Methadone: Struggling to Drop Under a Low Dose

[Chip (OP)]

i am losing too much sleep if i try to drop under 22.5 mg.

is this my tolerance or my mindset (or both) ?

[Güey]

Ugh. Tough call...

How long have you been at this dose, and what did you drop down from???

We've talked about this for a while now, as we're in similar boats, so to speak. For me, I've noticed some drops are super easy, and some are downright rough. I've been dropping by 1mg, but I'm not sure if that's an option for you... Theoretically, you should get used to your current dose after a time, but how long that is, who knows? My last drop from 4 to 3 was gravy, but my most recent drop down to 2mgs, about four days ago, has been brutal.

Id suggest just riding it out. As you know, slow is the way to go. Obviously that especially applies to the lower doses.

One more thing- what comfort meds do you have? I'm using all the usual suspects, and they help, but in the end, there will be at least some discomfort...

[Chip (OP)]

it's probably my system coping with being off and 13+ years being on Methadone.

only comfort med is some OTC Codeine and occasional pot.

good luck on your own taper - it's an odd exercise that i find myself in occasionally (Methadone detox taper) ... looking forward to zer0

[Narkotikon]

Why are you quitting MMT?  Are you being forced to, or is it just something you want to do?

13+ years on the stuff is intense.  I was only on it for ten months, and even coming off of that was brutal hell.  My legs never hurt so bad.  I really wanted to just cut the damned things off.  I think a lot of that was being detoxed way too fast by the clinic though. 

Go slow, commit yourself.  Best of luck!

[Chip (OP)]

the main reasons are that no current friends use Heroin, I can't inject anyway and will save $132 a fortnight.

stopping sweating and feeling better is a bonus 

nice and easy does this ...

[candy]

I am in the same boat Chipper. At 30 mg and trying to go down. Each time I drop, I just can't sleep or focus.
Pot helps for a few hours, but I just have to sit at 30 mgs until I am ready to take on the outcomes of decreasing.
I have been on for almost 11 years now and have to say I would like to get off this stuff, but the fear of
going through tough w/d's is what keeps me from getting off.

I just don't want to be tied to a clinic all my life. That is what I want for myself, but the time is just not right.

I just wish the first time I got off methadone, which was a breeze, was the last time I was on methadone.

I am an advocate for medicated assisted recovery, but I have been on and off methadone for years now and I just wish I didn't have so
much going on in my life, so I could just concentrate on getting off. Too many health issues and too much outside family drama. Dad is dying with dementia. Nephew in jail due to his heroin use and violence, sister and brother are both emotionally sick, and a mother who is not dealing well with anything.

I feel so trapped in all this shit and it just make the thought of getting off methadone right now very hard to even consider.

[Güey]

Hey Chipper. I just wanted to add one more thing. What exactly are you dropping your dose by, milligram-wise, and how often are you doing that???

I ask because for me, I've been dropping by 1mg, but sometimes I'd wait 2 months between drops. sometimes 2 weeks... I suspect that at least part of that is psychological, but really, who knows? I've been on MMT a loooong ass time, too, and there really isnt any info out there, other than anecdotal stuff, about successful tapers after 10, 20, 30 years.. Plus, everyone is different. I've heard stories about people getting off relatively easily, but me personally, I wouldn't count on that.

So yeah, just park at your current dose for however long before you drop again. It IS doable- Im down to 2mgs after being on for 20 years, but its taken a long, long time. I'm not sure how things work where you're at, but I'd also suggest getting any and all comfort meds you can. It won't ever be totally painless, but for the days/nights when it's really rough, ANY relief is a godsend...

Stay strong!

[Chip (OP)]

I have been parked on 22.5 mg. for a month. now its about dropping 2.5 mg. a fortnight.

I just dropped to 20 yesterday.

thanks, I will try to keep it up ... I can't wait to reach my goal and start saving on clinic costs.

53 and on 'done - I am over it ... I will go back to real chipper status or simply abstain.

[Matt]

Are you split dosing right now. It seems to me like at that low of a dose splitting would be beneficial. Also I have taken a ton of stuff for sleep and nothing seems to work as good a plain old dyphenhydramine for me. Have you tried that?

[Chip (OP)]

I don't know much about Dyphen. but will check when next at the pharmacy.

I get 6 takehomes a week and I DO and can split dose, often taking 2 or 3 splits a day.

thank you for the sleeping aid advice, especially.

[Chip (OP)]

UPDATE: been off Methadone for a month and will do forever (never say forever ?) !!

How ? With tweak and Phenibut plus sheer determination to end this 2 year taper.

*dusts off hands*

NO IV, NO OPI !

do i think about getting high ? um, well, what do ya think ? YES, but i also think about the gorilla that was on my back, the clinic etc.

hey, one's own endorphins are cheap and self regulatory. Eating a meal and having a beer or two without sweat pouring off me and then freezing is not something that i miss.

No viable IV sites and a monster long-term tolerance ended this party.

No judgement but simply part of my growing older. It must come to all of us if we survive for long enough !

[AllNightLong]

UPDATE: been off Methadone for a month and will do forever (never say forever ?) !!

How ? With tweak and Phenibut plus sheer determination to end this 2 year taper.

*dusts off hands*

NO IV, NO OPI !

do i think about getting high ? um, well, what do ya think ? YES, but i also think about the gorilla that was on my back, the clinic etc.

hey, one's own endorphins are cheap and self regulatory. Eating a meal and having a beer or two without sweat pouring off me and then freezing is not something that i miss.

No viable IV sites and a monster long-term tolerance ended this party.

No judgement but simply part of my growing older. It must come to all of us if we survive for long enough !

Congrats buddy!!! I am actually down to 1.5mgs of suboxone daily and have been on it since 2007. I am looking to get off within the next year and try being free from dependance for a while. I have shot dope recently but will stay away as best I can once I get off the sub.

Very proud and happy for you Chipper. Keep it up and continue to inspire the rest of us!

[Chip (OP)]

Thank you kindly but it's less inspiring and more of a natural progression.

I just relish the freedom of being spontaneous and not being tied to the clinic or some drug.

Might even get a job working with Linux or in some software engineering capacity - a nightmare when having to visit the clinic and trying to explain my absence to the boss. Unlikely but I can only hope.

I want to travel as I have no drug charges and want chemical independence. I pray that I stay conviction free but it's still possible if some fool hits me in a car or I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time. My biggest fear now.

The Meth? Whoops