Day 28 cold turkey off methadone

[cad13]

I can't believe it...it is day 28 coming off of a 15 year opioid habbit....the last ten years was Methadone. I stopped cold turkey....I have been in hell for the last 28 days. Today is the first day that I feel like a partial human being. I hope that it is uphill from here. My sneazing is out of control, stomach still irritated, but I feel like I can remove myself from the fetal position that I have been in for the last 28 days.
Does anyone know how much longer it ill be until I can function again?

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

t is hard to stop methadone cold turkey, but it seems that you are doing it. Because of its extremely long half -life, methadone is one of the opiates that’s most difficult to detox cold turkey. Such attempts are usually so prolonged and excruciatingly painful, that most addicts are not able to go through with the experience and give up. Please don't give up, it is only going to get better and better from now on.  See if this doctor can write you a prescription for some Gabapentin for anxiety and general malaise, Requip for restlessness, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose 25-50mg for sleep. It will make withdrawals easier.  You can try ibuprofen 600mg for pain. Please don't start taking the any opiates again as it will only throw you back into withdrawals once you stop again, or make you relapse.  Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The severe symptoms go away in four to six weeks with methadone, but the residual insomnia, weakness and depression can last for months.
Make sure those are addressed and discussed with a physician so that you do not fail long term.  
When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself.  It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
Please take some time to look at my blogs (by clicking on my name and then blogs)to get more information. My website (www.mdsdrugdetox.com)  also has lots of information.
You have a lot to live for and you obviously know what is important in life.  
And that is priceless...Good luck to you.

[mheadey]

It will take a minute. But if your starting to feel some improvement then it looks like it can only go up from here. What evil things these drugs are the doctors give us, if your ready to regain control of your life which it sounds like you are, then you got this. Congrats on 28 days, I'm only at 2 week mark and can't wait to see how I feel after 28. Good luck