Need Advice For Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms

Hello all.

I am seeking advice for either home remedies to help alleviate some of the symptoms of withdrawal as you taper off methadone, or any and all suggestions about how to go about reducing the dosage and cravings.

My boyfriend has been on methadone for 3 years. At first it was a 105 mg dosage just a substitute to get his fix instead of using. Now, he is really trying to get clean and slowly get off methadone. He's been on 30 mg for (from what I can recall) 6 months. About a month ago, he tapered down to 25 mg. He takes 10 mg pills and we are cutting them into fourths and halves. He tried to go down to 23 mg, but he has had a hard time with his nights - joint pain, muscle spasms, cravings, etc. So now he is a little reluctant to continue to go down.

Does anyone have suggestions as to how I can help him and he can help himself with these symptoms?

He's also been fighting cravings and been so close to scoring, but something always happens that he doesn't get his stuff. I don't live with him and he lives by himself, so his nights are when he is more susceptible to relapse. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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REPORT

Unfortunately, with Methadone, there are really no proven ways to do this, other than by using another drug such as Suboxone, which would require another long tapering process.

Learn more Methadone details here.

But Methadone is notorious for being super dangerous to stop taking and for causing severe withdrawals and cravings. That's why most people that used it for addiction treatment ended up on a lifetime maintenance dose of it and never becoming completely drug free.

Thus, the Suboxone treatment that I mentioned is the only suggestion I know of to make.

Learn more Suboxone details here.

Has he tried getting professional medical help with this?

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I just finished 2 years on Methadone.... started at 60mg of juice....took a few months to get stabilized... then started a slow taper... in my experience...a very slow taper is the only way.... you must be stabilized with you last taper ( no more than 10% ) before you drop again.....i tapered down to 2 mg for 3 weeks, then 1 mg for 3 weeks, then .5mg for 3 weeks... then I stopped.... and had no withdrawls at all I am a month methadone free and feel great, no cravings or desire....slow slow taper and it will work.... there are no shortcuts....nd it's well worth it... good luck. You'll get there if you want it.

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First, I was on Methadone for over 6 years. I was on a dose as high as 190 per day.
I read an article, on the internet, that was written by a doctor. He said no matter what dose you are on, the withdrawal is all the same and takes exactly the same amount of time.
So, on June 30th 2012, I quit cold turkey. It was not easy.
But, with the help of my doctor, I was able to beat it.
Even if you are on 5 mg per day, the withdrawal will be the same as 60 or 190.
My suggestion is to quit cold turkey and suffer through. Do not let the Methadone clinic lie to you anymore.
The cravings do go away very quickly.
The withdrawal feels like the flu without the vomiting and it will take a while to get your appetite back.
But you will lose weight. In fact I lost about 40 pounds.
STAY FAR AWAY FROM SUBOXENE. IT HAS METHADONE IN IT AND IT WILL ONLY PROLONG THE WITHDRAWAL.

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You wasted your time tapering off and a lot of money. The withdrawal from 5 mg is the same as from 190 mg. No matter what you are shocking your system.
The methdone clinic is told to tell their clients that weening down is the only way to go. This is the only way they can continue to make money off of you.

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Are you a moron. Never tell someone on a high dose to quit cold. Just because you did it WITH THE HELP OF YOUR DOCTOR, that doesn't mean someone else would. that's the mentality we fight every day in MMT. People with a cookie cutter mentality. You know, every one's the same.

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Suboxone does not contain any methadone, I must inform you. The ingredient is bupenorphrine and nalaxone. Subutex is another option which is exactly the same as suboxone without the nalaxone opiod agonist.

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This is of course a reply to Marci

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I need help I'm 40 years old heroin addicted female. Was on maintenence for 5 years at 80 just recently dosed down to 57 and jumped I'm on day 20. When does this get better. Because as usual I didn't plan well and I'm doing it without meds

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Tell your boyfriend no matter what dose he is on, the withdrawal will be the same. My suggestion is to just stop cold turkey.
Yes, he will feel like crap for awhile. But, in the end, it is all worth it to say you are totally free of the methadone and drug free.
Do not use alcohol to get through the withdrawal. You can than become dependent on the alcohol.
Also, music helps a lot to get through the withdrawal. I used my I-Pod to help me relieve the symptoms of withdrawal.
Even if you ween down to 10 mg or even 5 mg, the withdrawal will be the same as when you are on 30, 60 or 90. Just stop and suffer for the period of time and come out clean.
As the song says "you have to go through hell before you get to heaven"

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No, I am not an idiot.
And, I did not go to my doctor for help. I did it all on my own.
Read the postings on the internet about quiting methadone. The withdrawal is the same at 5mg as it is at 100 mg.
There is no getting around the withdrawal.
If you feel you need help from your doctor, do not go to the clinic doctor. They only want to keep you there so they get your money. They will tell you whatever they have to to keep you coming there.
I actually went from a much higher dose down to nothing on my own. No, it was not fun. But, at least I can now say I am free of the liquid handcuffs. Can you say that? I doubt it.
Do not knock something until you try it for yourself.
Yes, it is hell, at first.
But, you have to go through hell before you get to heaven. So, enjoy and stop cold turkey. You will not regret it.

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I'm detoxing from130 to completely off in 30 days today was day 14 . If tooooo can dime a natural.suplemento store and can afford about $100 worth of natural herbs , minerals etc, it will be much easier. and help the receptors in the brain heal much quicker. also helps with restless leg, irritation, pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea etc. I thought it was b******* until I got desperate and was so sick my family was beginning to get severely annoyed with me . I could barely work much let alone take care of my children. if you want to email me I can send or email the list. The.$100 in supplements lay around 3_5 months groundhog on height, weight, metabolism, etc. also prevents sweating as much

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kd can u help me plz? doing the same as you, ct from 90mg liquid, week 2 and I keep getting worse. I'm starting to fear for my life. How long until I start ramping up??

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Hello my name is len. I was on methadone for 9 years due to pain my Dr retired and I was left in the dust!!!! I tried finding a new dr even w all my records I couldn't find one to help, I been off them for a month now still having horrible pain in my back but I'm alive, the paws (post acute withdrawals syndrome) is horrible I'm on suboxin but doesn't help much and now I just starting neuratin, idk if it eill help yet ! But I was on 80 mg cut down to 40 and I went threw hell! I still am the paws is almost as bad but I am bak to work, counseling helps, I just suggest for ur boyfriend that stay active it helped me especially talking don't feel sorry for him keep him up and moving that will help slot! But he will say how much it hurts etc just keep him Goin it hurts more laying there believe me!!!! God bless he can do it if he Really wants to only the weak give up!!!

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Hello I was on 120mgs went down 5mgs half a pill every other day got down to 70 and slowed down to half a pill once a week ;and I was clean for 3years then got into a bad at accident and I'm on it again for pain ; but u can do it be strong it's physiological as well as just having strong will to do it ;good luck to u I'm here if u need help ;thanks Chrissy

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I did a fast taper, I was on 140mg a day and did a 21 day taper. I went down 10 a day than when I got to 60 I took it slower. I found that taking a multi vitiman really helps, you can look online under Toms Recipe for detoxing. Also I took melatonin at night. You must be informed about that and take it the right way. Try to keep as active as possible and get outdoors in the sun to help with depression. The worst it got for me was body aches and feeling like I had bricks strapped on my feet, also it feels like there is a cloud over your head all day. You have to be positive and wanting to do it. Be stong and just no it will only get better. For sure though take those vitimans!!! B6 will help with energy!

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Try kratom I took it for opiate withdraws and it stopped the withdraws and killed the pain.give it a try its truly amazing stuff

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I'm currently on methadone and tapering off, so I empathize with the situation you and your boyfriend find yourselves in. This is the third time I've tried to drop, though the first two times I had to stop due to major life events interfering with things. I've found that if I'm not in a stable place in my life and haven't prepared for it, then making the attempt either simply won't happen or will be a complete failure.

I found this article (healthydietbase.com/how-proper-nutrition-aids-in-substance-addiction-recovery) a while ago, and while it's pretty much common sense stuff, having the reminder did help and it makes some great points which I've followed. Layla Lou made some GREAT points about multivitamins and supplements which have also been helpful to me. Gentle exercise - walking, yoga, stretches - and hitting a hot tub have also been beneficial, as has meditation. Melatonin helps, but so does Tylenol PM, Advil PM, or Z-quil. If insomnia gets really out of hand (or anxiety), a doc might be willing to give him a short script for Klonopin like mine did. If he's having GI issues, loperamide (Immodium) helps a lot, though it is a a piperidine derivative, and thus is an opioid drug. However, as long as he doesn't take Prilosec with it, he's not going to get a buzz off of it.

Having a strong support network, friends and family to talk and hang out with, and being able to distract myself with games, books, work, and silly stuff on the Internet has also been helpful.

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What natural supplements are you talking about, k?

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I'm on 76mgs and I think they ate going to Medically detox me im going through withdrawals my body hurts the worst I feel like death. What medication or supplements help.

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Did you succeed? Getting off of the methadone.

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Re: matt (# 16)

I know quite a few people used it and it worked for all of them and each of them had different addictions and some of them were going to a Doctor so you have given the best advice yet.

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I take 60mg of methadone a day and someone took my meds. I have to wait 3 days until my next refill. What will help for withdrawal symptoms?

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I joined my local methadone clinic just to detox off opiates, after starting at 25 then to 30-40 and the last three days at 45. But I only am opiate free for the last 6 days. I'm so scared of being hooked on methadone I've stopped today cold turkey after 11 days. Will I be ok?

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It shows your boyfriend needs to stay on 25mgs for a while longer. When he feels he's ready, go down just 1mg at a time. Maybe 1mg per week or even two weeks. Don't push too much. It makes it a lot harder. Nothing wrong with 1mg at a time. At least he's doing it and not suffering from going down. One should never force oneself. God bless y'all and add a prayer or two. This also will make one feel better. Try it you'll like it!

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I have been on 70 mg of methadone daily for about three months now and quit cold turkey today. What is in store for me? After reading these posts I'm terrified.

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I think using suboxone or subutex as well as tapering slowly is the best option. Hope this helps

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Just keep on tampering down and just get it over with. He will have discomfort no matter what he comes down on, that is why I say accept that there wI'll be muscle spasms and sleepless nights for a good two wks after he is completely clean. That is the nature of addiction and getting clean and sober. No pain no gain!

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I was on 100 my a day for 3 years and quit cold turkey in Nov. I literally thought I was gonna die but finally the Dr prescribed gabapentin and was floored over how well it worked. Now I'm completely sober but that gabapentin was a life saver... Literally

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You are so right, I do not believe she was ever on methadone !!!

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Hi, I've been on methadone for a year and on an off it and illicit drugs for 20 years. I'm sick to death of being on it that I am seriously considering taking a 50mg naltrexone tablet to speed up withdrawal from methadone. Now before you tell me not to, I have done it before but was only on opiates and I was clean & OK 12hr's later but it was horrific. I just worry it will be a worse and longer withdrawal compared to other opiates/opioids?

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