finallygettinitdon
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2014
- Messages
- 5
Hello everyone: So I have been on methadone maintenance for about 7 years now. Got up to about 160 and then brought myself down to 85 where I sat for about 5 years. After moving from NY to VA I encountered the major cost difference of meth maintenance programs, about $90/week versus the $10/week I was paying in NY. I've put up with that for 2 years, and finally made the decision to taper.
I started tapering about 6 months ago, taking it very slow. I started at 5mg until I got to 20, then to 1mg/week. I am down to 5 mg. Up until now didn't feel a thing, but the past week or so I've noticed some changes, the worst for about 48 hours. Don't get me wrong, it's nothing like being dope sick, but I am wondering if it's going to get worse.
The symptoms started with anxiety when I woke up, which I've had in the past just from various stressors in my life, but after I took my dose I usually felt better for the day, no big deal, can totally deal with that. But now I am noticing the lack of sleep and restlessness at night. Last night I tried to go the bed at midnight, tossed and turned for 4.5 hours, took like 6 over the counter sleep pills throughout the night, and finally at 4:30 when I couldn't take it anymore I took my daily dose, which I usually don't take until 9 or 10AM on weekends. I can already tell tonight is going to be a great night. Today I can feel the anxiety, in my legs, that ache that only comes with this kind of withdrawal, I recognize it and know it well from the dope days.
I suppose if this is going to be the worst of it I am going to deal. But as I said, I'm wondering if this is going to get worse? I have 5 weeks left of taper. Am I torturing myself? Any ideas or suggestions? The doc at the clinic is supposed to give me something to help with this, I can't see him until Friday, 5 days away, and I think he is just going to give me clonidine. Can anyone tell me if that will help?
Thanks all for your help.
I started tapering about 6 months ago, taking it very slow. I started at 5mg until I got to 20, then to 1mg/week. I am down to 5 mg. Up until now didn't feel a thing, but the past week or so I've noticed some changes, the worst for about 48 hours. Don't get me wrong, it's nothing like being dope sick, but I am wondering if it's going to get worse.
The symptoms started with anxiety when I woke up, which I've had in the past just from various stressors in my life, but after I took my dose I usually felt better for the day, no big deal, can totally deal with that. But now I am noticing the lack of sleep and restlessness at night. Last night I tried to go the bed at midnight, tossed and turned for 4.5 hours, took like 6 over the counter sleep pills throughout the night, and finally at 4:30 when I couldn't take it anymore I took my daily dose, which I usually don't take until 9 or 10AM on weekends. I can already tell tonight is going to be a great night. Today I can feel the anxiety, in my legs, that ache that only comes with this kind of withdrawal, I recognize it and know it well from the dope days.
I suppose if this is going to be the worst of it I am going to deal. But as I said, I'm wondering if this is going to get worse? I have 5 weeks left of taper. Am I torturing myself? Any ideas or suggestions? The doc at the clinic is supposed to give me something to help with this, I can't see him until Friday, 5 days away, and I think he is just going to give me clonidine. Can anyone tell me if that will help?
Thanks all for your help.