methadone withdrawal

[cangma29]

I had went to an urget care clinic for some help w/ my methadone wds. I was going to a clinic, but had been detoxed too fast. Th doc gave me clolindine n sum ambien to sleep. It help a little bit, not enough. Especially sleeping. I called back n told them the ambien isn't enough. (I guess they arre the lowest dose possible 5mgs?) I do not have a primary care physisian. I have an appt in 2 weeks. I can't wait that long. They told me I will have 2 go back to urgent care just to get a higher dose or sometinhg different. Is this normal? I don't understand why I gotta go back n been seen again. Nothing changed, the meds just don't work. Is there ne thing else I can do? I got kids at home, I feel like crap the way it is, I don't wanna have 2 find a sitter and sit there for 2hrs again. But I will if I have 2. Ne suggestions?

[luckynags]

I went through methadone withdrawl about six weeks ago and I feel your pain. It was the hardest thing I ever went through. I found that when I felt like I couldn't take it anymore that a warm bath worked extrememly well. I went from 120mg to 0mg in 5 weeks and after reading everyone elses stories I am thinking that it did not make my symptoms worse or last longer. By day 15 I started to feel better but when you are going through it, better feels amazing!
Be proud of yourself because when you are done, you will realize that if you can make it through methadone withdrawl then you beat the odds. 87% of people who tapered off never make it to 0mg or relapse.

They say that when tapering off methadone, the slower, the better but I tend to disagree. For me, I woke up one day and said Fu** It! I went in to see the doctor and told him that I want off. He said that he will start tapering my dose down 5mg per week for a total of 24 weeks. I was astounished. I said "My mind is made up right now, in 24 weeks that can easily change. Won't that just allow for a bigger chance for failure? He said no. I then told him that I want my dose to go from 120mg to 60mg right away for a week and then 15mg/week for the next 4. All the clinical studies show that the standard 5mg per 10-14 days is not successful in 87% of people. Why not change it and study the outcome? Either way tapering is done, the patient still has to overcome the withdrawals and the addiction.

Also, does anybody know why no studies have been completed on the long term effects of methadone? I couldn't find any but I did find something that stated that studies regarding the long term effects of methadone can not be done because it is unethical!  It is also unethical to give methadone to patients for long periods of time without knowing the long term effects?

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

It 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. 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.  Eventually you will feel like your old self again but much better, because you will have regained the trust and respect of your kids and  family. And that is priceless...Good luck to you.