So who kicked methadone cold turkey?

[oldman]

herbal, methadone is a very good painkiller.unfortunately if you listen to these guys you'll find that you gotta pay the loss of pain back with interest like one of those 0% credits cards that you miss one payment on (like 26% or something) takes a long time to pay it back. figure out where yo're pain is coming from.

vicodin only ever made swims nose and ears itch alot. thought there were alot of other better but also potentially more addictive meds out there. shifting from vicodin to methadone woudl be like going from BAYER to oxycontin.

as for the suboxon, the last treatment center I was in (Hazelden) I beleive would only keep you on it at the most 21 days, and that was only a select few hard core, down and outers. they wanted you off at least a week before you got shiped off to wherever. don't rmember people having a lot of withdrawal after being taken off suboxone. can't imagine any place (except unless of course you are county funded) that would want you staying on it for a long time.

was in one place before hazelden that had guys (county funded) on seraquil, methadone, trazadone, and remeron for six months without any end in site (as long as county $ was coming in). they got their meds at 8:00, by the 8:45 lecture half the residents were slumped over giving themselves head. i know that's a nasty metaphor but it's the most accurate way to describe their state. most of them had a puddle of drool all over the floor where they were slumped. nobody cared. best thing was half these guys thought they were actually getting better. if you have been on maintainance meds for 6 months and catatonic half the time in a rehab facility what kinda life is that. I lasted about 48 hours in that place before I bolted AMA (against medical advice).

hang in there deji. no point in going on meds now bud. in a week you're gonna feel better than now and so on. I have so much respect for you being able to do this on you're own. not giving into the "professionals" and I use that term loosely. the only profeesionals in this game I know are guys like you bud that just get sick and tired of being sick and tired.

[deji]

Well, I did take a handful of benzo over last couple days. I never used a benzo in my life before this withdrawal. So, just need a little and helps like crazy. Got a 4 hour nap yesterday and then 9 hour last night. This may be last day of benzo since 2 day vacation is good. Just needed to rest up and get some strength and retake control, it was kicking my ass these last few days, horrible. Hopefully doesnt go that bad again once the benzos stop.

Need to earn my sleep back on my own to really take care of this.

[CrookedEye]

I went to the Netherlands to do Iboga, and that is how I beat methadone... I was on 100mgs a day.. I had been on it for over 3 years, and was addicted to heroin and pills for about 3 years before that... The iboga sure pushed me far along in the withdrawal, but I have been opiate free for 2 years in april... I feel good, no cravings, and I have also quit cigs, drinking soda and sweets, and my opiate tolerance has been reset... I nodded off of two vicodins I had when I had broken bones, since then. They were not hard to stop, either, when the pain subsided... Best of luck, just stay strong...

[Jatelka]

CrookedEye: There's an Ibogaine experience thread here

http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/sho...ighlight=Iboga

Please consider contributing your experience

[deji]

Not any ibogaine in USA, have to cruise to mexico and pay like 6k for metahdone. Or to vancouver, not sure if free there or costs, but long waiting lists I hear.

Neither an options for me, although, would have done it in a second. Probably takes you on the experience of your life doesnt it?

[CrookedEye]

It only cost me about $2,200 US to fly to Amsterdam, stay for a week, paid for food, cannabis, iboga treatment, and a week stay... Thanks, jalteka, I'll check out the thread and post a writeup soon...

http://www.drugwar.com/sitwchap29.shtm

Here is photos of the lady who gave me treatment, Soma, who I also met, and some of Sara's plants... The article was written by a member of the ibogaine mailing list I belong to..

[deji]

Swim is all blazed up on benzos and weed. Swim has finally escaped the withdrawal for the time being. Although some parts still exist, just not in pure agony for "today" It should come back soon enough though, so enjoying every minute of this.

Today is day 20, usually at day 21 people say nice changes happen, you arent cured of course, next step is 30 day, then 45 day, then 60 and should be into PAWS for sure by then. Probably sooner though, since keep myself moving.

[CrookedEye]

Vitamins can help you recover faster, melatonin and benadryl is good for helping sleep...

[deji]

Yeah, gonna give those a shot after today.

But when in severe withdrawal, they just give me 'medicine' head, cant sleep and feel even crappier.

But should be good enough now to allow those to work.

And definitely been eating b12 complex, and drinking lots of boost protien shakes throught the entire withdrawal.

[oldman]

melatonin won't give you the med head, not saying it's all that either but this oldman will rotate between prescribed sleeping meds and melatonin. like you mentioned earlier 2-3 days on sleep meds then a break of at least a day or so is good practice to follow. been on some sort of sleep meds for many years now and have found that if you want them to work when you need them, don't always use them when you don't. even if you can't sleep. sometimes you just gotta go that night or so off and be restless. take the melatonin rigt before you lay down, if you allow more than a half hour or so laying around watching tv after taking them, they're of no use.

as for the benadryl, won't put me to sleep, just relaxes me some and actually keeps me awake. some people are the other way though. you probably know which you are deji.

hang in there bud.

[deji]

Slept 5 hours last night. Been 2 days since ate a benzo. So maybe benzo half-life playing tricks on me. Withdrawal still there, just not miserable. Will have to wait another day or two to check out the full story.

But today is day 22. 8 more days and will be at the 30 day mark. Cant wait. Even if I still feel like shit, seeing 30 days clean from methadone will feel good.

Benzos make you stupid as hell. Hope I never have to eat them again. Lost my pipe even, been looking for it all morning.

[Jatelka]

Keep it up mate! This ongoing report has been very insightful and informative.

"Benzos make you stupid as hell. Hope I never have to eat them again." They certainly do, and hopefully you wont. SWIM has used benzos recreationally over the years and has always found that there's an insidious creep to use.

Have you tried meditation (if you're into that kind of thing)? SWIM found it helpful with her alcohol issues.

[oldman]

Originally Posted by jatelka

Keep it up mate! This ongoing report has been very insightful and informative.

"Benzos make you stupid as hell. Hope I never have to eat them again." They certainly do, and hopefully you wont. SWIM has used benzos recreationally over the years and has always found that there's an insidious creep to use.

Have you tried meditation (if you're into that kind of thing)? SWIM found it helpful with her alcohol issues.

yeah, you're right they (benzos) do sneak up on you. kinda hard to say no to. that's why I stopped using them several years ago as a sleep aid. I just stick to ambien, lunesta, and melatonin now.

like what you said about meditation. it's hard to get yourself into it on your own if you haven't before. during rehab stints had a lot of work with it. guided meditation type stuff. at least I got something out of those places. check around or by a tape or something. meditation new age stuff. even if you only do it now and then it does offer something. will still find myself doing it from time to time. also found it very helpful dealing with alcohol addiction.

[deji]

They make you forget and really slow. I think it was day 8 or so. Took my dog out at like 2am. Forget about him, realized at 6am he was still out. It was cold too. Never did them recreationally, just through withdrawals. One of swims friends had a pretty nasty OD with benzo + heroin combo. They are dangerous when mixed with opiates.

Dont meditate, but blasting some nice breaks and sounds nice. Quiet room is no good it seems. Need to let the music get into you and helps alot. I think music is the most important thing that helps. Toss a little weed, music sounds even better and will start to dance maybe.

Must try to control the temperature too. Was off the hook the past week and a half. Still have one, just not as bad. To be honest, was scared to even check the actual temperature. Probably would have scared me too much. But thank god it went down some. Making sure taking plenty of fluids from here on out.

[allyourbase]

low doses of a barbiturate seem to work best at killing dopesickness. this is of course slightly problematic because they are in their own rights addictive.

[deji]

Thanks

Think most of the dopesickness has left me now. Went to sleep early and slept a good 5 hours straight unassisted. Just have some lingering effects left it seems. Coldness, sneezing, and just an after feelign that only people that been through this understand, hard to explain. But like a weak/fatigued/sore feeling. Still have a temp too though. So cant fool myself to thinking this is over, but the worst is 100%. Almost through the kick of this crap. Need another day or two to find out the truth.

Once fully into PAWS, gonna start a strict exercise and eating plan to pack on the pounds. Your testosterone surges when you kick methadone and its the best time to get big, or least pack on some lbs. Can already feel it getting stronger since been moody as hell lately.

Today is day 23

[CrookedEye]

Congrats!! Swim found that cannabis eased some of the minor PAW, such as stomach cramps and minor aches, as well as aided in sleep.. Hang in there, in another month, you'll feel like you used to, I am betting...

[deji]

Last night was a good night for swim. Swim smoked a large amount of weed and was completely blazed. Swim then played his plump dj - eargasm disc and started to spin out. Swim felt like he was 15 again and smoked too many bong hits and didnt even feel the withdrawal. Swim passed out and slept like a baby for 6 hours.

Swim just woke up to a nice wake and bake and is feeling good.

Swim has been 24 days without methadone and is proud of himself.

[eukadol]

Well Deji, it sounds like you are doing a lot better. I KNOW that good sleep from the benzo's must have helped a lot. You sound like you know enough about benzo's to realize how addictive they are. SWIM came off 8mg. of Ativan a night long term (3 years of it), had a seizure a week after quiting Ativan cold turkey and still don't sleep right eighteen months later. It was a truly bad withdrawal. I was totally ignorant of how addictive benzo's are. Dolophine does not come from Adolph as Nagognog2 proposes. ( I thought it did too, for years). The Germans certainly did invent Dolophine when the Russian southern army front cut off their ready supply of Opium in 1943. It comes from two latin words; Dolor- meaning pain or sorrow and Fin- meaning the end. Remember Deji, music and weed. Every day now will get better and better. You bout got it licked. I never say never. After 34 years experience I know how strong and subtle my addiction is and keeping it under control is next to impossible so I just try to lessen the impact by just having a little fun (hydrocodone or oxycodone) instead of a lot of fun (heroin). Hang in their brother. My prayers are with you. Eukadol

[deji]

Thanks man.

Those benzos really did save me. When I took that first benzo was the sickest I ever was. Was like a week no real sleep and so sick. Escaped into benzo and weed land for a few days, was able to eat and rest really nice. And ever since then, the withdrawal has been manageable.

Was feeling like crap last night and this morning, but think since I was getting dehydrated again. But feeling a bit better now.

Just gonna ride this thing out. Hopefully seeing day 30 will throw some kind of switch off in my head and will see a drastic improvement.

[deji]

Has been 4 weeks today since drank a dose of methadone. Still feel like crap. After being dependent on opiates/opiods for 7 years straight, gonna be some time before I feel right I think. Have on/off days where one day I think I may be feeling better, then the next is just a miserable day.

Forcing myself to sleep more instead of jumping up at 3am into a cloud of fog thinking I have a dose to drink. Hopefully that habit kicks in quick and will stop waking up as much.

Swim hasnt smoked weed in nearly 2 days, so these last 2 days have been depressing.

[Jatelka]

SWIM really appreciates your ongoing committment (? sp she always has trouble with that one!): Both to your withdrawal and to expanding the knowledge base. Best wishes and much love and luck X

[deji]

Its day 32 or so and starting to feel better. Still a bit sick, nothing serious though really. Just really annoying if anything. Sleep is still pretty jagged, can fall asleep no problem, but wake up alot. Lots of really strange dreams too.

Easier to keep up with eating good and exercise at this point too. Can rebuild the body fast as long as you try hard.

[oldman]

have heard the same thing about sleep and dreams among friends in you're shoes. dreaming is very healthy, you probably didn't dream so much on dope. don't think you dream a lot on benzos either, at least I don't. glad to hear you're doing good. look into remeron (spelling?) if you're in need of a long term sleep aid. lunesta too. don't want to read a similar thread about deji and kicking benzos in a few months. withdrawal from a long term benzo habit is not pretty either. you don't deserve to suffer anymore right?

[deji]

Nah, havent taken a benzo in weeks. Only way I will take a benzo is when I am too sick to even move, and need sleep more than anything. Not like that anymore, so dont need them.

I took a lunesta earlier in the withdrawal. It made me feel like a piece of metal. Hard to explain, but was nasty, didnt even work.

Sleep isnt really that bad part, definitely sleeping and it will come back, can get a short clip of sleep in the day, and a couple clips at night. Worst part about the sleep is actually waking up, since have so much anger in you and realize you're going to feel this way for some time.

Its the depression that is the worst part of all this though. Just hoping that will lift a bit soon so can get back to a normal life. I dont think its life depression though, just sickness depression. Like I mentioned, you wake up feeling like a pile of waste, and nothing you can do about it. That right there is really depressing.