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My sister is addicted to methadone. She was perscribed methadone to help her get off of Vicodin. Now she is desperately trying to lower her dosages every week, and is down to 50 mg a day. Her head and body is twitching, she is coherant, but sometimes she doesnt understand what i am saying. She can explain things to me, but sometimes forgets what shes talking about during the middle of the sentence. She is afraid someone is watching her, so she is looking around constantly, and she is having cold sweats so bad that she is shivering in 90 degree weather. She is scared and thinks that she is going to die, and while, i know everyone coming down from drugs thinks they are going to die, I have never seen someone withdrawal, so I want to be sure that i dont need to rush her to the hospital or anything, and maybe get some advice on some signs to look for to know when to take her to the hospital. Anything would help. Thanks.

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Female , Age: 25

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Hello and Welcome,

As compared to other opiates in which the withdrawal period is a week to 10 days, heavy methadone users can expect not to recover up to 5 to 6 weeks. It is really a shame they came out with a drug that is suppose to withdraw you off another drug, and then you get addicted to that drug. Doesn't make much sense. Some new medications are coming out, but haven't made it yet.

Oral methadone is stored in the liver for later use.One of the positive effects of oral methadone is that unlike taking morphine where the morphine user is very uninterested in life and very passive, just basically waiting for their next dose. Methadone users are more engaged in living their life. without the waiting or craving.

Methadone is not like morphine when it comes to chemical makeup. Though it is an agonist opiate Methadone is more like propoxyphene (darvon/ Darvocet).

When the time comes not having the drug to take early on the first day without one can start getting flu like symptoms. Pain thru -out the body, runny nose, sneezing, fever, insomnia, diarrhea, unable to concentrate, restlessness, anxiety, grouchyness.

If one goes into the second or third day and are left without treatment or not consuming an opiate (pain pill, shoot up) things get worse. You get musle spasms, nausea, worst case of diarrhea, vomiting, severe backache, stomach pains, hot and cold flashes, insomnia, intestinal spasms, repetitive sneezing, blood pressure rise, bone and muscle pain, you get intolerant of life, feelings of suicide along with wanting to jump out of your skin.

Methadone withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

sneezing
yawning
tearing of eyes
runny nose
excessive perspiration
fever
dilated pupils
abdominal cramps
nausea
body aches
tremors
irritability

After several days of stabilizing a patient with methadone, the amount can be gradually decreased. The rate at which it is decreased is dependent on the reaction of the individual . . . keeping Methadone Withdrawal symptoms at a tolerable level is the goal.

If at anytime she has suicidal tendencies, and they do not go away, you should really take her to the hospital.

I hope I have answered your questions. If you have anymore questions concerning this topic, please don't hesitate to ask. If I have helped you at all in my answer could you please click the ACCEPT button and leave me a short feedback so I know how I am doing.

Thank you,
Pam Russell RN

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