Opioids methadone cold turkey

[kitty kitty]

I have been on Methadone for the past 4 months, currently 90mgs per day. I had only been using heroin for a few weeks before that after getting addicted to Dilaudid HP. I have no history of drug use and want to come off both the Methadone and heroin and I want to try cold turkey, although I know most people will say "don't even think about it!". I want to know what difference it will make that my use is so recent (4-5 months) and if my Methadone dose will make any difference (90mg for last few weeks). I have had no heroin at all for past 3 days and don't feel any different. I am on no other meds except Cymbalta (anti depressant) and Lamotrigine (for Bipolar disorder), although I do have plenty of Xanax if needed (which I vary rarely take anymore). What can I expect during detox and which will be the worst days? Any information would be greatly appreciated. PS I am allergic to Subutex/Suboxone.

 

[BiggDirty01]

I have been on Methadone for the past 4 months, currently 90mgs per day. I had only been using heroin for a few weeks before that after getting addicted to Dilaudid HP. I have no history of drug use and want to come off both the Methadone and heroin and I want to try cold turkey, although I know most people will say "don't even think about it!". I want to know what difference it will make that my use is so recent (4-5 months) and if my Methadone dose will make any difference (90mg for last few weeks). I have had no heroin at all for past 3 days and don't feel any different. I am on no other meds except Cymbalta (anti depressant) and Lamotrigine (for Bipolar disorder), although I do have plenty of Xanax if needed (which I vary rarely take anymore). What can I expect during detox and which will be the worst days? Any information would be greatly appreciated. PS I am allergic to Subutex/Suboxone.

Kitty, even with the circumstances you've presented here, cold turkey is not an option....its not safe medically, its not safe practically, and it can almost guarantee a relapse due to the intensity of methadone withdrawal.

You are going to need to titrate down on your methadone (or I suppose your heroin if you are doing enough of it often enough) in order to even ATTEMPT to get sober. I'd say the best option for you would be to go into an inpatient detox unit if that is feasible financially or insurance wise.

You are correct in saying you haven't been using 'that long' in the scheme of some of us opiate addicts on BL, but either way you are playing with fire with the substances you have disclosed. Dilaudid, Methadone and Heroin represent some of the biggest demons to an addict trying to get clean. I am not sure if you have any experience with withdrawals yet, but you need to be mentally prepared for the hell that getting clean can bring.

This is why I am suggesting some type of medical detox, because while opiate withdrawal almost never ends up killing a person, it very often makes that person in withdrawal wish they were dead. Methadone, especially, needs to be handled by a professional of some sort.

Please please don't try and think you can handle this on your own; you haven't been in the game long enough (thankfully to sustain a methadone detox on your own, even with the best advice from the best of the best posters and mods here on BL.

Feel free to PM me or hit me up on AIM@ BiggDirty01 and twitter with the same handle.

 

[KMK]

Kitty he's right^ it would definitely be best to seek inpatient care. You won't be coming off just the Methadone, you'll be coming off of everything at the same time. The first week or so sucks pretty bad but gradually get's better the longer you hold out. Xanax will help but not much unless your getting trashed off em and that's not really much help either. Hope this helped, post your progress when you feel up to par.Good luck!

 

[Znegative]

I actually detoxed cold turkey off pretty much the same dosage (though I was on it for roughly a year previously) in an inpatient facility. Strangely I wasn't tapered, nor was I given subutex like every other person coming off of opioids (even after 5 days they wouldn't give it to me. Catapres and phenobarbital were my "comfort meds"). However, this is a rarity, and I GAURANTEE that almost every other treatment facility would taper you down.

I am guessing that you are not prescribed methadone for pain, and instead go to a maintenance clinic. You should talk to them about tapering you down over the period of a few months. The good thing about a clinic is that you can usually set up a taper yourself, and you also don't have the ability (at least, not when you've only been on the program 4 months and giving dirty toxes) to fuck it up as your being dosed and observed by someone else. If you want to get off methadone, a taper is the way to go, and staying away from heroin and dilaudid is essential as well.

 

[tokenname]

I have been on Methadone for the past 4 months, currently 90mgs per day. I had only been using heroin for a few weeks before that after getting addicted to Dilaudid HP. I have no history of drug use and want to come off both the Methadone and heroin and I want to try cold turkey, although I know most people will say "don't even think about it!". I want to know what difference it will make that my use is so recent (4-5 months) and if my Methadone dose will make any difference (90mg for last few weeks). I have had no heroin at all for past 3 days and don't feel any different. I am on no other meds except Cymbalta (anti depressant) and Lamotrigine (for Bipolar disorder), although I do have plenty of Xanax if needed (which I vary rarely take anymore). What can I expect during detox and which will be the worst days? Any information would be greatly appreciated. PS I am allergic to Subutex/Suboxone.

detoxing from methadone means..
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased bp, sweating, rapid heartbeat,
shivering, body cramps, stomach cramps, restlessness..there's more.
there's a reason most ppl say 'don't even think about it.'
it would be hard to tell you which days would be worse..
since it lasts so many..
acute w/d lasts for weeks.
followed by months of insomnia..
upset stomach..anxiety..depression etc.
4-5 months of use guarantees you these symptoms.
be smart and get help.

 

[kitty kitty]

Other information that may be useful/clarify situation:

I was on Diaudid for broken shoulder and given wrong dose (250mg IM/IV instead of 16mg oral)-total use for 3 weeks
Started using IV heroin-total use 3 days
Saw doctor, went to hospital, detox with Subutex over 5 days, in hospital 2 weeks due to allergy to Subutex
3 days after release was very depressed, used heroin again for 3 days then went for assessment at Methadone clinic
Used heroin for another 2 days until commenced on methadone
On Methadone 3 months, made friend at clinic, used heroin with her (on 90 mg Methadone-current dose) for past week
Have not used H for past 3 days, really want to get away from it all ASAP
NO other history of drug use, don't even drink alcohol

 

[tokenname]

kitty..
anything's possible.
i c/t'd methadone..from a higher dose than what you're currently on.
w/o comfort meds.
it's not for the weak..
and i'm not sure i could do it again.
it's possible..
but no one who's been through it, would ever recommend it.

your best bet to get away from it all?
stay strong.
stay away from 'friends'
taper down.

 

[beengerman]

Please try anything you can to not jump off at that dose.

 

[kitty kitty]

Thanks everyone for all your advice. I'm seeing the doctor at my Methadone clinic today and will discuss my thoughts and ideas with her before I jump into anything hasty, although I'd still like to try. Can I not just go straight back on the Methadone if it is too bad? Will keep you all updated.

 

[SmackShaman]

You do not want to go through cold turkey methadone withdrawals. It is best to ween down very slowly. I'm not sure you even needed methadone after just 3 weeks of use. In my opinion, it takes 3 months doing at least 2 shots day to get a real junk habit. I've gone on 50 day runs without withdrawals that is besides the point. You want to ween down, I've seen too many people try to cold turkey it and it was not a plesent sight.

 

[carrion Doll]

Cold turkey methadone is NASTY. I held in two weeks before I gave up and I have no idea how I lasted that long. 5 days with no sleep and I was delirious. A slow taper is best if possible. But even if you get down to a low dose some people have real issues. Like me, I got down to 5-10mgs/day and still had a really awful time. My friends mom jumped off at 40mg/day and had mild flu like symptoms for a week. But it can be dangerous. I am glad you have decided to wait and talk to the doctor.