Aa
partner detoxing from methadone
Hi, I would be grateful of some kind words and some advice please.
Me and my partner have been together since we were 15, he has dabbled in drugs alot over the years, he became a heroin user at 19, has been in Rehab twice first time got clean, after 2 months used again, 2 years ago he went in Rehab again and hated it, since then he has been reducing himself, he got down to 10mg, and is in his 2nd week of detoxing, he really wants to do this, is so determined, but now it is really getting to him, he has had no sleep, pains and aches everywhere, fluey symptoms too. He has been on methadone for 9 years, he is now 34 years old, I feel so helpless, how long can I expect to watch him suffer, before he starts to feel any better, or even get any sleep? Plus although he is telling me he never wants to go back to methadone or anything ever again, I'm finding it so hard to trust that, i feel sick and worried constantly, i know he is going through hell, but this really is hurting me?, I love him to bits and would never want to be away from him, he feels same about me, its just so hard to see the person you care about the most go through this, but at the same time worry whether or not they will stay off it now or in the years to come, please help.
Me and my partner have been together since we were 15, he has dabbled in drugs alot over the years, he became a heroin user at 19, has been in Rehab twice first time got clean, after 2 months used again, 2 years ago he went in Rehab again and hated it, since then he has been reducing himself, he got down to 10mg, and is in his 2nd week of detoxing, he really wants to do this, is so determined, but now it is really getting to him, he has had no sleep, pains and aches everywhere, fluey symptoms too. He has been on methadone for 9 years, he is now 34 years old, I feel so helpless, how long can I expect to watch him suffer, before he starts to feel any better, or even get any sleep? Plus although he is telling me he never wants to go back to methadone or anything ever again, I'm finding it so hard to trust that, i feel sick and worried constantly, i know he is going through hell, but this really is hurting me?, I love him to bits and would never want to be away from him, he feels same about me, its just so hard to see the person you care about the most go through this, but at the same time worry whether or not they will stay off it now or in the years to come, please help.
Best Answer
Thank you to all of you for your comments, he was around 80mls and tappered down to 10mls over 2 years, he is now in his 3rd week, and it seems the only part of his body stil hurting are his legs. He says hot baths help and tonic water is helping also, his appetite is back to normal, but still is just so tired all the time, and exhausted, is this normal in the 3rd week?. I am finding this all very hard, very worried all the time, I can't eat or sleep, just feel so stressed with it all. I found out yesterday also that I am pregnant, so now the worry is magnified, as I'm so frightened he will go back to methadone or something to replace it, and i'll be left alone with my children, he is trying to reassure me that he wants this new life without having to put anything in his body to function, says he is looking forward to summer and spending time with me and kids, proper time, normal time, a normal family. But I am finding it so hard to believe that after 9 years he will live without it or anything, I am so anti-drugs, it makes me worry to what future we may have. All I want is one day out of all this to be happy, it may be hard for people to go through the detox, but my god us partners hurt so much too.
Nine years is a long time on methadone or any narcotic, actually more than a lifetime for many. You say he's tapered down to 10mg's. How much was he taking? Down to 10 over how long? Lot of factor's to give you our best guess. I did the taper and it's like a long drawn out miserable detox. But having said that, he's gonna feel terrible till he get's it out of his body, and it's in there real deep. But he's probably in almost constant withdrawls although not as bad had he jumped off at a higher dose. Tapering is for reducing the ferociousness of jumping off so he didn't have to do so at a higher dose therefore worse wd's. He's gonna suffer as are you till he's clean. From methadone, that once discontinued will be bad for a wk, and slowly, slowly get better, but oh so worth it.
Just stick with him and keep him comfortable. He needs lots of fluids and comfort foods.
Hot baths feel great for the aches and pains. Time is the medicine here. He will feel better eventually...
He says he wants to stay clean and I'm sure he means it. He needs a lot of support after he detoxes. Maybe AA or a support group/therapist. He can't do it by sheer will; it's rare that anyone can.
This is not your worry; it's his. He should be very afraid to go back after this. If he truly WANTS to stay clean,he will.
All the best-
Hot baths feel great for the aches and pains. Time is the medicine here. He will feel better eventually...
He says he wants to stay clean and I'm sure he means it. He needs a lot of support after he detoxes. Maybe AA or a support group/therapist. He can't do it by sheer will; it's rare that anyone can.
This is not your worry; it's his. He should be very afraid to go back after this. If he truly WANTS to stay clean,he will.
All the best-
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
the sleeping part you just have to deal with my doctor gave me stff for sleep but it dident work
as for recovery time with a 9yr habit your probably looking at 90 days for its spell to where off
you do get better but slowly I was on the stuff for 6 /2 yrs at 150mg...so my recovery was slow also....I try to work with all the posts with methadone...one thing you need to recover is good nutrition ...get up to walmart and pick up aome whey protein shake mix and drink 2 a day
this stuff is loaded with vitamins essential amino acids as well as the protein all of with the brain needs to heal the chocolate flavor is good you just mix it with milk this will give you the building blocks to recovery just know methadone is ruff to kick when one is on it longer the a yr recover comes in baby steps just know he isent going to feel like doing anything but force him to go for a walk around the block at first then build up from there exercise is critical to recover...also having support is to look up N/A meeting in your area you can google it keep posting with his progress and for support my wife was my biggest supporter and it mad a huge difference good luck and God bless.....Gnarly