How much longer will this last?

[tiredmom65]

HI....my short version is that my husband and I became addicted to pills over the last 3 years--first vics, then norcos, and lastly roxicodone 30 mgs.

We are detoxing together (ain't love grand?) We both have pretty physical jobs--he a mailman and me cleaning homes. We were not able to get any subs to detox and end this fiasco. The only thing available to us to help us be able to function at our jobs and take care of our two boys (11 & 13) were some methadone. We thought we could do a taper plan and have been at it for 2 weeks.

We had 50 10 mg. tabs. each and started a weaning plan (which has been going pretty good until I got down to one 10 mg. tab a day (1/2 in am, 1/2 in pm). I haven't been functioning since Sunday and feel pretty weak--not in complete w/d's but not doing much either. I am anxious because I have a job 2morrow. I know this was not the perfect solution to detoxing, but it was all we had available. Our plan is to stay on 1 a day for a few more days, then down to 3/4 a few days, and 1/2 pills ect. ect. until they run out.

Not so confident we will avoid heavy w/d with this master plan and I am scared and frustrated with my lack of energy. My little devil is telling me I did the drop to 1 too quick--I should go back up to at least 1.5 ya da ya da ya da....

Any words of encouragement that this can be done the way we are doing it...that it will get better...and what to expect in the next week or so would be helpful....encouragement only please...a few words telling me it can't be done this way and I will justify going backwards. thank you all and this forum has been very helpful--but I have learned the methdone was NOT the way to go.....just need to know it CAN be done....thanks...

[naphobia]

please keep in mind that you an your husband love each other very much. an when times get tough or arguments get going,that it is the drug/ withdraws and not each other. me and my wife are going through the same thing, and when we run out of meds the fighting starts and its hard to keep in mind that we really didnt do anything to each other to be fighting. we are just so irritable and feel so horriable that it makes us take it out on each other. you both need each other now more then ever, so if one of you is feeling worse then the other , you have to step up an try to take care of the other. rubbing the legs( the need to stretch an pain in the legs from withdrawing is tough. if you have a hot tub or have access to one it helps a lot. yes it can be done if your down to only 1-2 pills a day then you are doing great, if you cannot deal with doing less then one a day then just take one, but dont give up to the point that you just start taking 4-5, everyone is different an im not sugesting that you start taking more, just dont want you to give up completely an start just taking what ever amount you want...you are almost there!!! you really are and you really can do it. be thankfull you have each other alot of people have to do this alone with everyone in their family already giving up on them. so take care of each other , this is a one day at a time deal. i hope the best for you

[tiredmom65]

that is just what i needed to hear!! I am having a worse day, so I did call my hubby and said I needed a "pep" talk and we talked through it. We have never done this nor taken methadone so we have no idea where we are in the scheme of things so your post was very helpful and encouraging. We are headed in the right direction and I have convinced myself that ANY deviation from the "plan" is a step backwards (been there, done that) so being very strict with myself, but have a family to take care of too. Trying to find balance between not being "high" and functioning I guess. Thanks again.

[melinda7.5]

HI....my short version is that my husband and I became addicted to pills over the last 3 years--first vics, then norcos, and lastly roxicodone 30 mgs.

We are detoxing together (ain't love grand?) We both have pretty physical jobs--he a mailman and me cleaning homes. We were not able to get any subs to detox and end this fiasco. The only thing available to us to help us be able to function at our jobs and take care of our two boys (11 & 13) were some methadone. We thought we could do a taper plan and have been at it for 2 weeks.

We had 50 10 mg. tabs. each and started a weaning plan (which has been going pretty good until I got down to one 10 mg. tab a day (1/2 in am, 1/2 in pm). I haven't been functioning since Sunday and feel pretty weak--not in complete w/d's but not doing much either. I am anxious because I have a job 2morrow. I know this was not the perfect solution to detoxing, but it was all we had available. Our plan is to stay on 1 a day for a few more days, then down to 3/4 a few days, and 1/2 pills ect. ect. until they run out.

Not so confident we will avoid heavy w/d with this master plan and I am scared and frustrated with my lack of energy. My little devil is telling me I did the drop to 1 too quick--I should go back up to at least 1.5 ya da ya da ya da....

Any words of encouragement that this can be done the way we are doing it...that it will get better...and what to expect in the next week or so would be helpful....encouragement only please...a few words telling me it can't be done this way and I will justify going backwards. thank you all and this forum has been very helpful--but I have learned the methdone was NOT the way to go.....just need to know it CAN be done....thanks...

Hi tiredmom
OMG....I have a cleaning business and I was working thru my detox...OH MAN that sucked...But yes it can be done. I was addicted to oxycontin I had taken it for about 3 years...
I never did the methadone...But I did the oxy
Just remember this wont be forever its only temporary...
I wish I could help you more I just dont know about methadone..
Talk to you later ,Melinda

[tiredmom65]

LOL...thanks melinda....yup cleaning does suck---it sucks when you are flying--never mind detoxing---I am dreading tomorrow. I haven't had the strength to so much as lift a finger in my own house since Sunday and I am supposed to go clean like crazy tomorrow?? I keep telling myself "you won't die...it will get better.." That's what got me into this whole mess: I lost my nice cushy office job and had to do something to make cash--and unfortunately cleaning is one of my only talents-ughh and here it is 2 years later and I have a nice little addiction on my hands from telling myself: just a little pick me up to get through this job--I am too old to be cleaning.. : When we both know it is a great way to stay in shape and the pills were actually sucking the life out of me behind my back. live and learn. I just can't remember ever feeling "good" before pills--but I KNOW I did---it just seems like a lifetime ago. Sigh.......

[naphobia]

one more thing i forgot to mention that helps. i know the feeling of no energy, but seriously you need to exercise, not just the exercise from cleaning (I'm a painter) so in the construction field an know to well how bad it sucks to work while detoxing. but if you can force your self to run around the block in the morning, it works , exercising will release endorphons (spelled wrong im sure but) kinda like getting in the pool if you just jump in its not so bad. just get your heart beat up (dont over do it) but get yourself going and that will help , also to not make you look so burnt out when you get to the job, dont want everyone to know how bad you feel. best of luck

[melinda7.5]

Hi tiredmom
I just cant tell you how true it is about the exercise...it does get your endorphins going...I started walking on the treadmill at about 2 minutes a day and worked my way up to running a mile a day...
so as soon as you can give it a little try...
Talk to you later, Melinda

[zenith15]

The thing is, methadone is a very long acting medication--that is one of the main reasons they use it for treatment of opiate addiction. This is a big advantage in treatment but can be a disadvantage in tapering off. Ideally, you want to go no faster than 10% of your dose every 2-4 weeks all the way down to 1mg, but obviously that is not something you can do. Therefore, I would expect that you WILL have moe serious withdrawals than someone doing it the "right" way. It is just NOT a goiod idea to use street methadone to detox with, as you may well end up having the whole process take much longer than if you just tapered off your DOC. Methadone tapering needs medical supervision.