Methadone Withdrawal - Want to get off Methadone but wondering the best way?

Sorry to hear you lost your job hopefully another will be around the corner.
As for the methadone withdrawl I think you should try and get some money as you will suffer.
The proper methadone detox is 10% drop every 4 weeks. So at 135 you would drop probably to 125 for a month and then down to 115 for a month. It's not quite 10% but it's should never be over 10%.
You would probably feel ok until you get around 50mgs and then you would start to feel the effects of to quick a detox.
Do you feel that having been on MMT for 3 1/2 years that you are ready to live without it??
This is very important because if you come off without wanting to then you will surely relapse.

I'm in Canada so I'm not familiar with your goverment assistance programs (I'm assuming you're in the States) but have you looked into that???

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If you can't get away from this forced detox then looked up ''The Thomas Recipe'' here on Drugs.com . This is a list of things that greatly help with methadone withdrawls and I strongly suggest you follow it as closely as you can. Many many people have had great success with this ''recipe''.
So good luck and if you have anymore questions you know were to ask... Hang in there... Dave

Hello,

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I am also real sorry you lost your job and hope that in the very near future another one comes your way. This may be a blessing for you, if you can try to look at it in that fashion. Being tied to a Methadone clinic is the same as being tied to the Dragon itself. Only this is legal. I feel methadone clinics are like cow Farms..once one is out another one comes in and the line keeps going. They make sure they over medicate ppl OR place them on such high doses they are enslaved to it. Im on 70 mg for severe back pain from a failed back sugery and you my friend are nearly doubled that. I dont doubt them clinics can and do help some ppl stay off opiods but remember this.. They rely on you guys to keep coming so they have jobs and the doses they give you guys are outrageous. I say this because I am really hoping you will see this and can get clean from all drugs including that methadone. The post above me is correct, you are going to suffer. which again brings me to my point about them clinics, they at the clinic know this isnt the proper way to get someone off this drug which is worse then heroin to detox from. They dont tell you guys that and they offer no financial program to help with those in need. Start seeking a Dr who does Suboxen ( sorry if spelled wrong). I am almost sure you gotta be on low dose for them to take you but im not sure exact details. If you detox that way I feel you may be at high risk for relapse and they at the clinic are well aware of this. Im not just giving you this opinion because I think I know afew things, I'm telling you this because I am a recovering heroin addict for 9 1/2 years now. Yes, I am on pain meds now and have been for 6 yrs. I remain in control because I hated that lifestyle so much and what it did to me that stays within me forever and thats how i stay clean. I dont recommend any former addict to be pl;aced on narcotics but i also keep up front without these I cant walk or get out of bed. Enough of that.. I was just sharing an experience so you know I do know where you are coming from. Stay strong no matter what may happen and try to look into the future. Without this Dragon you will have a normal life.. no more getting up at 7am daily, no more feeding them all your money to keep you enslaved to yet another drug. And may I ask this? Even if you get the 200.00 How long is that gonna last? are you gonna be in same situation just a few weeks from now? SWeety, this isnt worth it.. If you can try to find the Dr in your area for Suboxen they can help you and in short time you will also be able to cut off from that. It will cost you money but not nearly as much as a clinic. My cousin just went thru all this 5 years ago and the day i took him to methadone clinic, I will never forget that day. They tols us to take him detoxing yet them they told him and us they wouldnt dose him til the next day. They hinted he should cop one more time to get thru and thats was it , I knew they were in it for the money. You probably already know this and how ofetn did you see ppl kissing their feet from the amt of mthadone they are taking? They dont want you guys to leave if they can help it which is why they give you guys such high doses. Because you will do anything to stay there and they know it. They dont help you get off and in
fact encourage higher dosing! Im not trying to preach hun I'm just trying to open your eyes because I do want you to have a normal life. You are in much delema right now and i think that idea about the guys concoction to try is also a good idea. but please surround yourself with support right now and DO NOT relapse. ITS NOT WORTH IT! You are in my prayers. I am so sorry for rambling i just think this is so wrong how the clinic just boots ppl after they make sure they tie you in deeply. Please Please call a dr to help.

Dear dredwerx,Please forgive me for taking a few days to correspond,but as I have also been dealing with withdrawel from m.s.contin due to a new Pain control specialist.I can tell you that what they are telling you will be pure hell.Methadone like any other opiod meds are extreemely diffficult to taper and stop.First off if you are in the US poick up a phone book and look into mental health clinics as well as United way,closest hospital,even Dept of family and children services.You can also speak with a social worker at the hospital for advice.What I would do in your circumstances is before you begin if at all possible start doing your homework in getting assisstance with this.If you feel you are ready to stop the methadone then ask specific questions in regards to your circumstances.There are resources out ther you just have to be willing to help yourself as quickly as possible.The reason I tell you to start immedietly is that after you begin the ...

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detoxing in itself causes confusion,depression, as well as taking a chance that you will try to get your hands on anything to stop the physical assault on your body,mind,etc.If after making calls all else fails in getting assitance finding medical care make sure your hospital recieves Govt. assisstance. Also call and apply for food stamps as well as state aid for medical.With any luck you will get someone that has a heart.Just always be honest in seeking help as I can tell you if anyone ever fells you are not being fully honest in seeking help it will come back to not only bite you but also get you red flagged for future medical needs.So if all else fails and the detox becomes too severe you can go there and get treated without regards to your ability to pay.There may even be someone at your local Police or Sheriffs dept. that could advice you where in fact there are places and people to help you at this time.If you are out of work I realize that the Thomas method that is being advised could also be impossible to get the vitamins and juices your body needs.Do not let anyone shame you in regards to this as I can personally attest to the fact that there are others from all walks of life that have been in your situation as well.I hope you have someone with you through this as it is not an easy thing to do even with moral support.I will pray for you and hope you do seek help with this because I truly believe this is something no one should have to go through alone.Be honest with your caregivers and let them know what to expect and with the Good Lords help you will be off this awful drugs before you know it.Because you may as well forget trying to work though this I am sure there are some that have but to be perfectly honest with you I would have rather been shot than have to leave the house for the past 2 1/2 weeks.I could not even make myself get up to shower and put on clothes for thew first week.This was even with another type pain med and antispasmotic for my legs.I felt they would not hold me up for more than a quick run to the bathroom and back.Sleep can be nearly impossible due to your bodies reponding to the effects of learning to decrease like this.Also I wopuld speak with the supervisor where you are currently at and let him or her know what your current situation is and ask for help .Sometimes when you go up higher in the scheme of things you may find someone more willing to help in amore comapssionate way than you have described. Good LUck and reameber I will keep uyou in my prayers .Let me know how things go for you. God Bless/Kathysbest/There is help out there you just have to do the leg work.Also if at all possible try to get copies of your records for future medical care as the request will ask for your reason.Take this and your meds with you wherever you seek help.Good Luck

hey just left the program my self.i know its going to be a long road. same thing happen to me.i paid every day for 2 years.worked my way to 5/1 take home a week.only had to go to
clinc,once a week.it was hard they took 2 days off of me for missing a doctors app.make a long story short she cancel 2times one do to weather .anyway .i got pissed like who
is this nur.to have control over my life.she was areal bitch she just like having the control.
some reson she never like me caues i mined my own bus.any way.told clinic.i wanted to be detox.istoped paying.here i am left at 50mg started at 115mg they made it hard on me
so got pissed.left ,found methadone pills on street detoxing my self slowley.best thing i ever did just not going to that clinic every day is the best.ihave a job that i have to be there
and be able to funtion.reson i started the clinic.one more thing when i got my self down to

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40mg i know its goingto suck the withdraws F sucks.never felt any thing like it...
i am just staying where i am right now at 40 mg.i know i have a hard road a head...

I've read so many questions and answers on here over the past year or so.

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I've never added anything because whenever I was researching I was also always sick! And I'm sure most of us know what that feel's like but I'm going to list the symptoms anyway for those of you who are also researching. Anxiety and restless legs (that feeling like you can't sit still... like you have to twich your legs are they may explode) being the worse for me. INSOMNIA!!! Although the insomnia last's the longest it will not be so bad once the anxiety and RLS go away. You could then just stay up and be able to focus on what you want to pass the time. Rather then be up in hell and dieing for rest mainly because you need to escape! There's the diarrhea... Imodium will rid you of that in a couple hour's though. Being cold constantly and sweating like crazy. I think that may be from fever... you may have a low one for day's! Maybe week's... I dunno. Ibuprofen every 6-8 hour's helps! Plus the weird syptom's... sneezing, yawning, water eye's. I keep reading people saying Benadryl help's with that and also with sleep. Haha yea ok. Your brain has become accustomed to sleeping on Methadone. It's withdrawals are stronger and longer lasting then heroin. It's a horrible drug!!! I guess everyone is different but for me NOTHING helps for sleep that come's over the counter anyway. I've tried 9 Tylenol PM's once... made me puke and feel out of it a bit (not in the good way) but that was it. Melatonin & Valerian Root didn't touch me. If your able you could tell your doctor your having trouble sleeping because you can't shut your mind off. Tell them you've been having crazy thought's and feeling's that don't stop like family dieing etc. And some time's it happen's during the day and make's your chest hurt. They should give you some sort of Benzodiazepine (Xanax etc.). BECAREFUL with that though... I once did 90 1mg football's in 2 or 3 day's... they make you black out, you may lose your ability to control your actions and do stupid thing's even on a small dose. BUT they do help you sleep and take away that horrible anxiety. BUT when your finished with them you may have more withdrawals and these one's could kill you. Take them properly and only during the worse part (first week or so). When I took the 90 my symptoms came back like CRAZY... I was throwing up this time though and just prolonged everything. If you can get through the first 4-5 or 6-7 day's just stay clean from EVERYTHING!!! Hot baths really do help with the RLS and anxiety! But it's short lived and mainly only while your in the tub... I read somewhere on here someone slept in the tub with there pillow in a garbage bag. For some reason heat help's... I know you don't feel like it but if it's warm where you live... go outside and sit or lay out for a bit. I'm a mom and we have a park downstairs so I would kill two birds by just sitting in the sun while my 4 year old would get some energy out. She had to stay in with me for day's while the horrible mom I felt I was sat around and felt like hell. You will get through this... you are STRONGER then you think!!! Yes tapering down does help a bit... try and get some like hydrocodone 7.5's... something like that. And do those for a few day's after stopping the Methadone. Then cut down on those. Do it over a week though... no longer! Then some of the Methadone will come out of your system. Your still going to feel yucky and moody and everything else I've listed but it's a bit more mild. Your going to be emotional... crying over sad movies and stuff. Your going to be depressed... as good as you've felt on the Methadone is as bad as you'll feel while off. IT WILL PASS!!! And then you'll be free... free from worry of being sick... where, how and when you'll get more. Free from that being your first thought in the morning!!! It messes up your brain, your body... goes into your bones!!! It's a HORRIBLE drug! Hang in there... you'll get through this!!! Sorry bout being to long but hope I helped a bit! Much Love! ~Christine

I recently posted an answer to a question similar to this. This was my experience with detoxing from methadone. In my opinion if you want to get off the stuff then try to find a way to get more money and do it slower... I detoxed 10 mgs a week and it worked for me. I HATE THESE BULL--- CLINICS! They will dose you up no problem, but when you have no more money they leave you in detox hell. How I did it was pretty hardcore, but I did it... I hope this helps...

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I completely know what you are going through. I recently detoxed off of methadone as well. I was going to a clinic and worked my way up to 205 mg. Then it stopped working, by that I mean making me feel good and getting rid of anxiety. The complete insanity of it was that I had to take the bus to the clinic 2.5 hrs up and 2.5 hrs back... all of this to just maintain and not be sick. I knew I had to quit, and I've quit it before, albeit at much lower doses (to me no matter what, it sucks and is scary). So I started a 8 month taper and got to 35 then checked myself into a detox for a week.. Going into a detox this time made it much easier, they gave clonadine and librium , along with other helpful meds. I was actually able to sleep while there. However the harder part starts after that. Once I left I didn't sleep for 10 days... no kidding. My therapist said to me "just get through it... no sleep won't kill you and you'll sleep when you are ready." I fought through it and finally after about 2 weeks started sleeping 4.5 hours every night. Falling asleep isn't the easiest but once I'm out I sleep for those 4 hours. I know it might sound hard, but if you really want it you have to be patient with yourself. I didn't get to this place overnight and I'm not gonna get better overnight. Its just the little things that make me feel better, like being over the sweaty goosebumps and being able to sleep and having a clear mind. It's been a month and a half and I feel so much better! Most of all I am relieved that I don't have to live in fear of getting sick... I got through it and so can you!

Best of luck to you. You don't have to live like this anymore!

I just got off methadone program myself. This is my fifth day without it. I wasnt on nearly as high dose as yours. And I am sure your body doesnt need as much. People who are over 70 mils, if they stop drinking usualy only after 3 days they only start feeling sick. What I would suggest lower 10 mils a week until 50. Then start lowering 5 mils a week. This is slowest you can go. And most likely you wont even feel withdrawals from it until you get to about 50. Then what you will have is sweating and feeling like you wanna strech your mussles all the time. If you see that your body gets adapted faster, tell your doc to lower twice a week. And if you feel too sick(cant sleep at night, restless legs) then try lowering 5 mils a week. Most people I know get addapted to the dose in 3 days, then they feel fine with new dose for 4 days and lower again. All I am saying if you can do it faster DO IT. If you cant DONT. Make sure you have something to do during withdrawal period.

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Try not to stay in your room all the time. To kill anxiety hot bath, walking, excercise, sauna. As a sleeping pill I would suggest clonidine(I dont know if you have them in US still) When you get about 20 mills start lowering 3 mills a week, or twice a week. Keep yourself occupied. Plan your day from the the evening. So that you wont have a situation where you dont know what to do. Keep a diary. Write down you worst withdrawal. Write down all the negatives of using. Delete your delaers, and "user friends" Try to find a person you can talk to how you feel. Who wont push you to use, but encourege you to keep going. Make short term goals(I will be on 100 mils in a week ex.) This forum is filled with people who are willing to help! Good luck with fighting the most addciting and pointless drug of 20th century

I just just started a clinic once discovering that my dose of opiates had become too high to overcome on my own. I just want to say thank u to all of u for you're stories, they are def not the "recovery fairytales" that are posted on the wall at the clinic. My dose is now @ 80 mg after 2 weeks of treatment. I, however still am not fully comfortable at this dose, I am still experiencing withdrawal symptoms from the opiates. But upon reading these forums it has become VERY clear to me that I *will not* be increasing my dose anymore! Infact, I started the clinic to get clean, not to become terribly addicted to just another drug. My plans are to now stay at this 80mg dose for another week or so and let my body get used to it, then start to climb back down almost just the way I came up ..only slower. It appears that I can't come off as quickly as they dosed me up.

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Wish me luck, I am for the first time in my life serious about getting clean, and am absolutely disgusted with the way these clinics are taking advantage of people who are finally trying to do the right thing. SHAKING MY HEAD... SHAME ON YOU!