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Need help tapering off Methadone and get my life back!!

Lexi35

Lexi35

Greenlighter
Joined
Feb 18, 2016
Messages
13
This is my first time posting, so please excuse me if I'm not posting in the correct forum. I have been on Methadone maintenance almost a year, April 1st will be a year. I started at 30mg and my highest dose was 95mg. Did not want to get over 100mg!! So last June I started tapering 5mg ever two weeks. All was going great until August I suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. I held my dose at that point I was at 75mg. I found out in November that my heart had healed EF was 72%, compared to 20% when I had heart attack. When I found out that news I started tapering again. Same taper plan as before, everything was going great with my tapering plan until I hit 7mg.... Had to go to ER BP was 170/110. I was in full withdrawals out of nowhere. Thought I was going to die!! Anyways I missed my dose that day Feb. 11th because hospital will only dose u if you're admitted :( Clinic closes at 11am, didn't make it unfortunately. So I dosed the next day at 5mg. Had already changed my taper to 2mg every 7 days8) Big mistake, I have been in withdrawal hell ever since. I did get my clinic to put in an increase to 10 mg. That went into affect today thank God! But I'm scared it's not enough. It's been a little over an hour since I dosed, and I have to say I feel better. The horrible stomach cramping has decreased significantly. Wondering if it's a placbo effect of what? Also I wonder if going up 5mg is enough, considering how acute my withdrawals have been? How long should I wait to increase dose, if needed? I really am determined to get off Methadone and live a clean life!! I'm 35 and have a 7 yr old boy to take care of. We don't have car so walk pretty much everywhere. I have to function some what normally, whatever the hell normal is for me.lol So basically I really need advise on how to restart my tapering plan? Should I go down 1mg a month? 1/2 mg every two weeks? I really need help! I was so determined to be done before April, now it's not looking that way:? I want out of this hell I have to go everyday because clinic I go to doesn't give take homes to people like me.. Anyways any advise, suggestions greatly appreciated:):) I just want to get through my taper with as little pain as possible. I know it's going to hurt, but I can't be bed ridden, not sleeping or functioning at all. Have too many responsibilities to be sick as a dog8)
 
I've also considered switching to Suboxone, but only Dr. my insurance takes wants you to be off Methadone for 10 day!!! I figure why even start it if I can make it through the 10 days. I thought you only needed to wait like 48 hours to switch and not go into precipitated withdrawals? I'm so confused just need some guidance and help on what I should do?
 
Update.... I can officially say my withdrawal symptoms are over I dosed at 9:30 this morning. I feel like myself again!!!! I guess I'll find out by tomorrow if I went up enough... or wait a few days since the Methadone has such a long half life. I still NEED a taper plan that will work. I plan on talking with my consuler tomorrow about my new taper plan. So I need some advise asap!! Please help!
 
Hello welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately no matter how well you taper you will still have nasty withdrawals from the methadone. Have you spoken to a cardiologist about the risks you face from withdrawal? If you haven't then I advise you to stop the taper and stay at the lowest dose that does not cause withdrawals. Also have you been taking any "comfort meds" such as gabapentin, valium, kolonopin, or any benzo really. If not you should discuss with your doctor what options you have there. I hope you are feeling better!
 
^ good advice there.

As far as a taper you need to lower your dose by whatever you can deal with once every two weeks. Methadone is a full opiate agonist, a nmda antagonist and both ssri and adrenal ri. So you are withdrawing from more than just a very powerful opiate.

Could your cramping be due to opiate induced constipation? Many times with prolonged opiate intake we become chronically constipated and impacted stool will fill our digestive track. When we lower our dose the smooth muscle can wake back up and will begin to try and get the line clean. I would try and take a stool softener, without any laxative until the stool softens. Once the stool softens then you can add a laxative if you wish.

Senokot S is a stool softener and laxative. If you do not want the laxative you can go for strait stool softenerDioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate

As crimson stated here are some medications you can explore with a doctor to help you through this.

medications for acute opiate detox

The medications I would explore the use of for detox would be:
>Clonidine< DOSED EVER FOUR HOURS..

one of either
>NEURONTIN< >HERE< >HERE< >here<
OR >Lyrica<
OR >phenibut<

>A BENZO BUT JUST AT NIGHT<
>a nsaid<
>melatonin<
tylenol
Senokot S is a stool softener and laxative. If you do not want the laxative you can go for strait stool softenerDioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate.

(Opi Withdrawal) what is the best comfort meds for opiate w/d?

Your Personal Opiate Withdrawal Arsenal

I agree with crimson that no matter what your going to go through some withdrawls and some paws. But things will get better and in eight months or so you will feel amazing. You can do this. If I did it anyone can:)!!!

PAWS LINKS
Why We Don’t Get Better Immediately: Post-acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome Wiki

Exercise and Brain Neurotransmission
Neurobiology of Exercise
Aerobic Exercise
Exercise 4 Health, Mental Health, and Addiction vs. The Endorphin Factory
Exercise 4 Health, Mental Health, and Addiction vs. I worked all that out
exercise and sleep

Chemicals and supplements to recover from opiate addiction
Diet & Neurogenesis


it is a powerful thing to keep our thoughts positive and here are some threads many of us use to help us do this.
Good things about being off drugs/getting sober
Share Something Positive from Your Day vs. It's All Around You
Today I Am Thankful For... Ver. 4 Infinite Chances in an Amazing World
Daily Personal Affirmations Log Vs IM THE SHIT & NOT a piece a.. not playing me. NOPE
Managing depressive thinking

Here is the mindfulness thread.
Anhedonia MEGA Thread
 
Lexi35, welcome to the forum. If you don't mind me asking what started you on the methadone road?
 
Lexi35 said:
This is my first time posting, so please excuse me if I'm not posting in the correct forum. I have been on Methadone maintenance almost a year, April 1st will be a year. I started at 30mg and my highest dose was 95mg. Did not want to get over 100mg!! So last June I started tapering 5mg ever two weeks. All was going great until August I suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy. I held my dose at that point I was at 75mg. I found out in November that my heart had healed EF was 72%, compared to 20% when I had heart attack. When I found out that news I started tapering again. Same taper plan as before, everything was going great with my tapering plan until I hit 7mg.... Had to go to ER BP was 170/110. I was in full withdrawals out of nowhere. Thought I was going to die!! Anyways I missed my dose that day Feb. 11th because hospital will only dose u if you're admitted :( Clinic closes at 11am, didn't make it unfortunately. So I dosed the next day at 5mg. Had already changed my taper to 2mg every 7 days8) Big mistake, I have been in withdrawal hell ever since. I did get my clinic to put in an increase to 10 mg. That went into affect today thank God! But I'm scared it's not enough. It's been a little over an hour since I dosed, and I have to say I feel better. The horrible stomach cramping has decreased significantly. Wondering if it's a placbo effect of what? Also I wonder if going up 5mg is enough, considering how acute my withdrawals have been? How long should I wait to increase dose, if needed? I really am determined to get off Methadone and live a clean life!! I'm 35 and have a 7 yr old boy to take care of. We don't have car so walk pretty much everywhere. I have to function some what normally, whatever the hell normal is for me.lol So basically I really need advise on how to restart my tapering plan? Should I go down 1mg a month? 1/2 mg every two weeks? I really need help! I was so determined to be done before April, now it's not looking that way:? I want out of this hell I have to go everyday because clinic I go to doesn't give take homes to people like me.. Anyways any advise, suggestions greatly appreciated:):) I just want to get through my taper with as little pain as possible. I know it's going to hurt, but I can't be bed ridden, not sleeping or functioning at all. Have too many responsibilities to be sick as a dog8)
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to hear about your heart attack but congratulations for having taking this tough decision to get off methadone.
Obviously it will takes time until you can feel well again. But don't give up. It's worth it. :)

I used Methadone for almost 8 years and I managed to quit exactly one year and one day ago. It was very difficult but extremely rewarding. It took me more than a month to feel somewhere around reasonable but once I accepted that I could never turn back.

I had written a long post to you but when I pasted your message mine was deleted by accident. I'll just say that it can be a hard thing to do and it may take a long time for you to be feel yourself again. I had to use a lot of medications to deal with my detox. And until not so long ago I was still using Seroquel to be able to sleep. That's a horrible medication IMO so I decided to stop and try to deal with my insomnia differently.

I'm sure NSA covered most of the areas you should be focussing for these next weeks/months and depending on how you react your doctor may include an eventual benzodiazepine for a temporary period of time. But it is indeed an excellent and comprehensive post. I suggest you read and absorb every word.

I remember my testosterone hormones were very low and the reposition treatment made me feel much better. But that's something you need to be careful when you have a heart condition.

Getting off Methadone has been the most important thing I have ever achieved. It wasn't easy, you'll have your share of emotional issues but it gets better with time. Include in your routine exercises (the soonest you possibly can), hobbies and don't look back. Sometimes it's like going one step ahead and two behind but you catch up eventually and life becomes more intense.

Here in Bluelight I learned a lot of things and got the most helpful advices. I can surely say I have been inspired and helped by a lot of great fellows! I'm very grateful for the small victories and proud.

It's also a good strategy to keep yourself busy as much as you can. Everyday, all the time.
It does not matter what you do as long as you are doing something that is not destructive or that makes you think about bad things. I remember in the beginning I would not have the energy to watch TV, now I'm crazy about netflix and everytime I get back from my exercise I feel 'normal' for a couple of hours as if I could feel every endorphin in my body making their way back into my life.

I wish you good luck and know that this is possible. Difficult in the beginning, a bit emotional for sometime until you get your life back. I'm still going through challenges but once you've got your own routine everything will be better.

Erik
 
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oxyfen said:
isn't "Methadone maintenance" suppose to decrease use or is it long term "maintenance"
Click to expand...

It can be either. Studies show that people who stay on it 2 years or longer have better outcomes then people who use it to taper. I have met people at my clinic who have been on it since the 1970s
 
Right!
Specially before suboxone, when Methadone was the best option for chronic opiate addiction.
A lot of people from this generation have never considered quitting.

Depending on how old you are and whether you are functioning well in society, it's probably not worth quitting in some cases. Not so many good results I guess.

But OP is young and went down to 10 mg. So it would be great if he succeeded.
 
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Just sick of the years on and off opiates. I always looked at the Methadone Program as the last option possible, now I really believe it's saved my life.
 
Long term is how the clinic I use is, but I wanted to be done in under a year. Some people at my clinic have been there 15 yes!
 
Thank you for replying and yes I'm prescribed 1mg klonopin 3xs a day, 400 mg of Gabapentin 3xs a day as well. They were helping tremendously until I made the jump from 7 to 5. Crazy how much like night and day it was! My cardiologist says my heart is functioning at 72%, so that's amazing! She gave me a script for Clonidine for the high bp I was having. Today is my 3rd do back up at 10 mg and I'm feeling slightly better, but still not sleeping and getting migraines. An improvement though. I'm debating if I should go up another 5 mg? Low and slow is my plan now. No way to rush it for me.
 
Thank you for all the valuable information! As far as all the meds you have listed, I take all except the Senoket. I will definitely look further into it. The Gabapentin, honestly, has been the biggest life saver of all the meds. I also take s daily regimen of supplement's and vitamin's as well. My goal is ultimately live a clean, healthy, sober life. Only taking vitamins as needed.

As far as constipation, I've dealt with it all my life. Never as serious as on Methadone Program. I go maybe once a month!! And I take Miralax twice a day plus Colace. I even use suppositories, don't work at all. Even an enema has failed me from time to time. My gastro Dr prescribed me something call go lightly? It was a huge jug i had to drink over the course is a day, and that still didn't work. I will mention too, I'm very active, walk 5 plus miles a day, eat a mainly organic fruit and veggie diet. Minimal meat, occasional fish. Once when I was clean for a month my bf and I hiked 150 miles on the Appalachian Trail and I didn't shit once!! So that ended our journey. Had to get home to the Dr to make me shit! I definetly see the Senokot in my future :)

I haven't had a chance to read all the links you sent, but as soon as I do I'll give you a reply. From what I see looks very informative and useful for me. Thank you again!
 
I'm afraid I'm going to end up one of those people :( But better than the other option right?
 
I'm 35 and have been using on and off for 20 some odd years! I'm not functioning well, haven't worked in over 3 yrs, I'm also a recovering alcoholic. Got a lot of stresses so I think it's best for me to stay in the program quite a few more months. My body is telling me to not quit. I'm not going to hurt myself, heart condition, just to be done.
 
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