[iviesmom]

Hey all, I'm new here. I joined because I am hoping to find some help with my current situation. I'm a 28 year old single mom. I have systemic Lupus and fibromyalgia. I have been suffering from chronic pain since I gave birth to my daughter nearly 5 years ago. When I first started on medication for the pain I was very depressed due to a bad marriage. I admitt I abused the oxycontin I was perscribed and went to rehab for 35 days to get off of it. I was unable to deal with the pain though. So much for it all being in my head. So my doc put me on methadone. I'm on a relativley low dose of 30 mg a day. I take ten three times a day. My problem is that I am basically unable to function because of how sleepy the methadine makes me. Plus I am sick to death of the hassles being on this med can bring. Like getting my refill every month. Sometimes the doc doesn't get back to me quickly and I end up with no meds for a few days. That sucks! I hate worrying about that and worrying about how I will keep my life going if I'm struck down by withdrawl. I'm sick of worrying about drug testing for new jobs. I know it not suppose to be an issue since its perscribed but I still worry. So is it possible to get off this ******** with little pain and discomfort? I don't have to do it fast I'm not running out or anything. I also have rxs for vicodin and some muscle relaxors. could I use those to help as the methadone leaves my body? Or will I then just need to withdrawl off those? I'm too young to be dealing with these heavy drugs and the side affects are ruining my life. I already have low energy and these drugs leave me stuck in bed so out of it. I would rather use natural treatments like herbs and yoga. Any advice would be wonderful. Thank you all!

[newyorkgal]

First off, in my opinion, getting off methadone with vicodin is a very bad idea. When you run out of the vicodin, you're just back to square one and muscle relaxers will hardly make a dent. Methadone is one of the hardest opiates to get off of but there is really good news nowadays. There is a drug called buprenorphine (suboxone or subutex) which makes it almost pain free. You're on a perfect dose also. You must be down to 30 mgs. or less of methadone before making the switch. Then you would have to go approx. 72 hours with nothing, until you are in significant withdrawal, and then you would start the sub. Within 30 minutes, you should be pretty much withdrawal free. There is a taper plan where you could be off the subs in a short time (couple of months). If the taper is done properly, that too is almost pain free. There are several people on these boards who have done the taper successfully and know exactly how to do it. You can go to the featured drugs section of this forum and there is a sticky called suboxone and subutex therapy - http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-...apy-50887.html - which details how it done.

If for some reason subutex is not an option for you, my only other advice would be to taper off methadone VERY SLOWLY and in small increments especially when you get down to the last 10. At the very end, start missing 1 day, then 2, then 3 before jumping off entirely. Again, methadone is a difficult drug to come off of, so if sub is a possibility, you should go for it.
NYG

[diamez]

If you have to go raw and go back in to the deep realms to get off the routine of taking such a low dose which wont be hard iam ytrying to get off on 75mls and i think xana will help.
But if you can get a nother strong drug to take the concertration off methodone to get it out of your system then theres a start .
comon girl.

Get the high off.

[heyhaze]

I am on 75mg Methadone a day for pain pill addiction. I started a maintenance detox a few weeks ago at 2 1/2 mg a week. I started feeling uncomfortable at 60 mg. and went back up. I guess I wasn't ready. I am going to get in shape and invoved in a support group and then try it again. It wont be easy but if i truly am serious about getting off I will do it. My only fear was going back to pain pills as I got down to a lesser dose, so I went back up. I just do not want to go back to that way of life ever again. But I understand your fears. I go thru them quite often. Fear of not making it to the clinic because of bad weather or some other reason. But, they are unrealitic fears. My Insurance pays for my dose now so I just need to keep my job and keep the Insurance going. That is a fear. Keeping my job. I also have Fybromyalgia. I should be on SS but cannot afford the time away from a job to get on it. Take care and keep posting. -Vickie

[cheekysod]

Originally Posted by iviesmom

Hey all, I'm new here. I joined because I am hoping to find some help with my current situation. I'm a 28 year old single mom. I have systemic Lupus and fibromyalgia. I have been suffering from chronic pain since I gave birth to my daughter nearly 5 years ago. When I first started on medication for the pain I was very depressed due to a bad marriage. I admitt I abused the oxycontin I was perscribed and went to rehab for 35 days to get off of it. I was unable to deal with the pain though. So much for it all being in my head. So my doc put me on methadone. I'm on a relativley low dose of 30 mg a day. I take ten three times a day. My problem is that I am basically unable to function because of how sleepy the methadine makes me. Plus I am sick to death of the hassles being on this med can bring. Like getting my refill every month. Sometimes the doc doesn't get back to me quickly and I end up with no meds for a few days. That sucks! I hate worrying about that and worrying about how I will keep my life going if I'm struck down by withdrawl. I'm sick of worrying about drug testing for new jobs. I know it not suppose to be an issue since its perscribed but I still worry. So is it possible to get off this ******** with little pain and discomfort? I don't have to do it fast I'm not running out or anything. I also have rxs for vicodin and some muscle relaxors. could I use those to help as the methadone leaves my body? Or will I then just need to withdrawl off those? I'm too young to be dealing with these heavy drugs and the side affects are ruining my life. I already have low energy and these drugs leave me stuck in bed so out of it. I would rather use natural treatments like herbs and yoga. Any advice would be wonderful. Thank you all!

hey iviesmom,
i changed from methadone around 30mg, (i mucked up my induction so make sure you are honest about your dose when you change over, i got precipitated withdrawls, i didnt wait long enough into withdrawl, meth lasts for ages)
anyway, i thoroughly recommend subs if you want to ditch the sleepyness of methadone, that will be solved IMMEDIATELY as they dont have the same sedation as methadone. you kindof feel normal, not high, but not sick in any way.
i have tapered slowly, since end of july, from 14mg, (too high to start) so quickly got to around 8, stablilized for a few weeks, and have managed to get myself to 1mg. so that is just over 3 months, i have a little bit to go but am nearly there.
there IS A WAY OFF METHADONE PAL,
you are in a perfect position to give it a whirl. find out, get as much info as you can, and if you do start, make sure the doctor doesnt give you too much, they are not really onto how strong these things are.
good for you it will be sooooo worth getting of methadone ay, i spent more than 10years on the stuff. among other things for 20 years as well.

good luck

[Cats Meow]

You should probably read my post on Methadone Detox, it's very long, but extremely informative. It's easier to just direct you to it, here:
http://www.drugs.com/forum/drug-info...awl-54140.html