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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

No Methadone for 4-day weekend

M

mascutt

Greenlighter
Joined
Jul 4, 2014
Messages
3
I have been on a low dose of methadone for almost 14 years for severe chronic pain. I have, and strictly follow the contract of medication I maintain with my neurologist and pharmacist. I never run out of my meds early, in fact, sometimes at the end of the month, I have a couple of pills left over from times I've simply forgotten to take one (during the afternoon) - but not often. And I have a very good relationship with my neurologist and pharmacist which has lasted more than 8 years based on my behavior and the adhering to my pain management contract. I've read many posts here where people are asking which meds to mix with which simply to send them over to their "happy place." I'm not looking for a happy place. I don't like to feel high at all which is why I don't use recreationally, nor drink alcohol. I just enjoy the decreased pain in my body and the ability to sleep at night.

But this week I planned poorly. July 4th was my normal refill date. My doctor gave me my script on Tuesday and I carried it around with me all week because I knew I would just go to my pharmacy on Friday (today) to fill like normal. It wasn't until last night that it occurred to me my pharmacy might be closed for the 4th holiday. And even if that was the case, I could probably skip one day ok and fill on Saturday. But I just found out my pharmacy closed until Monday. This is the first time in 14 years I will be off my meds simply because I didn't think ahead. Of course, I have my prescription, but no other pharmacy will fill it, and they all treat me as though I'm a drug-seeker, which I think is profiling anyone on pain meds as an addict (discussion for a different time).

So I cannot fill my prescription until Monday morning. I'm just wondering how sick I will be by that time going cold turkey off of 30mg per day? Will it be bad? Just uncomfortable? I have other health issues too, such as, my body's blood hyper-coagulates when my body is stressed due to certain types of meds (mostly migraine profolactics) and has nearly killed me twice with extreme clotting. I have very old prescriptions (more than 2 years) of lorazapam and Tramadol. Will either of these drugs help to ease any severe withdrawal symptoms I might experience just until Monday? Or will it take longer than the 3 days I'm off of methadone for me to get really bad?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Please, serious responses only, specific to my question. I'm not looking for a detox program. I did that many years ago, but the physically demanding nature of my career is not compatible with the amount of pain I live with without medication. I'm really just looking for insight as to how I can expect to feel over this holiday weekend without meds.

thank you :)
 
Having detoxed methadone cold turkey, the first day or two isn't too bad. The first 24 hours are normal, after that slightly incomfortable (for me, others are fine after 24 hours and even up to 48). Usually by the third day off methadone the withdrawals are pretty bad--definitely beyond the slightly uncomfortable phase. Half life is longer on some people than on others. But 3 days off, most likely that 3rd day is not going to be good.

Methadone wd is very long and due to that not as violently intense as heroin wd. So you may not have it too bad. But in my experience, by day 3 I'm having the cold sweats, stomach issues and horrible restless legs.

If it were me I would try desparately to fill it somewhere. Additionally, when you are on a clinic and miss doses often the local hospital will dose you. If you get very bad maybe you can try that--go in with your script and explain what happened. I know a lady on fentanyl patches who had a similar problem with a script and was given an emergency patch at local ER
 
crzydiamond said:
Having detoxed methadone cold turkey, the first day or two isn't too bad. The first 24 hours are normal, after that slightly incomfortable (for me, others are fine after 24 hours and even up to 48). Usually by the third day off methadone the withdrawals are pretty bad--definitely beyond the slightly uncomfortable phase. Half life is longer on some people than on others. But 3 days off, most likely that 3rd day is not going to be good.

Methadone wd is very long and due to that not as violently intense as heroin wd. So you may not have it too bad. But in my experience, by day 3 I'm having the cold sweats, stomach issues and horrible restless legs.

If it were me I would try desparately to fill it somewhere. Additionally, when you are on a clinic and miss doses often the local hospital will dose you. If you get very bad maybe you can try that--go in with your script and explain what happened. I know a lady on fentanyl patches who had a similar problem with a script and was given an emergency patch at local ER
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Well, I still could not find any place to fill my script and made it through the weekend fine. I used my old tramadol script to stave off the wd's and it did a pretty good job. My pharmacy finally opens in an hour and I never needed to go to a hospital. Whew!!!
 
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