Methadone taper questions, my story in part.

[Guest guest]

Hi all, I'm speaking from personal experience and asking for myself, NOT

commenting on any larger picture, particularly not commenting on anyone being

forced to change medications.

That said, here's a little background:

In 1997 I was working as an R.N. on the night shift. When I helped a patient up

in bed, It seems I caused a disc injury. There's some narrowing of the facets,

etc. too. After 6 years of various treatments with, sometimes, temporary

lessening of pain, I moved out of the area and was put on methadone -- which

made sense at the time -- and given prescriptions for Norco and Ultram for

breakthrough pain.

I was on methadone for 8 years. On April 4th of this year (2012) I finished a

methadone taper. The last 12.5 mgs were hardest. Its now been 5 weeks and 5 days

since I took any methadone.

Sleep, or lack of it, has been my main issue. My blood pressure is high and my

heart rate is high. I've had very few G.I. issues (yea). The sleep did get

better after 3 weeks, and I'm now sleeping between 3 and 5 hours a night, on

average. That's an improvement. I'm using as little Norco as I can. Ultram I've

used more often, along with Tylenol, aspirin, and napracin. Over the counter

meds don't do much, though Tylenol sometimes helps as does soaking in the hot

tub. I'll be seeing a doctor on the 24th and will address blood pressure/heart

rate at that point.

So, has anyone else here been through this? When did your sleep get (more or

less) back to normal? Did your pain escalate while going through withdrawal,

then settle down later? How long does this withdrawal last? Can you offer any

tips that might help?

Thank you for your time,