From: pez@manhattan.com (Gizmo) Subject: Re: trying to get off methadone Date: 1996/10/11 newsgroups: alt.drugs.hard (Monde Kontrolle) wrote: >hi folks...definitely an interesting ng here... >i was on heroin for about 2.5 years and got on methadone >in 1992. i'm now trying to get off the 'Jim Jones Kool-Aid' and am >wondering if anyone actually has managed to do this and how they went about >it. my current dose is 38mg - just below the 'threshold' for me which is >generally 40mg. this is down from my original dose which was 80mg and >which i brought to 60mg at the beginning of 1996. >i've tried reducing my dose by 5mg a week but found that too debilitating. >2mg a week seems like it could work but once i get below about 25mg i know >i'm not going to be feeling too good and i do NOT want to go back to the >needle. not only is my life just not in the kind of shape where i would >even subconsciously want to be messing it up again, i'm too old/fat to be a >prostitute, which is how i got my dope money before. basically, i want >this all behind me it there...?> >the reason i'm trying to get off methadone is mostly the fact that unlike >heroin methadone seems to have this habit of causing people to put on >weight. i have gained a full 100 lbs. since 1992. for a woman, this can >be really hard on self esteem. >i have talked to lots of people at my clinic, both patients and >counselors/doctors...and they're all feeding me different data. most of >the patients tell me that methadone is much harder to get off of than >heroin. i don't know if this is true and don't know also if this would be >due to the fact that on a methadone maintenance program you are getting >fixed in an uninterrupted fashion, whereas with heroin most of us have to >go some sick time between opportunities to get well that come up, because >of the drug's illegality and prohibitively high cost. >i had some problems with speed through 1994 and 95 but that seems to also >be over with now...i would have probably tried to get off the 'done sooner >but being on speed i naturally needed some sort of succor when coming down >so i did not attempt it at this time. Monde, The good news is that what you are trying to do, can be done. The bad news is that, for a time, it will be a bit of task. The mechanics of methadone detox, differ somewhat for everyone, due to different body types, length of time using, personal motivation etc. But there are some broad definitions that you can pretty much expect. Most of what I'm going to say here is from personal experience. I've had three bouts of methadone maintenance, that each last about 2 to 2 1/2 years. The last bout ended in 1982. First, methadone detox is more of bitch to do than heroin detox, only insofar as it takes longer to get out of your system. And it takes your body longer to readjust to functioning clean. Second, if you can somehow put yourself into a really positive mind set, it can go a lot easier. It's still tough, but not as tough as when you are really not wanting to go through this. What I found for me, was that I could very easily get down to 20mgs per day. I could get from 80 mgs. to 20 mgs. in about a month. I also found that coming down from 20 mgs. at the rate of about 5 mgs. every 10-14 days was also pretty easy. But I always had a hard time getting below 10 mgs. So from 10 mgs. to 0 mgs. I had the program cut me down about 2 1/2 mgs. each week. Doing it any slower than that only prolongs the whole damn process. Once you hit 0 mgs., in about a day or two, you're in for the worst of it. It should last no longer than about 7 to 10 days. And since your last dose should have been 2 1/2 to 5 mgs, it simply can't be that bad! Unless you whine about it a lot, and dwell on it. Don't look back. Get as much exercise and hot baths as you can. Use Valium very sparingly, such as 5 mgs. to get a good night sleep. Don't try to use alcohol. Although some folks claim pot helps, it never did shit for me. Do not even think about doing any heroin. After you've passed the 10th day or so, your in the home stretch. The 10th to the 20th day are much easier, although you will probably feel depressed until about day number 30 or so. This could go on longer if your past age 35 when you do this. In any case, it will ease up. By the end of 45 days or so, it should all be over. Don't look back!!! I've heard of people that cut down from 40 mgs., at the rate of 2 1/2 mgs. per week or two weeks. If you do it like that it will take fucking forever, and no matter how slow you cut down, you still have to go through the 10 days of sickness after you reach 0 mgs. My feeling is why prolong all this? Also, do not try doing any cocaine during this process. It won't work for long, and it will make you feel even worse. Gizmo P.S. It's been my experience that the "program people" would rather you stayed on Meth, simply because they like the money they get from you. So, be wary of the info you get from them. Most of it is bullshit, in so far as detox is concerned. ==================================================================== From: Jackson Subject: Re: trying to get off methadone Date: 1996/10/12 newsgroups: alt.drugs.hard I go with what the Giz said but for me and I guess it is different for everyone apparently.Because like I said I spent about 6-7 months from-95mg.in "82" after six yrs. and I was able to go fast in the begining and then after 40 I would do maybe 5 a week til 20 then slower and at Ten even slower and the Day I woke up without it I kept waiting to feel shitty like everyone said I would including the Nurses.But I was Fine.Sleep not as easy but I slept proper and gained about 20lbs.people thought I was taller but it was my Posture.I Had some Self Esteem come back! I have been on & off Methadone for 21yrs.and been off it about five of those.I detoxed from 95mg.once in 40 days.The first 45mg. was done in ten days in Jail and it didn't hurt. Then a month(NOT long enough)on the last 40mg.But that was Court Ordered!It was painful in my legs and most joints.Sore stomach and Liver real sore.Grind my teeth still badly.Whats left of them. Jackson