How long can methadone withdrawal go on?

[tongowefli]

I have been on Methadone for the last 6 years, all starting with 5mg dose all the way up to 120mg per day. I was put on methadone to get me off of percocet that had been perscribed to treat my Migraine headaches. Finally I had enouugh of the Methadone and asked to be taken off of it. I had already tapered myself down to about 60-80mg perday, then went cold, on the third day I hurt so bad I finally went to the hospital and they treated me with Suboxone for 3 days. Starting with 4mg per day and I started feeling better almost immediately so I asked if we could taper the Suboxone. The one thing that really confused me was that even though i had not taken any methadone for 6 days by the time i got out of the hospital I was still coming up positive for methadone in my urine. Now i have been home for 6 days and the withdrawal symptoms have come back hard and I am really suffering. What advice do you have?

[nmw1]

Hi Brooklyn117 - I have been on methadone for 13 years. I started in the clinic @ 20 ml and increased/decreased over the years while in active addiction. 9 months ago i came into recovery. I was on 50 and I wanted to try suboxone. My doctor said if I could get down to 30 ml we would talk about it, so the next day I refused part of my dose and took 30 for two weeks. Doctor was not in when i returned, so I remained calm (unlike me when I don't get my way) and I went home and went down to 20 for another two weeks. When I finally met with my doctor again, he said I was doing well and I should stick with my plan, just not making such drastic drops in dose. So we agreed that 2 ml decrease a week would be ok every two weeks. I got down to 10 ml and then began 1 ml. Sometimes I stayed at a certain dose for more then two weeks depending on my life in the moment. I was taking methadone in liquid form 1 mg to 1ml tang mixture. I went down to 9 ml finally for a month. Finally, I decided I was done. I requested a script for 1 mls decrease every 3 days and I did very well until 5mls. At the 4ml drop I had the worst night of my life (Thank God it was the night before my clinic visit) I went to my doctor and told him I wanted to stay on 4ml and would like Clonidine and something to sleep. He gave me seroquel 25 but it was not enough, and clonidine helped some. I bought an oral syringe and brought home a 1 week carry for 4 mls a day and I decreased a ml per day down to 2, then I took 1.5. The withdrawal had already set in though so I decided that I would just go off. I returned to the clinic and changed my sleep med to Immovane/Zopiclone. I am day 6 without methadone. Today is the first day that I pushed myself to go out and do something and it took all the energy that I had. I am sleeping every night with the help of the sleep med and taking the clonidine religiously. I am religious in making myself go to meetings because my mind plays tricks on me. Some days I think that I have two options heroin for pain, or time for freedom. I want freedom. If I would do anything different, I would have stopped taking methadone the moment I was awfully ill at 4mls. I think I have prolonged the withdrawal a few days longer then needed. Today, I force myself to stay awake during the day because I crash from time to time. At night I had restless legs for the last few mls, and I was able to get my hands on Dilantin (but I would not suggest taking anything not prescribed). Fight through it and stay strong.It totally gets better. My mind finally feels ok... but my body is tired and sore. Freedom is all I want though, so I stick to my plan to reach this. You can do it :)

[nmw1]

this is incorrect information. Methadone doses begin @ 20 mg and go up until stabilization occurs. Professionals who are prescribing larger doses to begin are seeking to kill someone.

[djohn1828]

The best thing to use is clonodine period. sorry for the late post I am getting off methadone and the withdrawls are hell but with clonidine helps about 80%

[Brooklyn117]

I have been using methadone for about 20 yrs have taped down to 5 mg but can't seem to get past the weakness? Any  suggestions?  Will it ever end?  Will I ever be normal again? No one else to talk to!

[Brooklyn117]

I have been using methadone for about 20 yrs have taped down to 5 mg but can't seem to get past the weakness? Any  suggestions?  Will it ever end?  Will I ever be normal again? No one else to talk to!

[Sia74400]

Hi all,

I was taking methadone for almost 8 years, start with 5mg and end up to 50mg, then I started to feel that I hate my life, always tired and useless.
so I decided to get off this ****, I did so many research and found out if you reduce your meth 5mg every 14 days you can not fell it at all.
And that was right in last year every 2 weeks I reduce 5 mg and during last week ( 5 days) I didn't take any Methadone !
I feel like I have flu some pain in my legs and can't sleep but not hell, I can easily handle it.
Thanks god I can't believe after 8 years I am not thing this ****.
I believe that Clonidin is a perfect drug to help me now!
Help yourself and enjoy free drug life!
its not easy but its not hard at all, you can do it ! beautiful life just waiting for us !
Sam