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Can tapering off of methadone slowly cause sudden onset, severe anxiety?

I have been on methadone for 6 years now, originally going on it due to addiction. One year ago my dose was 200mg/day, a massive dose seeing as I am only 5'5" and 170 lbs. Since then, I have tapered to 100mg/day reducing my dose by 5mg every 6 weeks. Up until a month ago I had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms to speak of- my goal was to get to 100mg and I am there but all of a sudden I started having severe, unfounded anxiety. It is just a free floating dread that seeps into my entire life... I am constantly asking myself "what is the point?" destroying any peace I may find in my day. I am always just dreading the rest of the day, and the day after that, and the day after that... Is this a withdrawal symptom? Why would I be completely fine until 105 mg and then have my anxiety go sky high? Please help...I can't work, I can't live, I can't enjoy any of the things I normally enjoy. Every moment is panic- sorry I know that is dramatic but that is how I feel. I am on prozac, and remeron and I have started taking magnesium, niacin and 5-htp to try and help with the panic but there hasn't been much improvement. Will this go away?
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Avatar universal
Hi Foxy.....well what to.....your going to have to slow the tapper dawn it all boils down to 3 things... serum level in your blood how much discomfort your willing to go threw and the most important part    let you body be the final judge...if your feeling it just stick it out for a few more days  the lower the dose the more difficult  it is...your beeting this thing keep posting here for support there is no painless way to do this  but the withdrawal can
n be managed  keep postinig there are a lot of Xmethadnioans to help  May God BE WITH YOU
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>GNARLY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Helpful - 0
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Hi- Is this a common side effect of methadone tapering? why would it hit me so suddenly- I went from 200mg to 110mg with absolutely no problems at all and then all of a sudden I am having a nervous effing breakdown. I am not coming down anymore for a long time, my goal was 100mg and I am there after a full year of slow tapering. The anxiety is terrible though...I had to quit the job I loved because I was completely incapable of doing anything, I am even terrified to get out of bed in the morning. I am not normally anxious, I am normally extremely laid back and chill, I am a housewife for the most part and I have always enjoyed my down time: walking my three dogs (my babies) in the forest, working from home (graphic design), cooking and cleaning for my hubby, gaming with him... but for the past month its like I constantly feel like there is something I need to be doing but I don't know what it is! I am so restless even when I am going through my normal day to day routine I feel like there Is something I am missing. It is a terrible feeling.
I tried to get in to see my doc to up the dose again but he isn't there for another ten days!

I am currently taking:
methadone 100mg
gabapentin 300mg 2x a day
synthroid
remeron 45mg
prozac 60mg

Niacin 3g daily
magnesium glycinate 500mg
omega 3s
B complex
and I am looking into getting some kava kava for the anxiety.

Help!
Yes anxiety is very common when tapering any opiate. Please don't go back up on your dose. Your body will adjust. Have you tried therapy, counseling?
I am going through this too and it is pure agony and I can’t take it. I have never had anxiety or panic attacks until going down on methadone. I’ve been to the ER 3 times thinking I was having a heart attack but it was 10 full hours straight of pure anxiety and panic especially in the pit of my stomach. I’ve been on it for 10 yrs I was on 225 mg for 2 yrs and for the last 8 yrs tapering down so so slowly I just got down to 30 mg so I dont think it matters how fast or slow you go obviously and I’ve tried everything and nothing works not even my depression meds that are supposed to work for panic and anxiety so if you figure anything out let me know. I know exactly how you feel.
Hi there
I posted so long ago I'm surprised I recieved a notification about your reply.
I was told by multiple doctors that it definitely does matter how fast you go and how much the dose changes (percentage of total dose) at one time. Once you are down to 30 mg you are at the lowest effective dose for addiction management. And dropping even 1 mg is more significant.
I have also been in hospital for what I believed was a heart attack more times than I can count.
I'm so sorry you are experiencing this...there is nothing worse.
What helped me is staying off caffeine, any stimulant medication like Adderall, and staying at the same dose and even going up a bit until I was comfortable again.
There's no point rushing it if you are suffering so badly.
When I tapered from 30mg I saw my doctor who prescribed medication for withdrawal discomfort.  A must have for me was clonadine it’s a blood pressure medication.  It helps slow your heart down, helps with anxiety and sleep.  They can prescribe other non narcotic medication for diarrhea, nausea etc too.   I think I took 3 years to taper off of 30mg and my withdrawals were minimal.  When I jumped to 0 I just moved slow but otherwise okay. When I cold turkey jumped from 30 mg to 0 I felt like death.  I stuck it out for about 45days and couldn’t handle the withdrawals.  depression, insomnia too.  So I went back on 30mg and stabilized and started tapering about 1mg a month.   It’s been years since I quit and I don’t miss it at all.  I still move slow but I’m 60 and I think it’s just life.  Lol.
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