnight so it won't get better in one night. Your body needs time to heal, but it will feel better, i promise. Addiction will now always be a part of you, and recovery should be next. Get a support group to help you with all the feelings and questions you will have. Doing this alone would be very hard. You can online NA/AA meetings online to get you started or others like stepchat.com or SMART recovery. I wish you the best of luck.
Jessica
P.S> Hey Granny(((HUGS))))
Jessica
P.S> Hey Granny(((HUGS))))
That's what I'm scared of though. Going through withdrawal for weeks TERRIFIES me. And I HAVE to work, I absolutely cannot afford to take off work while I get through it all I don't have anyone to help me out. So far, I've taken half of a 20mg methadone today and I'm feeling alright. I feel like a lot of it is in my head reading through some of these message boards people are saying you should get to where you only take one every 3 days without withdrawing. I feel like Im withdrawing after about 10-12hrs without taking anything. Is it just in my head? I feel like I'm just used to the routine of taking one e very 8-12hrs. Is there anything OTC that'll help? I heard exercise helps a little so I've been going for a walk before bed each night. And taking Melatonin to help sleep with a antihistamine. Anything I could do?
Hi Ally,
First of all, do you have a legit script for the methadone tabs or has the person( your BF mom?) who originally gave them to you been keeping you supplied? From the sound of it you have the type of pain that methadone works on as it seems to have kept you going all this time.
I am not sure what to tell you to be honest. If other pain medications didn't work for you and your pain is such as it is, your doctor, if he is a pain specialist, could have put you on methadone and you'd be OK. Regular doctors cannot prescribe methadone except in very small amounts. And some not at all. There is NOTHING wrong with being treated for pain with methadone. If it keeps you sane, helps your pain, you keep your job and your life is good, why would you want to stop? Has it kept you from being addicted to other opiate pain medications??
Girl today is a success story and what she says is true, but what is going to happen to you and your pain when you stop your meds?? You say you are working....Do you have another type of medication to replace the methadone??
You might try calling a certified methadone clinic and explain the situation and see what they suggest. If you are absolutely sure you want to come off the methadone you need to do it under a doctors care and then detox very, very slowly slowly. It is a strong medication and nothing to play with. Your health is #1 and you probably shouldn't try this yourself. Once you get down as far as you need to then following Girls' suggestions should help you finish it off.
On this page, at the top, is a clinic locater. Find one in your city if possible and call and ask for help.
Good luck and let us know how you are. If you have gotten this far in your detox, you may be in the clear before you know it. 60 mgs a day isn't too bad , but you would feel the lose of mgs as you did. keep trying.
granny
PS......Hi yourself Girl!! (((((((HUGS))))))
First of all, do you have a legit script for the methadone tabs or has the person( your BF mom?) who originally gave them to you been keeping you supplied? From the sound of it you have the type of pain that methadone works on as it seems to have kept you going all this time.
I am not sure what to tell you to be honest. If other pain medications didn't work for you and your pain is such as it is, your doctor, if he is a pain specialist, could have put you on methadone and you'd be OK. Regular doctors cannot prescribe methadone except in very small amounts. And some not at all. There is NOTHING wrong with being treated for pain with methadone. If it keeps you sane, helps your pain, you keep your job and your life is good, why would you want to stop? Has it kept you from being addicted to other opiate pain medications??
Girl today is a success story and what she says is true, but what is going to happen to you and your pain when you stop your meds?? You say you are working....Do you have another type of medication to replace the methadone??
You might try calling a certified methadone clinic and explain the situation and see what they suggest. If you are absolutely sure you want to come off the methadone you need to do it under a doctors care and then detox very, very slowly slowly. It is a strong medication and nothing to play with. Your health is #1 and you probably shouldn't try this yourself. Once you get down as far as you need to then following Girls' suggestions should help you finish it off.
On this page, at the top, is a clinic locater. Find one in your city if possible and call and ask for help.
Good luck and let us know how you are. If you have gotten this far in your detox, you may be in the clear before you know it. 60 mgs a day isn't too bad , but you would feel the lose of mgs as you did. keep trying.
granny
PS......Hi yourself Girl!! (((((((HUGS))))))
No I don't have a prescription. My ex boyfriends mom was giving them to me but I had to break up with him so I can't get any from her. I think I'm just gonna call around and see whats suggested. I can't go to a methadone clinic because thry said you have had to of already detox at least twice before without it helping.
