Opioids Methadone for withdrawal

[ChronicFuture]

The restless everything is definitely pure torture. Ill take nausea, diarrhea and everything else it comes with. But that symptom is unbearable. I took 30mg temazepam last night and I still couldn't sleep.

 

[Keif' Richards]

The restless everything is definitely pure torture. Ill take nausea, diarrhea and everything else it comes with. But that symptom is unbearable. I took 30mg temazepam last night and I still couldn't sleep.

Jess and I have differing viewpoints on all of this, which is totally fine. It's not a competition, but I believe Gabapentinoids [Pregabalin (Lyrica); Gabapentin (Neurontin)] are an amazing tool for dealing with Opioid withdrawal. Pregabalin is even prescribed off-label to treat Restless Legs Syndrome due to its efficacy in that capacity. I swear by Gabapentinoids as a withdrawal aid. No, they don't make everything better, but they can take a huge edge off. Withdrawal has many facets both physical and psychological and I feel that Gabapentinoids can help with both. I have had conversations with many BL'ers who have said the same thing. I've helped some people taper using Gabapentin as well and the vast majority get significant benefit from their usage.

It goes without saying that everybody is different, but I really feel that the majority of people experience that significant benefit by using Gabapentinoids for withdrawal. I am not advocating becoming dependent upon this drug, only advising to use in the hopes that it will make the withdrawal process easier. Gabapentinoids due produce a rapid tolerance in most people, so using it for a 3-5 day detox, possibly followed by a short taper, makes sense. All things being equal here, it is not "wrong" to use one drug for the purpose of getting off of another. It's called strategy and planning these things out; having established goals and principles in your recovery.

The fact is, you're attempting a withdrawal here and its no doubt a huge mountain to climb. You have to temper your life in such a way that you're not getting high, while on the other hand, you're not too sick to function. You have to find that groove yourself. You have to expect some level of discomfort. That's just how it is, but we can certainly give you advice to help mitigate these symptoms safely and effectively. Please feel free to message me if you would like to talk about it privately.

 

[F.U.B.A.R.]

The whole point here is that if you conform to a proper supervised methadone reduction program, you don't suffer withdrawal and you don't need other 'comfort meds' which, in the long run, only serve to impede your progress.

 

[JessFR]

The whole point here is that if you conform to a proper supervised methadone reduction program, you don't suffer withdrawal and you don't need other 'comfort meds' which, in the long run, only serve to impede your progress.

You'd have to reduce methadone real slow to not have any real withdrawal.

It takes very little dependence to cause withdrawal.

 

[F.U.B.A.R.]

You'd have to reduce methadone real slow to not have any real withdrawal.

Of course. But it works.

Most junkies think methadone and subutex are magic bullets. They're not.

It takes time and dedication, as well as a hefty dose of 'man up' to be effective. But that's all down to the individual...

 

[yubacity]

The one blessing i have is i don't get RLS so you proberly right but i got no experience with that but the anxiety kills me drives me insane

 

[ChronicFuture]

Im almost done with day 5 no heroin and my pupils are still huge. Is this normal you think?

 

[F.U.B.A.R.]

Im almost done with day 5 no heroin and my pupils are still huge. Is this normal you think?

Yes. Forget the myth of 3 days and it's over. IME , you're looking at a good 10 days before you start feeling anything like normal again.

 

[ChronicFuture]

Yes. Forget the myth of 3 days and it's over. IME , you're looking at a good 10 days before you start feeling anything like normal again.

That's a relief to hear actually. As long as its normal. I believe the first time I quit I made it ten days and still felt bad, but I was taking a lot of kratom so I don't know if that's the reason why.

I looked into the methadone clinics near me out of curiosity and there's 3 here. Apparently they are all owned by the same guy and they don't taper you down. Just keep you hooked to collect the money. This whole opiate business is quite evil.

Anyways I really am grateful to you all for the responses. This is a long and tiring process and im all on my own here. My buddy has insurance and went to a fancy detox clinic so I've been alone in this. Hopefully I can help others going through this in the future.

 

[ChronicFuture]

Well im on day 9 now. I still have minor chills, goosebumps, pupils still moderately dilated, and restlessness is minor now compared to day one. I can now sleep an hour or more a night. Days 1-6 I had maybe 3 hours of sleep in total. Finally passed out from exhaustion, which lasted about an hour or two. Heart rate is also good according to the COWS chart thing.

I do not believe taking Methadone the first 3 days is going to cause a big issue. Its been about 5 days since my last dose and my symptoms haven't gotten worse. I have been taking kratom here and there to get me by tho, so maybe that will. Still waiting to see.

For those that have detoxed before, how long did the physical symptoms take to fully go away? Its depressing how long this whole thing. Makes the drug not even worth it.

 

[yubacity]

Well im on day 9 now. I still have minor chills, goosebumps, pupils still moderately dilated, and restlessness is minor now compared to day one. I can now sleep an hour or more a night. Days 1-6 I had maybe 3 hours of sleep in total. Finally passed out from exhaustion, which lasted about an hour or two. Heart rate is also good according to the COWS chart thing.

I do not believe taking Methadone the first 3 days is going to cause a big issue. Its been about 5 days since my last dose and my symptoms haven't gotten worse. I have been taking kratom here and there to get me by tho, so maybe that will. Still waiting to see.

For those that have detoxed before, how long did the physical symptoms take to fully go away? Its depressing how long this whole thing. Makes the drug not even worth it.

About a couple of weeks for the chills and fatigue to be gone but the sleep patterns took over a month to get better you will start sleeping longer each day gets just a little easier keep at it. You have done so well to get this far simple things like a hot water bottle for the chills help once in a while take some meds to knock you out dont rely on them but just to sleep 5 or 6 hours helps so much like i said keep at it you are doing real well

 

[polo792]

Hi I have been reading this thread and im also in a similar situation, i am trying to get off the heroin and i was told that a short methadone taper would be much easier thrn going cold turkey. However the methadone I have is in liquid form and it's 40mls. I also have valiums as well to help and some weed. I just got one question and that is when do I take the methadone? Do I need to wait til I'm fully hanging out like you need to with bupe so I don't go into PWD? My plan is to drink the bottle cap amount of the methadone and see if that holds me at first. I only intend to take it for no more then 3-4 days so I dont get a habit from the methadone. Any advice is appreciated

 

[negrogesic]

Hi I have been reading this thread and im also in a similar situation, i am trying to get off the heroin and i was told that a short methadone taper would be much easier thrn going cold turkey. However the methadone I have is in liquid form and it's 40mls. I also have valiums as well to help and some weed. I just got one question and that is when do I take the methadone? Do I need to wait til I'm fully hanging out like you need to with bupe so I don't go into PWD? My plan is to drink the bottle cap amount of the methadone and see if that holds me at first. I only intend to take it for no more then 3-4 days so I dont get a habit from the methadone. Any advice is appreciated

No need to wait till full withdrawal when it comes to methadone. It does not precipitate withdrawal.

In fact you probably don't want to wait until full withdrawal. Each time you experience severe withdrawal your body finds it easier to reach that state again (and in an increasingly severe fashion).

 

[Pickledlemons]

OP, just curious, how much methadone and kratom have you been using? And how long have you been using opioids altogether? As has been said, all these drugs affect the brain in a similar way, and it is that affect that you are addicted to, not the individual drugs.. but that being said, a lot of time doctors will recommend you stay on maintenance drugs. You will still be dependent thats for sure, and withdrawal will always be around the corner if your supply is interrupted, but once your doses are regulated and standardized, its not really destructive to your life in the same way heroin is. And, it can actually safe your life. Methadone is going to keep your tolerance high. This means that if and when you relapse, you will be much much much less likely to OD and die which is very common in these situations. Your decision to make.

 

[Phoenix_03]

The restless everything is definitely pure torture. Ill take nausea, diarrhea and everything else it comes with. But that symptom is unbearable. I took 30mg temazepam last night and I still couldn't sleep.

Anyone who says they don't experience the RLS symptom of withdrawal is one lucky SOB. You're right it's restless everything to the point you can't sleep, sit still, anything, it makes me want to jump out of my skin. If it was just the stomach issues, runny nose, yawning/teary eyes I would breeze right through.

 

[Pickledlemons]

agreed..the restlessness to me pretty much is the withdrawal. that and the panic/anxiety. everything else would be handle-able. Its frustrating how when put in words it doesn't sound that bad but in reality it is fucking torture.

 

[Phoenix_03]

agreed..the restlessness to me pretty much is the withdrawal. that and the panic/anxiety. every else would be handle-able. It frustrating how when put it words it doesn't sound that bad but it reality it is fucking torture.

Right, the words do not do it justice at all. The anxiety, too, is extreme I hate that feeling on top of the RLS it's just fucking unbearable. Also, I don't understand how people compare withdrawal with the flu or "a really bad flu". I'd take the flu any day over w/d!

 

[JessFR]

agreed..the restlessness to me pretty much is the withdrawal. that and the panic/anxiety. every else would be handle-able. It frustrating how when put it words it doesn't sound that bad but it reality it is fucking torture.

Yep.

It's impossible to explain to people how bad it is. opioid withdrawal RLS is just... Ugh. If I could have every symptoms other than RLS or only RLS, I know what I'd pick.

 

[ChronicFuture]

Whats up everybody? Hope everyone is staying safe and is good. Just to update everyone, I was able to get insurance and go to a great detox center. I did have to detox from the detox tho. But that lasted a week.

I am now 18 days clean off fentanyl/heroin/krat Om and all opiates. I only have goosebumps still. All other symptoms are gone. Even the psychological ones.

I feel at 92% and feeling great. Ive been jogging, tanning, and swimming everyday now religiously and its been helping a lot.

It took months but I did it. I recommend everyone to just go to a detox. F doing it from home lol.

I wanted to post this update in case there are people struggling still. It gets better and better everyday you're off of it. Dont give up because you will make it through it and then ypu never have to worry about dope sickness again.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone that replied to my questions and were so supportive. Especially the mods. Thank you all. There os life after addiction and it feels great. Anybody struggling want to message me feel free.

 

[Xorkoth]

^^ Awesome, congrats!

I can handle the other symptoms, but RLS (or as correctly pointed out here for us it's more like restless everything) is just crippling.

Especially when you get tired and wanna sleep. It's just torture.

The restless everything is definitely pure torture. Ill take nausea, diarrhea and everything else it comes with. But that symptom is unbearable. I took 30mg temazepam last night and I still couldn't sleep.

Totally agreed. The anxiety and depression are awful with opiate withdrawal, to be sure, as are the shits, etc. But the RLS (as negrogesic pointed out to me, it's actually more accurate to call it akathisia) is absolute hell. Seems like some people don't get it bad, in fact someone in here a while back was saying they sleep through opiate withdrawal, and I was like YOU WHAT?? God what lucky bastard gets to sleep through opiate withdrawal?? I will be unable to sleep or stop squirming for a week or more, laying awake all night, screaming and punching myself in the legs to get a moment of relief, contemplating suicide because of how maddening it is.

Jess and I have differing viewpoints on all of this, which is totally fine. It's not a competition, but I believe Gabapentinoids [Pregabalin (Lyrica); Gabapentin (Neurontin)] are an amazing tool for dealing with Opioid withdrawal. Pregabalin is even prescribed off-label to treat Restless Legs Syndrome due to its efficacy in that capacity.

Yeah, gabapentinoids help A WHOLE LOT. Pregabalin is best, but gabapentin is a miracle, too. It can eliminate the vast majority of opiate withdrawal, including the RLS. I did a month-long detox with my friend this past summer, we rented a cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere. The first week we took pregabalin and instead of being miserable, it was really fun and a great time with lots of laughing and cooking and hiking and playing music. And then after that week, it was just lingering stuff, working out powered us through it and the whole month was more like a vacation than a detox. Pregabalin is easily the best withdrawal comfort med of all time, and if you don't keep using it, you won't get addicted to it in that short period of time. So it really is kind of a miracle.

Im almost done with day 5 no heroin and my pupils are still huge. Is this normal you think?

yeah, day 5 is not the end. Also, every time you get addicted and come off opiates, you get addicted faster in the future, and withdrawal is worse, and lasts longer. It's known as the kindling effect.