[babidolli22]

I am a recovering addict and I have been going to a clinic for almost 1yr now and I'm currently on 120mgs a day of methadone and I want off. i'm so tired of going there everyday and I kinda feel like the methadone is a crutch in a way because i still have to drive everyday to get it or else i'll get sick if I don't have it after 2days and I don 't want to worry anymore about getting sick I want my life to be as normal as possible and eventhough I feel great and i'm proud of myself for what I have overcome this past year I just want off the methadone already. what do you think is a good way to start a slow detox from it? I'm on 120mgs a day and i'm not sure how to start coming down without feeling it. I don't want to get sick,it's my biggest fear.



To be clear,I do not have take homes due to living w/a mom who is in active addiction so imagine the hell I go through but thankfully I am strong or i would have never been able to do this. I have no support outside of my weekly group at the clinic and my counselor. Everyone else I know or knew is eithor out drinking at the bars everynite,on dope or pills,or doesn't care so I usually stay to myself. It gets lonely an d depressing obviously but i'm greatful for my son,he is what keeps me sane and clean. I have been through a hell of a lot in my life and eventhough I live w/an addict which isn't a good idea I know, I do feel so much better now than ever and all I want to do is stay positive and sober so my little boy can have the mom he deserves.

[kitty475]

I'm not a doctor, but I'd say keep to the regime, whatever works. You can't afford to let your son see you backslide. Don't take any chances. If you are in therapy, let the doctor decide when and how to help you quit. They have you on that stuff for a reason. Just wait and keep taking it untill THEY decide to switch you or "taper" you off. You're in no position to quit on your own.

[woodbutcher]

[QUOTE=babidolli22;259126]I am a recovering addict and I have been going to a clinic for almost 1yr now and I'm currently on 120mgs a day of methadone and I want off.

I have been in treatment for about 11 yrs now .
I detoxed 3 times 1st time in jail cold turkey off 90mgs. [ very painful possibly dangerous if not in good health.]
The other 2 times I did it on my own . both were successful and fairlly painless,
both times i started at 10 mgs decreases every 3-4 weeks till i hit 50 mgs then i stopped for about 8-10 weeks. then i started back decreasing 5 mgs every 2-3 weeks till i hit 10mgs then stopped for about 6 weeks . then i dropped to 5 and stayed for 2-3 weeks then i started going every other day for a week or 2 till i stopped all together. This worked well for me every one is differant so all i can tell you is dont rush it. you will just end up right back where you are now.The not being able to sleep was the worst part of stepping off the last 5 mgs. i found that smoking a little bit of a good medical grade cannabis in the evening helped with the sleep and some minor leg cramps that many people seem to experiance when detoxing . Good luck and be patient it just takes a little time to do it right.

[babidolli22]

I know I have to do this slowly and that's fine but i'm not sure exactally how to drop the dose and for how long to stay on a certain mg until i'm ready to drop more without being sick.

[cheekysod]

i have also been on methadone for a long time, and other opiates.
120 is a fairly high dose, only you know how you feel, and dont let "the doctors" tell you when to drop, its your decision.
when you are feeling up to it, ask to drop by 10mg, see how you go.
it is a slow one, and i have done it also, got right down to 1mg, and still suffered, mind you i was also doing other drugs as well. i suffered for weeks with wd. it was awful. i got back into it again, few years later. so this time round, i have done it differently,
personally for me, i got down to 20-30mg of methadone, and jumped over to subs, which are a lot easier to taper down on.
i can say that honestly, because in my case, i could not count off the methadone again. its is really hard.
i started on 14 mg of sub, and am now on 1.25mg, just starting to have some cramping issues, so i know my body is feeling it now.
you know your own self, when you are feeling confident, just take baby steps and go for a 5 or 10mg drop. see how you feel.
i also know all the bs involved in clinics, i am off the methadone, but on subs, and still it is through a clinic, although i have found on subs i have never once taken more than i should have, as opposed to meth, which i always would have more if it was available.
just some ideas for you. good luck

oh and just stay on your new dose till you feel ok to move on. theres no hurry.

[woodbutcher]

I know I have to do this slowly and that's fine but i'm not sure exactally how to drop the dose and for how long to stay on a certain mg until i'm ready to drop more without being sick.

if you start with 10 mg decrease once every 3-4 weeks till you hit 1/2 your current dose you should be fine. then just keep decreasing the dose by 5 mgs. every 3-4 weeks till you get down to 5 mgs. then wait a couple weeks before dosing every other day. if you can drop to 2 1/2 from 5 before stepping off all together it helps. DO NOT use benzos to help with the loss of sleep they are just another problem to deal with .if you cant sleep get some good medical grade cannabis this works good for sleep and is not as habit forming as benzo's . .. just remember 10 every 3-4 weeks till you hit 1/2 your current then 5 mg every 3-4 till you get to 5 then every other day till you get the nerve to step off.. good luck and let us know how you are doing peace jim

[newyorkgal]

babi, i have gotten off of methadone on two different occasions. The first time I went down really fast and jumped off at 5 mg. Needless to say that was impossible and by day three after jumping off I was back on my DOC. The next time I decided to get off, I went very slowly, in fact it probably took about 18 months or so.... I chose to switch to subutex once I got down to 20 mgs. and am on a low dose of that as we speak. But my ex husband and an good friend actually tapered all the way.On high doses they were able to drop by 10 or 5 mgs. every few weeks. Once they hit the lower doses, they dropped by 2 mg increments (taking the liquid) and once they hit 10 they dropped at 1 mg. increments. They stayed at each dose for a few weeks ( or really, until YOU feel comfortable). I'm not gonna lie. They both suffered withdrawal after reaching 0 but my ex husband is methadone (and opiate) free for about 20 years and my friend got very involved in NA which became his "substitute" and has been drug and alcohol free also for at least 15 or more years still extremely involved with 12 steps. So there are several ways to do it, but as long as you take your time and don't let fear overwhelm you, it can be done.
NYG