Methadone Withdrawals: Methadone Symptoms & Side Effects

Question: Is there anything that helps with methadone withdrawals?

(Posted by: Stephanie R on 2009-03-18 12:38:06)

My fiance has been on Methadone for an opiate addiction for 3 years. He recently has started the process to wean off of it. He was on 120 mg per day. He is now taking 67.5 mg. He is stepping down 2.5 mg per week. This week is the first week that he has started to feel withdrawals. He is sick at his stomach, hot and cold flashes, goose bumps and he says his whole body is aching. Is there anything we can do to make him more comfortable? He is very determined to get off of this stuff and I just want him to be as comfortable as possible. He is doing this through a clinic and doctor. No he is not on this for pain management. He became addicted to opiates (oxycontin mostly) out of misspent youth in college. He cannot switch to suboxone until he is down to 30 mg of methadone. Mostly it is the nausea and pain in his body that is most bothersome.

Posted by: blah on 2009-03-18, 12:45:30

I'm in a similar situation to you. I don't think there is much we can do except for emotional support. Any kind of withdrawls are very uncomfortable, and methadone is highly addictive and has a high dependancy from what I understand. It's good that he's getting off of it though, goodluck!

Posted by: Hi I'm Karylle (carol) on 2009-03-18, 15:48:16

Is he doing this himself or with the help of a physician? There is a medication that they can give you to help get off and they can also give a muscle relaxor. Subuxone I believe is something that can be given and is by prescription only. and the Dr can give a muscle relaxor called Zanaflex. I am sure they they can even give you something for the nausea. The main thing that he will feel is intense pain. I would have a heating pad for him too and he may want a lot of warm drinks. Has he been given the medication because of pain? There are definitely options then suffering ! PLEASE tell him to go to the DR. they are very willing to assist him in getting off of the medication, but it must be done the right way- not by himself! I have to be honest - I dont know much about methadone, but I have heard about drugs to get off of it. I have been on Pain management / opiates for 22 yrs and When I told my dr that I would Like to DECREASE my meds, he did give me something to take less medication. I had an implant it is called a Spinal Column stimulator and was on alot of medications , I was given other meds to break my pain cycle... I would suggest that if he has this so a TENS unit will help him if he is in pain. -- The symptoms he is experiencing are going to get worse without a dr's help. this is a hard question, without knowing anythng more about him and the reason he was on this in the first place....