I was on Methadone for over 5 years. I went up on it about 2 months ago and started having other problems so I decided to go off of it completely. My Dr. thought it was important for me to go off of it due to the other problems so he told me how to ween down on it but I just decided to quit it and did with no problems. Some people can't go off of them with no side effects though. Each person is different.

I do take the Methadone when I am having a lot of pain but not on a regular bases anymore. I'm sleeping better and not as much sweating as when I was on it.

I think you just have to listen to your body as you do it and take it one day at a time. Good luck.

Ada

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

My game plan right now is to do as the Pain Med nurse said. She is an FNP, but probably follows the doctor's orders on it.

I plan on taking my last Avinza at midnight Saturday night. At around 30-34 hours my withdrawals normally hit. So around 6am Monday morning life will be unpleasant. I planned on taking the Librium and Hytrin at that time. I took Librium without consequences many years ago. I have never taken Hytrin.

I have a history of "just quitting" meds without causing any severe problems, but Morphine is a lot different --- I am hoping by taking the meds I will not hit the wall, but just be miserable a few days. So far, I have taken Vioxx, Celebrex, Paxil and others for long periods of time. Guess I am just lucky.

One of my worries is my breathing. I am on a Ventilator for sleeping, or even taking naps.
My SV unit has a patient disconnect alarm, but I turned it off because I haven't needed it.
Guess I will turn it back on. Heck, it has 6 different alarms, and my oxygen concentrator has a couple, so if I accidentally knock the mask off, I will hear at least one alarm.

My Service/Medic Alert Dog is being trained as a hearing dog for me ... too many years flying KC-135s in the Air Force. I am still fighting the VA for hearing aids. I got SSDI 4 months from when I dropped my package off (that includes receiving the first check) but the Veteran's Adversary is tough. Luckily my Service Dog already cues me when someone is at the door or my wife is coming home. I am not deaf, just have huge hearing losses in 2000 hz up.

Thanks again for how you handled it. Quitting cold turkey and being treated like that is against the law in Calif. A doctor HAS to refer you out here. They can lose their license if they don't. What a crappy doctor to just dump you. I was told to go to the ER if I needed morphine (mostly when I was back visiting family in the midwest). Scary.

Dllfo, HI, I wanted to know if your motivation to go off the opiates is that your RSD pain has decreased? And if so do you know why? And If not, I was wondering what your plan is too handle the pain? Thanks CZ

Detox going very badly......RLS is killing me. REQUIP, NEURONTIN, VALIUM, FLEXERIL, NOTHING IS HELPING. I WILL BE USING OXYCODONE TOMORROW. I AM SO ANGRY WITH THESE WORTHLESS DOCTORS I CAN'T STAND IT.

I WILL BE TALKING TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TOMORROW. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE DOCTORS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO. IF THEY ARE NOT DOING IT, LET THEM EXPLAIN IT TO THE GOVERNMENT. I HAVE HAD CRAPPY DOCTORS BEFORE, BUT THESE DOCTORS ARE RATED THE BEST IN OUR AREA IN SACRAMENTO MAGAZINE. IF THEY ARE THE BEST, I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE WORST. I REQUESTED AN EMERGENCY APPT AT 3AM TODAY. I CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS. RLS IS HORRIBLE. OXYCODONE WILL STOP IT, OR IT USED TO.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE UNLEASHED A HUGE MONSTER THAT NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO TREAT. A PERSON HAS TO HAVE SOME SLEEP AND I AM ON MY SECOND NIGHT WITH LITTLE OR NO SLEEP. AND YES, ALL CAPS MEANS I AM SCREAMING THIS TO THE WORLD.

AT LEAST WITH DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER'S I MIGHT NOT FEEL THIS RLS. I HAVE THE SEVERE VARIETY BASED ON MEDS NEEDED TO STOP IT.

(((dllfo)))

Wed at 5:45pm

I made a decision last night to take Oxycodone. I have kicked Morphine, bu the severe RLS
has been very difficult. I fought and fought until the RLS won. It really is a monster.
Relentless. VERY surprising to have it this severe.

My Pain Med dr. and neurologist have no returned my calls. I even told the neurologist I needed an emergency appointment due to detoxing. It is very tempting to file a complaint against them with the State of California for not even calling back. My only doctor who seems to give a sh-- is my primary care physician.

I certainly never counted on my other doctors disappearing.

Hi,
Well this is my first posting and I have to say I am Sooooo glad I have a support group to "talk" with. As you all know, if people aren`t where we are they have have NO idea! As far as opiate withdrawl, my RSD started with a tendon tear in my arm. I was going to see a neurologist. (Dr. number two.) He didn`t know what to do for me after tests and trying all kinds of medications, (he knew NOTHING about RSD) so I was given to his new partner. So my third Dr. who was supposed to be a neurologist and specialized in pain management (he also new nothing about RSD but lied and said he did) decided I should have another MRI to see if the tendon tear had healed because he didn`t think my symptoms or pain was really RSD. So I should have the MRI and then go to see an orthopedic Dr. he recommended. He told me to STOP taking my pain medications including the 20mg of oxycontin 3 times a day. Well, a few days later I started getting sick and I thought I was getting a cold, flu something. I was so achey, chills, sweating! Yikes it was horrible! I had no idea what was going on! I felt so bad I never felt so sick in my life. I went through three days of HELL! I couldn`t even get off of the couch. Finally my son asked me if I wanted to go to the hospital and I was so desperate I said yes. Well, it was then I found out I was going through withdrawl. They helped me at the hospital with an IV and said go home, start the Oxycontin again and follow up with my Dr. When I went back (I had a few words for him!) for my scheduled appointment, I wasn`t on the books! They couldn`t find my file either! Funny wasn`t it? I told them I wanted my medical records immediately and ended up at a pain management center where I am now. Bottom line on withdrawl. I found it to be HELL. There has to be a way to where the dosage can be gradually cut down so the body can eventually live without it. I sure hope so! I will be hoping to read others experiences and good luck to you.
Sorry to be so long! I tend to babble! I think it`s the medications! LOL!

Frannie,
Sorry to hear that you too have to go through this hell. Ask your Doctor about Suboxone. It is for withdrawals from opioids. Just recently being use also for pain relief(experimental). It is worth a try. Let us know how you are fairing. Then try HBOT for RSD if possible. love Diana

I went off it two weeks ago. I have been sick most of that time. Pretty bad. I did it myself..cold turkey. Avinza made me so drugged/sleepy couldn't keep my eyes open at times. Been a ROUGH dang ride, but am finally about over it. only was taking 30 mg a day also. I am pretty sensitive to these kinds of drugs. Back on endocet/oxycodone about 15 or 20 mg a day... pill form...so I have to juggle the stuff all the time. I really liked the Avinza for convieneince and it made the foot almost pain free, but couldn't stand being so doped up. Was on it for 6 weeks or a little more.

Sherrie

i have come of fentnly 3 times. yes its horrible . the first 24 are light symtomps bugs feel like they are crawling on ya the jerking will get alot wrse.. i hope that it goes well just remeber now matter how bad you feel someone keeps fluids in you. anything ice what ever.. i am sorry that your having a ruff time gentle hugs for you ... like someone else said something starts goin wrong call the doc it can go down hill fast..
hope it goes ok

-carrie