Discussions that mention methadone

i am about to attemp to stop taking methadone for the second time in a month. i tried for 7 days 3 wks ago but could'nt stand the symptoms. My doctor does not help his patients to go off the meds he puts them on. My question is what do I have to look forward to? will the fact that its only been 2 wks and that i did a week then make a difference now? i'm scared to death about what I'm about to face. I have been on 30 to 45 mg. a day for 8 mos.but before that i was on other stuff for 1 1/2 yrs.so i have been on pain meds for 2yrs. Please help. oh also, my husband has just informed me that i have to be able to take care of the kids, he can't miss anymore work. any info would be helpful

[This message has been edited by sara62 (edited 05-19-2002).]

[This message has been edited by sara62 (edited 05-19-2002).]

How many mgs are you on? Coming off of methadone is not easy at all. Some say it is worse then coming off heroin. I don't know if I can do this or not, but there is a Watchdog site for methadone patients that could answer your questions.

Dear Sara, Hi my name is Sid, and I'm in the same exact boat that you are in right now. I've been on methadone for almost a year. I'm on 220 mgs. and am dreading the thoughts of coming down, let alone coming off, but I need to do this.I just started to get take homes, so it might be a bit easier for me ,than getting up every morning and feeling crappy, and having to take a long ride to the Clinic, ya know? Anyway, I heard that soon they might pass a bill and we won't be able to get methadone at all, unless of course we pay for it ourselves. My innsurance covers me right now, but it looks as though they wont be for very much longer. AHH! What are we going to do? There will be so many sick people out there too. I pray that you are well, and keep the faith, as I try to do on a daily basis, and I try to say the Serenity Prayer on a regular basis also. Let me know how you are doing sometime o.k.? You can find me at "Desperately trying to get off methadone" Peace! Sid444

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hi guys, thanks for the answers. i guess i should of gave a little back ground. I've been a chronic pain patient for 2 yrs. I was unhappy w/ the chemical dep. of oxy. so i switched drs. this was back in oct. the new one put me on 30mgs of meth a day and said i wouldn't have to worry about cd w/ it. I have learned my lesson, At this point in my life i'd give anything for an esay oxy withdraw, i find methadone 10 times worse. it hasn't worked for the pain since feb. my dr. will not change it so i told him i wanted off, he also does not help his patients get off, I've tried 4 times since feb. and failed, this last time i went into a detox center for 6 days when i got homethe withdrawel returned and the pain was so bad i couldn't stand it.I have no pain tolarence anymore whatsoever. I am in the process of switching drs. I was on oxy, percasets and loracets for a year before the methadone and i thought they where bad to quit but i would never recamend methadone to anyone. i find it impossible to get off of.good luck to anyone else out there who is tring to guit. also a bit of info I just learned every time you go thruogh narcotic withdraw and don't make it or start taking a drug again your withdraw gets worse and longer lasting.

Dear Sar, I'm right here with you hun, believe you me, I know exactly where you're coming from, even about the Drs. After my Dr. got me hookedon VicodinES, Fiorinal, Perc's and pills to wake up, go to sleep, help me stop going to the bathroom, and help me go to the bathroom, she kicked me to the curb because I overdosed on Heroin...(The pills just didn't work for me anymore, I got ammuned to them)I too am in constant chronic pain due to O/A, R/A, Fibromyalgia, back durgery, another buldging disk, and Piriformis Syndrom. Thought you heard it all right? I'm also being tested for MS and Lupus)Oh yeah, I know pain, anyway, I went on the Methadone Clinic and am now at a whopping 220 mgs. I honestly NEVER thought, or wanted to go there, or get that many mgs., but, believe it or not, I'm still in pain. I have no idea what to do, except to try the vitamin withdrawel that Navalhawk suggested. I will try anything at this point. I am able to get take homes, so, it's easier than going to the clinic everyday, and maybe it will be easier for me to stop.You know what I mean? Anyway, Keep the Faith, God Bless, and let me know how you're doing, as I will you,o.k. Take Care! Dawnette (Sid444 on the boards) See ya!

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SARA,HUN YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR CHIN-UP. YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG I NO EASIER SAID THAN DONE.KICKING METHODONE IS THE WORST,,AND YOUR NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT HELP.HAVE YOU TRIED TO GO TO ANOTHER DOCTOR?HAVE YOU TRIED A METHADONE CLINIC,I THINK THAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST SHOT,JUST START AT A LOW DOSE,,,AND DETOX PROPERLY,I NO YOU WANT TO GET OFF THE METH ALL TOGETHER,BUT IT TAKES TIME,,WE ADDICT HAVE TIME.SO TRY IT OUT,BUT JUST TRY NOT TO SUBSTITUTE,WITH STREET DRUGS,BECAUSE THEN U WILL GET DOUBLE HABIT,AND TAKE ADVICE FROM SOMEONE WHO HAD A DOUBLE-HABIT,HEROIN AND METH.,NOT AVERY PRETTY PICTURE.WELL I HAVE BEEN CLEAN NOW FOR 6 MONTHS OF ANY STREET DRUGS,I STILL TAKE MY METHADONE AT A CLINIC,AND AM GOING TO BE DETOXING SOON,BUT I WILL DO IT AT MY PACE AND VERY SLOW,BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO FEEL THAT KIND OF SICKNESS AGAIN.I DO NOT WISH THAT ON MY WORST ENEMY..OK HUN,,GOD BLESS ,,PLEASE GET INTO THERAPY,,PEACE,,BE STRONG FOR U AND YOUR KIDS,SWEETY,U CAN DO IT,I WILL SAY PRAYER FOR U!!!PEACE.

hey guys,like dawnett and navalhawk i'll try anything at this time, are you taking the vitamins at the same time as stepping down or while in full withdrawel. dawnett ii total understand where your coming from, i can't beleive how i have allowed the dr.s to destroy my life,and whats worse is they don't have the faintest idea about methadone here in ohio, i switched pain clinics 3mos. ago in hopes of being put on something thats easier to come off and when i was due to refill i called hoping to get a script for something else but resigned to being stuck w/ meth again, instead the nurse tellls me the dr. wants me off meth, i said fine so do i what are you going to give me, her reply was nothing. i was speachless, she treated it like it was a vicodan withdrawal told me to take 3 one day 2 the next then one and that i would fill fine in 5 days, i told her that they where idiots and of course had to run back to the meth dr. I am going to see a new family dr. on friday and the point i'm at is i want them to switch me to a codiene type for pain and then i can come off of them over the next 3mos. while building my pain tolerance. I have no energy anymore, for me to do the dishes and then cook dinner is an awesome task, i'm not even at a dose that i can function anymore if i lower it by even 5mgs i start to shake and this is how my dr. has kept me for 5 mos now.. i will not allow this to go on i am so tired of being changed to a pill bottle i want my life back and i don't even mind if i have pain but not like the pain these pills have caused which is falll o0n the floor nonfunctioning pain, but the pain i had before this all started i'd trade it back in a haert beat. dawnett that 220mg ii read your on scared me i've never been on more then 50 and i cant' get off. but i stoppped the percs, and oxys, i was on 200mg alll together when the c/d got to bad on thoseand i stoppped them at home. and i thought that was bad withdrawel at the time, but i would trade anything for that again, methadone has kicked my buutt and i can't do it. its nice to no i'm not alone, but i'm sorry that anyone else would have to struggle w/ this. i'm going to check into the vitamins right now, please keep me posted on how its going w/you guys,oh and navelhawk is this your first withdrawel or have you tried before? love sara oh can we put are email address on here for each other or is that not allowed?