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?

[brittiej]

I was addicted to OxyContin and when I realized I had a problem I decides to take action and get help. I went to a methadone clinic and began my recovery. The clinic that I went to starts everyone off at 20mg and then as you continue to go they will boost your dosage by 5mg a visit or 10mg a week. I had only went up to 30mg and stayed there for a few months. When I was ready I asked my doctor to lower my dosage. Each week I would go down. I started going down by 5mg when I hit 10mg I went down by 3 or 2mg. When I got down to 2mg I came off cold turkey. To my surprise I had no bad reaction to any withdrawal symptoms and I felt fine. I finally felt like a real person and not a robot dependent on fuel to keep me going. My advice take your time coming off methadone and only do it if you feel ready. There is a difference between feelings ready and actually being ready. I would go every other day without taking anything so that was kind of my test to see how I would feel. Most of your withdrawal symptoms are really in your head. I know it's something no one wants to hear I have been there and heard it all. But honestly it really is. You just need to think positively, get up and do stuff, go for walks or whatever you need to do. But from my experience it was all worth it to be a human again..

[brittiej]

I was addicted to OxyContin and when I realized I had a problem I decides to take action and get help. I went to a methadone clinic and began my recovery. The clinic that I went to starts everyone off at 20mg and then as you continue to go they will boost your dosage by 5mg a visit or 10mg a week. I had only went up to 30mg and stayed there for a few months. When I was ready I asked my doctor to lower my dosage. Each week I would go down. I started going down by 5mg when I hit 10mg I went down by 3 or 2mg. When I got down to 2mg I came off cold turkey. To my surprise I had no bad reaction to any withdrawal symptoms and I felt fine. I finally felt like a real person and not a robot dependent on fuel to keep me going. My advice take your time coming off methadone and only do it if you feel ready. There is a difference between feelings ready and actually being ready. I would go every other day without taking anything so that was kind of my test to see how I would feel. Most of your withdrawal symptoms are really in your head. I know it's something no one wants to hear I have been there and heard it all. But honestly it really is. You just need to think positively, get up and do stuff, go for walks or whatever you need to do. But from my experience it was all worth it to be a human again..

[weaver71]

I sent you a message, this thread is from 07. Start a post for yourself and you'll get more support and advice.

[freefromthisfinally]

I'm on day 5 of a methadone withdrawal... been on methadone for 9 months, never going higher than 50mg.... last weekend just got tired of it, the dirty clinic, the medication, the lifestyle, all of it... dropped to 20 mg for two days, 10 mg on sunday and haven't dosed since... I didn't have any of the sickness lots of people have described on here, I guess I got lucky with that... depression and no energy, now that is another story and i'm always so damned cold!! today the brain zaps have started.. I guess my brain is trying to restart from being drugged for so long... I forced myself to walk the other day felt much better for about 10 mins afterward lol, thinking of going to the gym today to ride the bike and sweat some.. i'll let you know if you are interested to see how that works.. I do take multivitamins everyday and drink green tea everyday but I need to force myself to drink some water, I know that! anyway i'm here with yall!! sticking it through... good luck everybody!!

[stopthesuffring]

hi im in pain like you I know what will give your life back  Oxycotton
it comes in 20- 40- 60-80 mg u want to start out on 40 or 60 mg 3 times a day
1 every 8 hours you will have to test what mg that will work on you. and  hydrocodone 10 mg 1 every 6 hour that's 4 times a day for break through pain  I know people who are on this .
my medcaid will only pay for 2 -  40 mg its not strong enough im suffering bad..
what gets my goat people who want drugs to get high and dosent even know what pain is
and makes it hard for people how truly need help

[buprenex]

Mr. MoreOnMethadone,

Where did you get the idea Buprenex, Suboxone of Subutex where being discussed in the context of using them for Methadone treatment or Detox in this thread or my post, my sign in Name is Buprenex.

                                                My quote,

"Forget Buprenex, can be even worse. Nope once on Methadone you are in the big leagues".

In regards your Woooo...to all, your information is old and Buprenex Guidelines have changed in regards Methadone. Yes precipitated withdrawal is a problem but again your time frame is off.

But none of this MATTERS, Buprenex is hard and/or as Evil for most too taper off or quit. It can work for some and only some without complications of withdrawing form Buprenex. You can be the lucky one.

I presented the quick less detailed version of Evidenced Based Guidelines for Methadone Tapering of which I have followed and completed from 120 MG of Methadone of which I was taking for several years without any doctors guiding me, simply followed Evidence Based Tapering Guidelines with all the details of problems you may encounter in the process.

Cut the Buzz words out, read more carefully.
Buprenex