Methadone and Withdrawal: What Users Say

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 25, 2019

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've been on methadone for a year now. I have a fast metabolism, so I get dosed twice daily. People think the higher you go, the harder it is to get off, well, not for me. I'm on 100 mg in the morning and 70 mg 8 hours later. It saved my life. It helped my anxiety and chronic pain. I decided to go cold turkey 15 days ago, and I haven't experienced any withdrawals or side effects. I have a strong faith in God, and if it weren't for Him, I don't think I could have done it."

• Anonymous
• April 4, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 20. I stopped school and went through many years of chemotherapy. For bone and nerve pain, I found methadone to be the best drug for daily use. It does help particularly with nerve pain. However, since its long half-life and milder symptoms compared to other opiates, it was easy for me to develop the drug into a daily routine. Eight years later, I am still taking methadone three times a day every day. Not so much for pain, but because of the horrible withdrawals (which can last for months) I experience if I miss a dose. I am now trapped in an addiction I never wanted. Before considering methadone for long-term use, please research methadone addiction. It's considered by many to be one of the hardest drugs to kick."

• Tnt...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 9, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Over half of my life has been spent in chronic pain. I had 2 disks fused and a pinched nerve fixed 20 years ago. I've had a pain pump and been put on everything you can imagine. I can promise you guys something, nothing is as good as methadone to help pain, in my opinion. I've been on it for 16 years now. It is hard to get used to though. You will get very drowsy in the beginning. I can tell you it's hard to have a bowel movement in the bathroom also. I would recommend stool softeners if you take methadone for that. I got caught in between doctors once and the withdrawal is hellish, no joking on that. I've seen heroin addicts say it was worse. I thank God and my doctor I get to take my Lyrica and methadone for my pain."

• nik...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 5, 2018

For Opiate Withdrawal "I was addicted to heroin for almost 5 years. Nothing helped until I got on methadone. I tried everything: rehabs, intensive outpatient, Suboxone (more than once). Methadone saved my life. It took away cravings once I got on the right dose. It’s all about finding your correct dose. If it’s too low, you may still have cravings. But also, I will say I wasn’t trying to up my dose as high as I could to feel “high.” I just wanted to stay as low as I could but still manage cravings. I was on methadone for 6 and a half years, and my highest dose was 90 mg. I have been off the methadone now for 6 months. I did a slow taper and felt very little withdrawal symptoms. I jumped off at 2 mg."

• kca...
• September 22, 2008

For Opiate Withdrawal "My choice of drug was heroin. I used for 2 years until I got busted and had to get off and wanting to get off. I started Methadone on 100mg a day and cut down very slowly to 2 1/2 mg within a year. I think methadone is a good way to get off opiates but be prepared when you finally want to get off everything. Vitamins helped me get through the withdrawals after finally getting off methadone, be strong."

• Bar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 17, 2016

For Chronic Pain "After five years of methadone, I am now reducing the doses from three per day to only two per day of methadone 10 for chronic pain management. At my age, I am knowledgeable of the risk for increased memory loss due to the use of methadone and age, so I try to cut back on the risk of memory loss. It is necessary to reduce my dosage as I have indicated, but it brought me the experience of withdrawal issues, which were terrible. As I said, finally I am on two per day at 10 mg of methadone, and the effectiveness has been felt and now requires the use of Norco once or twice per day when needed."

• 3rd...
• February 12, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "My experience with methadone is both good and bad. The doctor started me on a low dose at first and gradually increased me 8 mg every week until I met my dosing level at 150 mg. It did wonders for my life while I was on methadone. The reason that I rated it at 5 was because when I was ready to start weaning off, I didn't know how fast they were going to do it, and when I had my last dose, I had withdrawal symptoms worse than the heroin withdrawal symptoms. My recommendation to anyone who wants to get off any kind of opiates is to check yourself into an intense rehabilitation that will cater to your needs because withdrawal is real, and it caused me to have a mild stroke at the age of 31. Really, the best advice is to never use/abuse opiates."

• bro...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 17, 2015

For Pain "I have suffered from severe pain since 2004, relating to pancreatic disease, peripheral neuropathy, back (unspecified), and have been treated by a pain management specialist since March of 2004. I have been treated on many different pain management therapies, and I have been on methadone for 8 out of these 11 years. Out of all the pain medications I have been on, methadone has proved to be the most effective for my pain, although I do not think I can ever undergo a rapid withdrawal again. I am on 150 mg a day, and it is prescribed in conjunction with gabapentin and another non-narcotic medication called Prialt, which is a non-narcotic medicine that is infused via a pain pump. Methadone has saved my quality of life, but at a huge cost."

• War...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 3, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've been on methadone for 3.5 years. Currently at 90 mg. I only have to go to the clinic every 2 weeks. When I started on it at the clinic, I was in severe withdrawal. I never did heroin. I got methadone from a friend who went to the clinic weekly. After I was hooked, it was all over for me. I had no idea that it was that addictive until he was cut off and I could no longer get it. I only took about 20-30 mg a day then. But when he was cut off, I didn't know what to do. The withdrawal was just so awful and I still had to go to work full time. If I could do it over again, I would just suck it up. Now I have this ball 'n' chain and no end in sight. I had 2 kids on it too, so I get to live with that guilt too. Don't do it as a 1st resort. Just don't."

• 51...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Methadone worked very well for my chronic pain, especially the strange gnawing pain I had all over. I was on 30 mg of oxycodone for 5 years (DDD L5-S1, fibro, neuropathy, neck fusion), but I couldn't come to terms with the stigma and knew something was seriously wrong with my body. I ended up doing my own research and found out I was suffering from gout throughout my body. My PM doctor worked with me to get me off methadone by prescribing me dilaudid ER. Even with that, I had hellish withdrawal symptoms! Took me a month and a half and was only on it for 2 and a half months. Great med for pain though. Just make sure you're in it for the long haul. Never felt those withdrawals, and I weaned off oxy 30s with less pain."

• Lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 25, 2016

Methadone for Opiate Withdrawal "From 1989-1984 was a very heavy heroin addict. I got into a methadone program. This is important: I was started on 80 mg, went up to 150 mg for a few months, then ended up in a mental health hospital, was hallucinating, not sleeping for two weeks. The private clinic I was going to had a dispensing nurse stealing my dose. The police came to take me home, I was so paranoid I was checked for coke, meth, and methadone. NOTHING in my system. Not even methadone. My current doctor saved my life. Came to mental health, started me on 80 mg. Was out after a week. 20 years, it has saved my life. I'm 60 in May 2016, have a 20-year-old daughter, she had NO withdrawal at birth. Normal for over 20 years."

• jus...
• December 15, 2009

Methadone for Opiate Withdrawal "I have to agree it is a good medicine to detox on, however, your detox from the Methadose is going to be a long, hard road. Unless you are planning on staying on it forever, you can count on a long, hard withdrawal. It does work wonders for pain, but when you move away or get cut off, it lands you in a situation of finding another doctor to write for it or the dreaded methadone clinics that charge $11 to $15 a day! Wonderful for pain, even got me up and mobile."

• Ivo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Really helpful for chronic back and neck pain. Also really helpful for neuropathy pain. Makes it a bit harder to think. But I was taken off it cold turkey after a doctor switch. The withdrawals; I was on a low dose, were really bad. Hot flashes and restless leg were prominent for a couple of weeks. Iron supplements helped the restless leg syndrome a lot. Don't know why methadone caused it. Because of the withdrawal and the dulled thinking, I would hesitate to use this drug again, but I do miss its helpfulness for pain."

• Ash...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 27, 2019

For Opiate Withdrawal "I’m 28 years old, a mother to a beautiful two-year-old, and have been on the methadone maintenance program for over three years now. I was put on methadone after I became pregnant, like many others. I was severely reluctant because of bad associations and opinions I always heard about the program. Honestly, today, I can say methadone has saved my life. I know I would’ve ended up dead, like so many others close to me. Right now, after weekly counseling and group, I am tapering down from 120 mg. You build yourself up to a stable dose, you no longer think of using, and pair it with treatment or counseling for issues you’ve been avoiding, it is a tool to relearn life again. I was able to repair so much. I tapered from heroin many times cold turkey in a cell. I have control of this, they allow you to pace yourself to minimize withdrawal symptoms."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2014

For Opiate Withdrawal "I have been addicted to painkillers ever since I got out of the military. After my doctor moved, and I could not find another doctor who would prescribe me what I'd been taking, I tried to taper and quit but went into horrible withdrawals. I was so sick, luckily, my therapist recommended that I try methadone maintenance, and I'm so thankful she did! I got my life back-no more highs and lows or running out of pills, trying anything I could to get more, and worrying about withdrawals, etc. I also had suicidal thoughts and attempts. Now it's been almost two years, I've had no attempts or thoughts, and I feel my quality of life is so much better! I don't want to be a lifer on methadone and plan on tapering slowly, my current dose is 100 mg. This medicine works!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 31, 2017

For Opiate Withdrawal "I first got on methadone maintenance (MMT) in 1995 for an addiction to opioid pain meds. Once on, I never touched any other drug. I got my life back. I took 100 mg daily through my clinic. After 9 years, I caved to pressure from my family and 12-step group who felt that I was 'still using.' I weaned myself from MMT in two years. Within a year, I started using methamphetamine, IV heroin was next. I got back on MMT after 3 years. Been on it 8 years again. I can't stress enough how well I do on MMT. Same job, home, and freedom from the highs and lows of addiction. Only go to the clinic monthly, and I never have withdrawal. This should be the LAST RESORT opioid treatment, however."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 7, 2019

For Opiate Withdrawal "I have overdosed three times on opiates, the last time I almost died, and since then, methadone saved my life. But if you ever go without it, for example, you can't get to the clinic, the withdrawal is 100 times worse than pill withdrawals. I've been on methadone for 20 years and will be on it till I die. For me, I know even after 20 years I would be right back on pills if methadone wasn't there for me. No matter the dose, high or low, coming off it takes time. But for me, it's worth it because it saved me."

• Lon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 25, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "I can't give methadone a horrible review as it does have its place. When you're bad off, it can get your life back in order. I've been on and off twice. Each time over 2 years on at around 130 mg usually. While on it, you can beat drug addiction, so it does save lives, but it comes at a cost. It's much more addictive than heroin, and I did a bundle per shot just not to feel sick (didn't get high) while off methadone in my past. Hard to believe, but it's true. Getting off of it is much harder. Regular opiate withdrawal lasts maybe 4 to 5 days. Methadone withdrawal can take weeks to feel normal again, making most return to the clinic or start to use again to kill the sickness. Even getting off slowly doesn't make it easy."

• fin...
• September 21, 2012

For Opiate Withdrawal "I have had spine problems and surgery for 15 years. I could not sleep on my sides or back because the pain would generate through my hip and leg to where I wanted to scream. I had become immune to everything from hydrocodone to hydromorphone. I could take 30 mg of Percocet and feel nothing because my body's dependence had gotten so high, nothing would work. I also had gotten to have to take medicine to keep the withdrawals down, which felt like the bones in my legs and back were being pulled out of my body with a pair of pliers. The aches would only be resolved by laying in hot water, and that was from withdrawals and not even including the actual pain I was having with my spine. It was hell, and methadone took all of it away. Now I live again!"

• Sue...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 10, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I was prescribed methadone for arthritis 15 years ago (no insurance). I started with 10 mg, 4 times a day. It worked well with no problems. I did have problems with some brands giving me nightmares and terrible night sweats, but it did stop the pain. I recently lost my PCP and was forced to find a new doctor. It seems most doctors now will not take a new patient who is on methadone, so I am trying to wean myself off before my first appointment. I have been working on this since Dec. 2017. It has not been easy, I am now taking half of a 5 mg every other day. It seems to be working pretty well. Don't be fooled by being on a low dose, the withdrawal is still very bad at times. Arms that won't stay still, legs that make you get out of bed at 2 or 3 a.m. I can't give up. I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer almost three years ago, even my oncologist won't give me methadone."

• Lar...
• April 9, 2016

For Pain "I've been on and off methadone for years for what started as pain from 4 ruptured vertebrae, and my addiction to opioids after that. I'm only going to share briefly about getting off methadone or reducing your dosage. I saw a comment by someone here on 100 mls and looking to cut it in half so they can take other medication that isn't blocked by the methadone. Go slowly if you don't want to go into severe withdrawal. Taper from 100 by 10 mls every week. Don't go faster than that. Feel free to stay longer than weekly here and there if you start feeling bad. It takes about a week to fully start feeling bad from the time you reduced. Once you hit around 30 mls, you've reached the typical therapeutic dose and MUST GO SLOWER BEYOND THERE."

• Swt...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've been on methadone for over ten years, and currently, I am trying to get off of this drug. I've been decreasing my dose 2 mgs per month for over a year. I am at 3 mgs and really starting to feel the withdrawal. I don't plan to get my next 30 doses because it's almost ridiculous how little it does for me. I have 3 doses of 3 mg, and I'm terrified. Can anyone give me some truthful encouragement?"

• Jtm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 17, 2015

For Opiate Withdrawal "Methadone helped with my chronic lower back pain. I worked up to 80 mg a day. The doctor had his license suspended. Cold turkey withdrawal!!! On day 7 and it's pure hell! Oh yeah, at first I was great, could move, work, you name it. But after, no doctor would see me because of who my previous doctor was, I had to withdraw! Beware, my friends, when you go off methadone, you will hate your doctor for giving it to you and wish you were dead to stop the horrible pain. And it takes months to feel normal again. Just getting up to get water takes a long, agonizing experience! Please get off soon with professional help. I didn't have that. Hospital detox was too full, so they sent me home with blood pressure 90/60 and falling. Had to call an ambulance to go back!"

• Add...
• February 4, 2018

For Opiate Withdrawal "I was on methadone for about 6 years. I was pregnant and on opiates. Daughter was born while on methadone. I was only on 65 mg during pregnancy. She had no withdrawal symptoms. Got down to 5 mg and quit. They tapered me down slowly, and 2 months later I still felt bad. It takes a long time for the effects of methadone to come out of your body. I would say it will help you, but be aware the withdrawals are worse. So if you go this way and are put on it for an addiction, it is very hard to come off of. I get a prescription but am in the same place I started at. Opiates are easier. I've been through both withdrawals and felt like I was going to die. But it is a good thing for certain people, I just wouldn't do it again. I learned my lesson that it is something needed for addicts for the rest of your life unless you're willing to wait a long time to get back to normal. It takes a long time to get the effects of methadone out of your entire body. Be aware of your choice if you choose to get on this drug. It will work, but at what cost."

• lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 20, 2014

For Opiate Withdrawal "I have been on methadone for almost 10 years. I have tapered and got off a few times, but always seem to fall back. I have never gone higher than 45 mgs. This dose has completely covered all withdrawal symptoms without feeling tired and useless. I had a son last year at the age of 33 and was very nervous about the effect it would have on my newborn. I never increased my dose during my pregnancy and remained at 40 mgs comfortably. When Sam was born, he experienced no withdrawal symptoms. I was worried sick for nothing, however, that is not always or even often the case. Overall, methadone maintenance has been a very positive experience."