How long do methadone withdrawal symptoms last?

Hi....I'm 35 years old and have been on Methadone for about 3 years or so. After trying practically every pain pill and patch out there I have noticed that Methadone has improved my quality of life to an extent, as compared to others, but I would love to wake up every morning without popping a pill just to make it through the day. I have been prescribed Methadone for chronic low back pain. I have had back surgery with partial relief, however, still need to be medicated in order to be even somewhat productive. With the help of my pain management physician I have tappered myself down from about 160mgs. a day to 5-10mgs a day. My concern is since being on the Methadone it has almost been impossible to lose weight, even with diet and exercise. And although my teeth were never strong even as a kid I have noticed bits and pieces of my teeth breaking off. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced it? I know when I was taking the 160mgs. a day my physician advised me that opiates can "shut down" your Pituatary gland which is responsible for your metabolism as well as women's menstrual cycle. Along with the above whenever I miss a dose lately I noticed I start getting withdrawal symptoms, mainly "restless leg syndrome" and insomnia. Beings I am taking the Methadone solely for chronic pain I am pretty much stuck. Does anyone have any remedies to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms without taking other drugs? I hope everyone out there is doing well in their recovery! It is great to have a place to go to where others actually understand what your going through, because unfortunately, unless you have been there some people just don't understand. :-)

I was on a methadone program to kick heroin after using the drug for two years...Not only did I get addicted to methadone,it made things harder in my life.After seven years going from 120mg to 80 and all the way down to ZERO!It's been too hard to kick this one too...Going through a doctor who specializes in this drug was my only way out.I am on week 7 without docters help.I feel a lot better.But it takes time!A quit bit of an emotional roller coaster.

First , let me tell you that I am seventeen days out and although you hear of all the awful things that happen you and your husband should send an E-mail to Dr.David Arneson,NMD I thought I was going to die HELL I almost wish I would have, But he can do this and I am still sick but you tell your husband that others have done and so can he ..... I almost went to a soboxan Dr. untill I E-mailed the Dr. This mans response was fast and ment so very much for me to know that I was almost there and just like I was told TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME and STAY STRONG YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS!!!!!!!!! HANG TOUGH YOUR FRIEND Dean

I have had fibromyalgia for 16 yrs., then I developed osteoarthritis and osteoporosis (Dr.s think from all the steroids I was on b/c I'm not that old). I have been on pain meds. for all those yrs. b/c I coudn't tolerate the pain. I been thru injs., P.T., Chiropratic x 1 yr. and everything else they could think to put me thru. My doctor decided to put me on Methadone (30 mgs. BID) about 6 mos. ago and now I have decided to go off. I have a small dose of Oxycontin BID, Valium 5 mg. and Soma 350. All I am taking pretty much is the Oxy and Valium, but I feel pretty bad and I am in a lot of pain. I need to find a doctor to help me, but I just moved to Murfressboro, Tn. and know no one. I can't not take any pain med., but I do want to decrease all that I am on and find other solutions. I normally exercise everyday, which is one of the only things that I have found helps long term. I just can't get out of my bed and off my heating pad right now to do anything. I don't know what to do or where to turn and maintain my privacy. I have two children who don't know. Thanks, Cathy

Thank you all for sharing your stories. About six months ago I began methadone for a chronic neurogical condition that is surgically untreatable(also known as the "suicide disease" because of the extreme pain).

It took me a long time to head down the methadone path to treat my pain, largely because of the social stigma - and I'm a liberal!

Before that, I tried everything - from Neurontin to Norco - but now that I don't have insurance, both are cost prohibitive (and the relief they gave was fleeting at best.)

Like iFeelYourPain, I was then in a car accident, rear-ended at high speed while my vehicle was completely stopped, three years ago. The accident significantly exacerbated my condition and left me with new injuries that need pain management that the surgery didn't cure.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm writing. I guess first, it's to thank you for sharing your stories. And also to wonder if there will ever come a time where I don't need pills to get through the day, and if I'll ever get my sassy spirit back. I just don't feel like the same person. My energy and motivation are all but gone. And my thinking is certainly clouded. I used to run 5-10 miles every day on the beach - just because I wanted to. There's no motivation to do that, partially because it worsens my pain for a few days.

But! The upside is this: Methadone has been a godsend in terms of treating my pain,comparatively speaking. The downsides though...I'm just not sure it's worth it. Won't there come a day where it just won't be enough to treat my pain either? Won't I have to detox then? How does that work? Then what do I use to treat my pain? Meditation and alternatve approaches help, but they don't get me out of bed - or keep me able to work.

Thanks for reading. Sorry to be so negative. But like I said - methadone so far has done more good than harm!

I have used this method multiple times to kick both H and Methadone:

Take 0.4-1.2 mg of Clonidine a day (Brand name Catapres)

Warning: Take only 0.075 mg of Clonidine the first day, as some people are hyper-sensitive and can lose consciousness (It lowers your Blood Pressure by blocking your alpha-2 epinephrine receptors.

Keep a supply of xanbars handy for both the anxiety and restlessness.

I'm telling you. No cold sweats, no chills, no aches. You'll sleep like a baby with that alprazolam.

Be aware, though, that once you are through your detox phase (you'll just have to know how long it takes, because you won't feel it), you must taper off of the Catapres (clonidine), as it is physically addictive, and sudden cessation can lead to a dangerous spike in blood pressure.

If you have trouble getting any of these pharmeceuticals from your doctor, they are both readily available on the web.

Reading so many depressing stories, is, to my amazement, making me feel better. I must, though, point to some bright spots. Isn't the withdrawl from methadone a fitting reminder of why most of us are where we are? Any left over inklings I have to use the H again went out the door on the fourth night! Any single rebel cell in my body that wasn't with the program a week ago is rank and file now. I agree that methadone withdrawl is harder than heroin withdrawl; but, there is one very different thing. I'm doing this on my terms! With H I didn't have a choice. I wasn't ready. Well I am now, and I can even take a "Dostoyevskian" delight in my misery. A bad habit is broken with time. Methadone bought me a year and a half of it. I would never have been able to do it without methadone. So I bid you goodday with a great big thanks to methadone, you saved my hide! ON TO DAY #6!!!!!!!! ;-)

The last post by "guest" is right on the $$.

I have been clean from snowballing h and c now for 16 months w/the assistance of methadone.

However, cumming off the meth has been problematic, there is no doubt about that for most people.

Went from 90mg to 30 in 6 months. Now at 23 and DEFINITELY w/d-ing!

I can't believe that a couple of people on here recommend going from 20 to Zero over a YEAR??!! 12 months??!! I don't have the $$ for that!

Oh well.

Thanks for the comments, people.

PS. Anybody have some Vikeeeees? JK!

I have been on 70mg methadone per day the last three years and while it certainly has been helpful I would like to get it off it real fast as a start to the new year as I feel that now I am conquering my long term depression I want to see how I can deal with things without reliance on any medicine.

I want to know how quickly a reasonably healthy person in their 40s can get safely get off methadone? Do I have to go down by, say, 5mg per day or can I maybe go more quickly than that - like, say, 15mg per day? Does anyone have experience of a fast withdrawal? Could I just go into hospital and cold turkey?

I'd appreciate advice.

Well after reading every comment I now have a little more hope. I was on Methadone for a year to overcome addiction to painkillers. I went off at 20mg and it has been 11 days of detox. I'm not doing as bad as some of read but I would give anything for a couple of hours of sleep! My body hurts everywhere. I live on a heating pad. But i'm determined to go thru this and get it behind me so I can start my life again.
I would love to read some updates from ppl who commented earlier in the year just to give me hope.

It's just great to know that there is somewhere to go where ppl really know what your going through. I tell everybody "if u aint' been there,, shut up, you have no idea".

Good luck everyone!

To everyone suffering methadone withdrawal:

I feel so much sympathy for everyone who posts here. Thank you to "iFeelYourPain" for an excellent post.

I am currently attempting to quit Methadone without assistance from doctors. I have been taking 20-30mg per day (legally) for about 2 years, and vicodin 500s - up to 8 pills per day before that (legally) for several years. Before that, was Ultram. I suffer from chronic neck pain. I am obviously physically addicted and somewhat mentally addicted to this stuff. I do have pain, and it's tough to live with - all my physical activities, such as passing frisbee, working out, passing ball, anything like that are history, because body jolts, quick movements, etc, cause extreme pain. The medicine helps. But another problem is that I know I use the medicine as a social crutch. I am shy and have trouble at work and at play around people. The medicine helps with that. In summary, I want off of this medicine because I know I can deal with the pain without it. It's not worth being a slave to methadone. Always watching the clock so you can take the next dose. Contary to many postings, even with Methadone's long half life, I begin feeling physical withdrawal effects 4 hours after taking a dose of 10 mg. You feel good for a couple hours, then feel bad. Feel good for a couple hours, then feel bad. It just sucks!

I am determined to get off this stuff and deal with the pain and social issues with the help of God. I'm at work right now, and can barely function because of withdrawal. But if I can do it, I know you can too. Be strong! Drink fluids. Eat small snacks, such as carrots, pudding, jello. Even sweets help, like chocolate and pepsi for me. Other things that help me is to watch a movie or play a video game for short periods. I know it's hard, but if you can get your mind focused on something besides the pain for even a short while it helps.

In case you are wondering, my specific symptoms are similar to others:
Runny nose
Cold chills
Hot, sweaty flashes lasting about 5 minutes
Hungry, yet nothing tastes good and nausea after eating a large quantity
Nasty fatigue
Yawns
Frequent bowl movements
Light to moderate feelings of paranoia (probably my social issue)
Fear
And of course, a severe craving to take methadone to lessen the symptoms, which I am fighting tooth and nail.


In closing, I honestly believe that anyone can succeed at getting off these drugs, but this depends on one thing: you must be ready to change. You must WANT to be off them. Halfhearted efforts will inevitably fail. When you are truly ready, ween off for about a week and then go for it, unless your situation is very bad and you need assistance from doctors. Finally, pray! God has been there for me and he is there for you.

Good luck:)

I have been of methadone for 1/2 yrs. I went from 75mg. to 2.5mg because that was the lowest you can go on pill form. I went down 10mg every month until I got to 30mg. Then I went down 5mg once to get to 25mg and from that point on I went down 2.5mg every 3-4 weeks, depending on how I felt. Once I got lower than 20mg my sleep habit started changing. Before I was able to fall a sleep when ever until I got to about 15-10mg, can't really remember anymore. I guess you can say I adjusted, but when I got lower than 10mg, my legs started to bather me and to me not getting sleep and having restless legs are the worse. So each time I went down it took me anywhere from 3-7 days to get used to the dose. It was not bad because the restless leg syndomes lasted maybe 10 to 20 min. and then I was able to sleep. Anyway once I was at 2.5mg I stayed on that for about 5 weeks. It took me three weeks to get used to such a low doese, but I did not get the restless leg symdrome. I can tell you guys that my husband proabably wanted to tape my mouth shut because my moodswings were bad. But i got over it and one day I said I am not going back to the clinic anymore which was on wed. It is now sat and I have been sleeping but I am depressed. One of my worst fears of getting off was the depression, leg syndrome and the insomnia. I have a family to provide for and the money I was spending on methadone was getting too much. My husband gave some beer to aid my sleep and a valume but i am afraid of getting addicted to valium or alcohol. ON top of that reading everyone's expderience I don't feel so bad but am worried that maybe by next week it will hit me full blown. Regardless my mind is made up, i just feel bad for my kids because I am a little in-active and I feel useless. If the worst is over please let me know or should I be expecting some worse symptoms.

You can not die from opiate withdrawal. You may feel like it, but it simply will not happen. A lot of the "inspiriational" posts made on these types of forums will be posted by prescription drug manufacturers to scare you, so you will continue to "legally" buy their multi-billion dollar a year drug/drugs.



Opiate withdrawal is mentally and physically draining. You need the support of family and/or friends, 100% support!



Good Luck to everyone that tries and the best of luck to those of you that will not try (You need it the most).

I was on Methadone for 3 months at 30MG's a day. At the end of my methadone run I ran out and the Doctos would not prescribe anymore so I had to go Cold turkey. The first couple days were OK because I had so much banked in my liver but when that supply started to run out the withdrawals began. It was the worst couple weeks of my life. I even had thoughts of ending it all because I couldnt handle it. I was not myself anymore. I would cry uncontrollably and I could not get comfortable. They put me on Larazapam for the anxiety and that didnt help at all. The Doctors should have weened me off of this horrible drug but they didnt. My family was so worried about me because I couldnt do anything. I went to work one day and passed out so that was another trip to the ER. It has been 3 months and I still feel the withdrawal symptoms every once and awhile. I wish I woul have never went on this drug because it messed my life up for a couple months. I was fine when I was on it_Pain Free_. I started pain killers because of my extreme back pain. I have degenerating discs aong with a chipped bone on my spain that came from a motorcycle accident. I have seen many doctors and they say that surgery is not an option. Why do I have to live in pain. They have me on Vicodin right now that seems to be helping out on the constant pain. I want to be drug free and live a normal life. I think the only way to do that is to request surgery. Methadone is good while your on it but when you comeoff it the world seems to crumble and there is no hope.

well, i know this question sounds silly, over the last 10 days i've been taking methadone illegally at about 25 to 30mg a day. It has been 3 days now of pure hell and I see the end in sight but I didnt realize that it would even be nearly this hard. Originally i was taking oxycontin at about 40 to 80 mg a day illegally also then I decided I wanted to quit, a hefty goal. So I purchased all the methadone to help ease the withdrawals not knowing that the withdrawals from methadone would be twice as bad. Finally my question is how long do you think these horrible feelings will last considering my circumstances? Thank you very much.