Please Help Me With Methadone Questions & Withdrawl (Page 3) (Top voted first)

I have been on methadone for 9 months... I was up to 80 mg but have managed to get down to 20 mg over the past 5 months or so. I am wanting to get off it all together but I am so scared because I don't want to feel miserable from the wd. Since I have been on it less than a year, will the wd still be horrible? Should I go from the methadone to suboxone to make it any easier or just keep going down on the methadone? How long will the wd's last once I am off everything? I go to the clinic so I am not doing it on my own, it is medically supervised. Can anyone PLEASE help me with some good advice??

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A few years ago I was on 30mg of methadone through a pain clinic. It was for pain and it no longer helped. I didn't want to up the dose so I decided to bear the pain. I cut down by 2.5mg per month and had no withdrawal symptoms whatsoever. I finally regained my brain. Great having no brain fog. Living with the pain is not too bad. Good luck to you and God bless.

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Hi Stacee and everyone else! Hope all is well. This is a subject I know all to well. Was on Methadone almost 20 years a lot of that thru MMT. I suffer from chronic pain so I walk a thin line daily. Stacee I think you are doing great and should continue decreasing SLOWLY. I got jerked off a 100 mg (long story) ended up in mental hospital and got put on suboxone but thankfully weaned myself of in 14 days, I really think if you have weaned down so well that suboxone would be a step backwards plus you have to wait 3 days. Stan did give some good info. Gabapentin or neurontin is the medicine he's talking about and it helped me a lot,it's difficult typically prescribed for seizures and nerve pain. It is not scheduled so it is not as hard to get as most things. Keep talking to people they've been through it themselves and you don't listen to your clinic they don't want you off. If you start experiencing any physical withdrawals Google the thomas recipe it can be very helpful. If you'd like to chat let me know, would love to help anytime. cmd

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Hi Niele...I'm down to 11mg and will go down another 2 on Wednesday. So far so good. How are you doing?

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hi there, I have been on methadone off and on for years and i am going through some of the same problems. I want off the stuff but have conic pain so i cant get off everything or ill die. but I do know this and that is you don't have to wait 3 days before getting on suboxin . It only takes 12 to 15 hours after your last dose before you can take the pill. So don't kill your self for 3 long days. I was on a low 3mgs and was going through hell for months after good luck in what ever you decide!!!

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METHADONE? Everyone one is is different stace, you prob will feel withdrawals if you can not take it after a while 3 to 4 days off done try small pieces of subs, i prefer subutex over suboxone.

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Stacy, Hon you are on a ridiculously low dose of methadone and at this point I think a lot of it is in your head. I am not only speaking from personal experience but when I was clean for 15 years (and I mean nothing.... no drugs or alcohol), I became a counselor. Never mind I relapsed-that was because I stopped going to NA mtgs. Finish coming off the methadone and go to meetings and establish a support network. Kicking the drug is the easy part believe it or not. Staying stopped and dealing with the cravings is the hard part.

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answer on done? now is the time to get off iy will not be easy everybody is different,i have been on for 16 years now if to do over never again go slow on detox on done if needed subs. but that is something else you would have to detox off off ?

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Hi! thank you for your reply. I am very familiar with the side effects of Methadone as far as constipation, etc. I am interested in knowing the best way to come off of 20 mg of Methadone. I am seeing my doctor on Thursday to discuss it but wanted to know if anyone else has had this experience and what to expect. Should I keep lowering the methadone until I am finally off? Should I wait 3 days and then start Suboxone? How bad will my wd's be considering I am on 20mg and have been on Methadone for less than 1 year (10 months to be exact). Of course I am looking for the easiest way to get off it. PLEASE HELP

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Hi Niele,
Thank you for the reply even though it was not exactly what I wanted to hear...lol. I have been on suboxone in the past...on and off for about two years. When I kicked that, the withdrawl was pretty miserable. I met with the doctor today who brought me down 2 mg so now I am at 18mg. Every week, I have the option of staying at that amount or dropping it 1, 2 or 3 mg. I have been an addict for about 10 years but this was my first time I had ever used Methadone. Do you know how the withdraw will be from now until I get off of it? When I went down gradually om 85 to 20mgs I didn't feel bad at all. Just tired. I'm wondering what it will be like going down from 18mg??

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Hi Tara....I hear ya! It is constant battle. Of course you didn't tell your doctor not to write you those scripts! Who would?? I appreciate you being so honest and optimistic. I am sure you will stop when you are ready. I can't imagine the pain issue...I truly feel for people with chronic pain. It's a slippery slope. I don't know what would be worse, living with pain or living with an addiction. I don't know your situation but hopefully you are able to find a happy medium. I appreciate you cheering me on. I'm always here if you want to chat about anything. We need that support!

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Hi Niele! I had replied to your message but not sure if it went through....I'm so happy that you felt good today!! What a great day!! Write me when you get a chance. Hope you have a great night too! You got this.

{edited for privacy}

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Hi Niele! I sent you two messages but I don't think you got them because I included my email. It said it needed to be reviewed?? I am super happy for you that you felt good today!! I hope it continues everyday!!

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no do not change to suboxone you'll be going backwards do not be afraid of the withdrawals they are something to be afraid of but if you are withdrawing under supervision it will bring u down slowly to the point you will slide off without the least bit of withdraw. you are already getting anxious. I'm not sure if it was you or somebody else but I advise highly and to anybody I withdraw especially from methadone because it is dangerous to take a benzo with it for anxiety which you are already starting to feel and once you are off of it you will have some anxiety problems. just because that drug excuse me I picked on that drug not that drug any opiate. it is a scary thing to come off of opiates. that is what anxiety is, fear. but like I say if you're coming off with supervision of somebody very experienced withdrawing people you have no worries. I do highly advise you to get on a antidepressant preferably effexor 75 milligrams twice a day for 2 weeks then hundred 50 milligrams twice a day. that will beat you down and make you a little tired but that's the whole idea to go after the anxiety. effexor works on the same nerves pathways as xanax but is not instant like xanax. that is why you have to get in your system or just are working and had a dose of 150 milligrams twice a day will work wonders for anxiety and daddy kane trust meas xanax but is not instant like xanax that is why you have to get in your system or just are working and had a dose of 150 milligrams twice a day we'll work wonders for anxiety. just give it a little time if you do not treat the news I just give it a little time if you do not treat the anxiety it is 1 of the top reasons 4 relapse here is a lot too coming of opiates is not simply just withdrawn. I learned how to do that years ago for people citric is starting long enough to put some unboxing find people the anxiety it is 1 of the top reasons 4 relapse here is a lot too coming of opiates is not simply just withdrawn I learned how to do that years ago for people did rick is studying long enough to keep people from relapsing detoxing is simple. it is how to keep off of them. two big things which you are concerned about. one of them is how you feel after you were off. not always but likely lack of energy that causes some people to reach for opiates. they want that energy back. two things you can do to make that go away, these are not home remedies. there is one and only one made it is an extract. it is called green coffee bean extract. you can find it at health food stores or I'm sure the Internet. you take it in abundance. when your urine is green your body is full. keep taking that dose. the green p is normal.

This may sound ridiculous to you and you won't want to do it because you will think it is foolish, but it is so important. simply walk, do not jog, don't run, walk and get the natural chemicals going in your brain again that opiates killed. that gives you natural energy back. only walk and not too much. you don't want to get sore and find a bulls*** reason to grab an opiate. keep taking the extract to make up for the energy. you will find it gives you plenty and eventually the walking will get the natural chemicals going again. then you will be fine and normal people that don't take these steps the antidepressant the extract and the walking are set for failure. not all but most clinics like the one you're going to will wean you down and you will not get sick, but they're not giving you the further tools that you need to feel normal. you almost think you were still detoxing because you feel like crap. you're not detoxing. your body has shut down certain chemicals to do things as follows and you will be fine. please do the three things that I told you. I gain nothing out of it to keep stressing to you over and over no matter what you think do all three. do not rush. The Last Epps coming off methadone you can drop pretty fast in the higher doses and not get sick but when you get to the end don't get overconfident and drop off. you want to wean off really slow at the end. thats for you to get sick but if you go slow and do not cheat stick to the regiment and never take a higher dose then the doses that you are coming down with you will have zero symptoms coming off. so don't worry yourself with it. methadone can be a scary drug but it also is an awesome drug for many things. typically it's great for detoxing off of normal opiates. that's why I stress on people do not move to methadone you are taking away a tool that you can use to wean yourself off of typical opiates. example: somebody that is heavy on oxycodone is 3 weeks time with methadone mainly in a few other medications you can come off symptom-free and never have a chill bump. so 2 other people reading this, I hope that you're not so anxious to pick up methadone for any reason especially thinking you know how to detox with methadone. yes methadone is great to detox under experienced supervision and is also great for treating long term extreme pain with other medications. new studies have shown 25 percent of patients that take methadone with a good heart dies that is 25 percent patient see my doctor that does not count on the deaf from illegal use. just plain simple don't mess with methadone. it has its purposes. Never take benzos with methadone; deadly combination!!!

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e xcuse me too my replies I'm using voice recognition because I talk to a lot of people fast and it is not working right sorry I see that somethingS are repeating and run together sorry

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Hey Stacee
I was watching for a message from you; I guess we can't include our email.
My "normal ness" passed of course. I feel like I've taken too much cold medicine-that's how I feel. Plus an overdose of Doom & Gloom.
I read Brads message. I'm not sure I completely understand everything, although he made a lot of good points. I have been making myself walk every day; I believe that helps.
So how are you? I don't know anything about methadone dosing, the lower the better, I know that! Have you made a plan? A time table? If you were to completely stop, do you have things going on that being sick for a couple of days would interfere with? It's important to make preparations wherever possible. Have you decided to skip the Suboxone? When you took it before did it help your depression? I thought it did help mine, but looking back, I was just high.
I don't like giving all my power away to a damn pill; what happens if the pill is no longer available? These people who plan on being on maintenance doses til they die? s$&@ happens! Insurance companies quit paying, doctors lose their licenses....
I really am sorry I didn't get your email. I wonder if there's a way to just phrase it differently? Im going to try later, but send this beforehand.

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Hi Niele.. Well at least you know that you will feel good soon and that it can happen! As far as the cough syrup feeling..ugh...I can't imagine why you felt that way. So you have been totally off the Suboxone for 75 days?? I had a bad bad experience with Suboxone. I know people and doctors say it is a matience drug and you can be on it your whole life, etc. Well, it is actually ONLY suppose to be used as a short term drug to get people off whatever addicting opiate they may be on. The scary part is that most doctors and people don't know this. Like I said, I had been on and off it for about 2 years. When I was off it, I was using. I knew how to manipulate it so that I would wait long enough that I wouldn't get sick but I could use pills and still feel their effects. Anyway, I had one doctor telling me that I would need it my whole life, I had been to plenty of doctors and outpatients...some didn't even know what PAWS was!! I couldn't believe it! I finally met someone that knew everything about Suboxone and PAWS. She was not a dr. but a therapist and a friend. Everything she explained to me was right on. She was the one that helped me get off. So you asked if the Suboxone helped ny depression.. HECK NO! lol. It made me sooo depressed towards the end when I was still taking it and when I got off the paws for me was soooo bad. I couldn't drag myself out of bed or the house or even muster up enough energy to take a walk. And that was because I had been on it way way too long which no doctor ever informed me. I have been dealing with this for about 8 years. My drug of choice was roxy's... instant release oxy's aka "Blues." Not sure if you know what they are. Brad did have some good info. some of it I did not understand either...lol. But I am on 18 mg of Methadone now...1x a day and plan on moving down to 15mg on Wed. I actually feel better since I moved down. But I am waiting for the big boom to drop!! As far as the Suboxone.. I am not going to take it. I figure just keep going down from the methadone. I don't know about you but when I was on the sub. towards the end, I was taking a tiny tiny speck of it (pill form) and just from getting off that speck the wd with sheer hell. So what I really wanted to talk about was the depression...I am on 450 mg of Wellbutrin, 200 mg of Lamictal, 40mg of Viibryd. Also. 70 mg of Vyvanse just to get out of bed in the morning and deal with my brain fog. I feel like I am working with 1 brain cell sometimes...lol. How are you handling depression? I know I asked you about the name that you used for depression that could not be cured (something like that). I was interested in learning more about that. I am 42 and have dealt with depression since I was 16. A long time. The antidepressants keep it under wraps...I have been on every antidepressant out there. For a while some would work great and then stop. What about you??? Hope you feel okay today!! Ps.. What state do you live in? Just curious. I'm in Florida, where most of the addicts are...lol!!

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Hi Niele,
I literally just spent 25 minutes writing you and when I sent it, it said it had to be reviewed. Whay does it do that?? I wrote so much and some good info about Suboxone!! I'm mad....lol!!

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Hi Brad! Thank you so much for taking the time to give me so much information!! I really appreciate that!! I could still make out what you were saying even though some of the sentenced were repeated. So I am actually now on 18mg of Methadone. and I only take it 1time per day. Today is day number 4 since I went from 20 to 18 mg and I feel great actually! On Wed. I plan to go down to 15 mg of the Methadone. I am on several antidepressants. 450mg of Wellbutrin, 200 mg Lamictal, 40 mg Viibryd, 70 mg of Vyvanse ( just to get me out of bed in the morning and help with brain fog, concentration). I am familiar with the name of the medication you were trying to think of, Gabapentin. I actually used to take it in the past and I know that a high dose of about 1800mg will help with opiate wd. Any other suggestions now that you know my meds and details?? Thank you so much!!

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Hi again Niele!! I wrote Brad an email and I listed all the Antidepressants I am on. I had actually put this in the email I tried to send to you too. Can you read the message I wrote to him so you can see what I take? I really wanted to discuss the depression thing with you. Do you mind telling me what you take? You had asked me if the Suboxone helped with my depression...NO, it actually made it worse. But then again I was on and off it for 2 years and it is only suppose to be used as a short term drug to help get off opiates, not a long term drug but of course doctors don't tell you that!!

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Hey Staycee,

This probably won't send either, but.... I think it would very naive to think that anybody besides the pharmaceutical companies or some branch of the medical community sponsors & monitors this website. It has been very helpful to me, but that's just a fortunate by-product. I've tested the boundaries some...and, yeah if you spoke out too strongly against subs, won't go through. Haven't you seen the pop-ups? "Opioid addiction?" "Free coupon for Suboxone." No way you'll see this but my email is {edited for privacy}. Good luck!

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