Methadone Detoxification: Methadone Symptoms & Side Effects

Question: What are the best ways to cope with an unavoidable complete methadone detoxification?

(Posted by: on 2010-07-03 12:31:01)

Here's the deal: my girlfriend is going through an unavoidable and total methadone detox. she has dropped from 65mgs to 20mgs just in the past 30 days, and now has completely dropped from 20mgs to 0mgs the very next day. we are now on day 2 of no methadone, and we have NO CHOICE but to wait it out. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to help her cope with the pain of withdrawl, and any ideas of how long it will last? my girlfriend is now on day 10 of a complete methadone detox, and has just started the vomiting. what, if anything, will work to help settle her stomach and help her eat and sleep?

Posted by: Jody on 2010-07-10, 13:57:03

Take her to Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. People there are recovering addicts and alcoholics learning to live without drugs and alcohol and know what she faces and how to survive without picking up again. The first 30 days clean is recognized with a sobriety coin, then 60, and 90 days. Then 6 and 9 months, and finally the First Year. People in recovery will do just about anything to help her thru the first year.

Posted by: Ginny Jin on 2010-07-03, 12:38:10

She needs to keep hydrated, occupied - do some simple activities with her so she isn't climbing walls, anything to get her mind off it. Don't know how long her withdrawals will last but complete recovery can take months.

Posted by: Nurseebol on 2010-07-04, 07:11:46

I won't lie to you-cold turkey off methadone is the worst. It can last weeks. Since the methadone is so long acting, it also is the longest for withdrawal. Is there no way to get her into a detox that uses subutex? There are tons of buprenorphine recovery programs now offered in regular doctor's offices. Subutex or suboxone can be a very comfortable way to detox. If not, absolutely keep her very hydrated-try to get something for nausea like Phenergen. Anything you can get that has sedative properties is helpful-benzos,librium etc. If you have an old vicodin script from say the dentist laying around-u can do a taper with that to take the edge off. If absolutely no way to get any meds, support is all u can do. Hot showers for the crawling skin several times a day, motrin for body aches, some simple activities or movies. Buckets and cleaning supplies for vomit and diarrhea, and blankets for her to wrap up in and kick off. Don't take anything personal during this time. Sex can actually be enjoyable and a pleasant distraction. Best of luck, it does end, but a period of depression often follows. My heart goes out to u both.