Methadone Withdrawal

[red26]

I was on methodone for about three years and got anxious.I decided to get myself off of it and deal with the d.t.'s with the morphine extraction from seeds.Its been o.k. except a month and a half later I still feel terrible,and I keep getting these strange surges of what feels like an elctric shock, or that sudden rush of adrenalin you get right before something bad is about to happen.What are these surges? Is it just my synapses going crazy from my body adjusting?

[Peripat]

It's quite possible you're still feeling bad as a chemical after-effect of the opiates.

What you describe is not unlike the "jolts" my ex and I used to experience at odd times (and neither of us was ever really clean when we knew the other, so it wasn't withdrawal symptoms per se.)

It feels rotten, I know. Depression and anxiety can also be a problem at this time, and sometimes your feelings of dread can be symptoms of this. Trying to find an understanding health professional can often be tough, but can also be worth it.

[red26]

I cotacted my doctor about the withdrawls and he basically told me to get fucked.I was going through a clinic for the jivejuice and had kindof cut my immeadiate doctor out of that picture for fear of getting a big fat stamp across my forehead.The insomnia is the worst thing about it to me.I'm starting to become a danger to m/self and others cause I cant make sense out of what I'm seeing right in front ofme.Those "jolts". Did you feel them through your body, or in the brian?It's my whole body that gets them and I feel dizzie for a second after it.

[Peripat]

I got them through my entire body. It was weird. It was like suddenly my entire body just tensed up and jolted. My ex-boyfriend and I used to wake each other up in bed, doing that (although we didn't only get them in our sleep). Strange indeed. Your story helps me know I wasn't alone, though (I haven't had one for a while, but then, I've been walking the tightrope of "occasional use" - read, once or twice a fortnight - for several years now.)

Your doctor is an asshole. But many are. You have my sympathies. And yeah, I see your point with the methadone clinic, too.

As regards the insomnia, that can be a long-term problem. I suggest trying a health-food store for remedies such as valerian (if you're like me, you'll need the super-duper high-milligram stuff) and lavender essential oil, the latter of which can be scattered on your pillow (a few drops might be enough). Like anything, these will be habit-forming in that they will stop working after a couple of weeks, so the best help is usually going to bed at the same time each night, having a bedtime "routine"... bouts of insomnia here and there might be your lot in life, with or without drugs (I know it's something that dogs me at times!) but the sort of desperate-for-sleep stuff you're describing here definitely needs looking at. Naturopaths and herbalists (don't roll your eyes!) can help, or do your own reading.

[bi11i]

I got them through my entire body. It was weird. It was like suddenly my entire body just tensed up and jolted. My ex-boyfriend and I used to wake each other up in bed, doing that (although we didn't only get them in our sleep). Strange indeed. Your story helps me know I wasn't alone, though (I haven't had one for a while, but then, I've been walking the tightrope of "occasional use" - read, once or twice a fortnight - for several years now.)holy shit, i thought it was only me. i noticed this, too. but only when I'm using opiates. I don't do it with buprenorphine. It's a jolt, and sometimes really intense. I wonder wtf is up with that? Any ideas? Any others experience this one?

[Peripat]

I used to get them more when I was a daily user of opiates. Probably more still when I had a full-on habit, but my memory isn't clear on that point. Sometimes they'd happen within hours of taking a shot, but they weren't just like coming out of a nod... they were way more severe. I mean, if you're waking your partner with this shit... I've also had them (less often) weeks after my last hit... although to be honest, I'm not sure that there's been too many times in the last ten years that I've been opiate-free for that long (although my experience with methadone programmes, personally, is nil.)

Glad to hear we're not alone. Hmmm. I sense a blog entry coming on. (Other junkylife bloggers reading this, NO STEALING! lol.)

[red26]

The habits we form! This is really the first time I've been clean in well over a decade.It's something different,I guess.IT SUCKS! Spending so much time chasing the dream.I've tried seroquil for the insomnia, but taking an antiphsycotic when your not exactly phsycotic really sucks. Total android zombie mode.If it didnt give me such horrendous drymouth I'd be droolin all over the place.I have tried the natural route as well, but it just got me really pissed off at 530 a.m.Valairian, melatonin, some others I cant remember.I'm jst hoping that goddamn waiting list to get back into the program gets burned so I can just walk in.Does ultram help w/the w.d.'s?Thanx for letting me know I'm not some freak of nature with the "jolts"!

[Queenofelves]

Hey-
I detoxed from 2 years/130mg Methadone and went through that exact same thing -electrical shock. It made me kick my legs really hard. And thats when I started having panic attacks. I started seeing an addictologist then and found out if you go cold turkey your body will NEVER go back to normal because the neurotransmitters are screwed. They put me on alot of NARCO's and then to Buprenex injections and weened me onto Soboxone-I never have been dope sick again. Ever since then I have always detoxed that same way (why feel pain if you dont have to)!
See an addiction dr. I was sick sick sick for months and just waited for it to go away when I didnt need to. I have also found Soboxone very helpful for me for maintenance-not chained to a clinic anymore.

[red26]

Thank you so much for clearing this up.THAT is exactly what I thought it was, well almost. What is the cost round about to see a adictologist?

[candy]

Hi All,
I too have experienced these "jolts" you are describing.
It is quite often seen with opiate use and is caused by involuntary muscle contractions called, Myoclonus. It is believed that this movement is caused by an overexcitability of the areas in the brain that control movement.
Muscles contract through nerve conduction when neurotransmitters in the brain are released attaching themselves to neurons which are carried to the muslces causing movement.

It is very much like the twitching you do when you are just falling off to sleep, that too is called Myoclonus and is normal.

I don't think it is anything to worry about, unless it becomes more chronic and is occurring more often.

[red26]

Thank you candy.It's been well over a month now, about a month and a half,I lost track a few weeks ago.But I'm still in hell.I tried the seed tea and all it did was make me feel worse.I spoke with a bup. doctor and found out the guy charges a grand total of 1,250 just to get on it.He also told me the ugly fact that I might be a cadidate for life long opiate use if I want to feel normal again.I'm about to say screw it and get back on the methodone. Functioning normally in life while feeling like this is too tall an order for me to fill.I havent slept in 4 days now, wich is common under these conditions.Methodone is increadibly cheaper for me, 58 bucks a week, as opposed to a few grand over the course of couple months for bup.It seems an impossible task sometimes to make the choice between the drugs or being free from them.I soppose when your in my shoes your never really free from the drugs.I also tried to find an addictologist.I guess it's a rare species in colorado cause I couldnt find a one within 200 miles.

[SuperJunky]

I've experienced these jolts as well. I havn't gotten them latley but I havn't realy been using either. My friends would always look at me really funny, I accepted them as part of life. When I switched from smack and oxy/percs to tramadol I got them alot more, I assumed it was just some sort of strange neurological problem, which I've had a few of. I figured it was the SSRI action causing problems. Now that I think about it though when I started using opiates I seemed to have traded in Strange black outs, random blindness, moderate seizures and exceptionally painful headaches for these random jolts or twitches. I guess after dealing with all that crap these didn't even faze me. Can't say it was the opiates for sure though, I've dumped a large quanity of alot of different chemicals into my body, any thing could have "cured", stopped or made these less noticeable.

[arielcream]

Hey-
I detoxed from 2 years/130mg Methadone and went through that exact same thing -electrical shock. It made me kick my legs really hard. And thats when I started having panic attacks. I started seeing an addictologist then and found out if you go cold turkey your body will NEVER go back to normal because the neurotransmitters are screwed.

Wow!,
its good to hear im not the only one who gets these jolts, if i am feeling bad i can't even drive a car as these stupid jolts seem to happen at the wrong time and my legs just fly out and can accidentally kick the brake or accellerator pedal, which i find very dangerous, I would suggest to anyone else experiencing these 'jolts' not to drive, and if you really do have to go out in the car try to get someone to else to drive you, if not, be very aware of what can happen, keep a fair distance from other cars (in front and behind)

Also, I have gone cold turkey several times, does this mean all my neurotransmitters are buggered? Will they ever restore functionality? :eyebrow:

[COLONELWAYNE]

I have been told by a couple of different doctors that as long as no trauma has occurred (such as stroke or aneurysm) the brain will resume normal function eventually.The downside to that is it can take up to two years for everything to go back like it was.(depending on substance and years used) There are anti-depressants that DO help to level out this process in a matter of 3 or 4 weeks but it may take several trial and errors before you find out what works best for you.Most people like myself get disgusted and go back to using several times before they actually get to the point that it's stay clean or die (or go to jail) either way, when it gets that far you WILL see these things do work if you give them time but the secret is not using ANYTHING while your body adjust to the SSRI's. It DOES take time and patience.If there were any quick fixes there wouldn't be much need for a forum to discuss it.Would there? lol Peace out and good luck! C.W.

[COLONELWAYNE]

I forgot to mention the leg jolts in my last post.I was given some "Phys icians desk reference" terminology for this (restless leg syndrome or some shit) In other words "they don't know" but one doctor told me to take "potassium tablets" and "quinnine" (not quinnidine) les you got malaria too LOL! Believe it or not ,it did seem to help for me.Maybe worth a try? and pretty cheap fix if it does help! I'm pretty sure both are over the counter items everywhere.Peace out C.W.

[kramorph]

That explains alot,I felt like I was on speed but different, sort of weird. Fuckin' bullshit eh, never got that shit from H w/d, only methadone.

[JunkYardSaint]

The last time I kicked methadone I jumped off three years of 100mg daily - at the time I took my weekend doses and triple dosed - my last dose - those three hundred milligrams ended up being the last three hundred mgs and my last fix for about 7 months until I couldn't stand it anymore and I fixed. Despite the occasional chip after that I actually stayed clean for a good couple o' years after that but I was always haunted by the desire ...always...Anyway...I've got nothing to contribute to this thread really, I just want to say that hell yes I experienced this very phenomenon y'all describe, and I asked around to hear just about every junky - and especially those who were kicking methadone as well, we ALL had this. I had it expained to me by a doctor that it's the 'flight or fight' response. Anyway ...I would also kick in my sleep inexplicably.......it was always enough to disturb my girlfriend at the time, enough to wake her up...... between that and the night sweats kicking always meant sleeping alone.

THis also reminds me of something else I get....and though I am currently on a fairly high dose methadone maintenence (again) this is something that I've always related to SSRI's - I'm not sure how many of y'all also suffer from depression and other mental health issues, as do I (I'm a fucking nut) but I have issues falling outta my ass and so for one of the many I take this stuff they said might help called shrimp lo mein...no um....egg foo yung? ....no....lex a pro....thats it.......its called lexapro well anyway i get these 'electric shocks' in my brain like in the front of my brain i feel it by my eyes sorta and then like someone else posted i get dizzy for a second......doesn't seem to happen as much when I lower my SSRI dose a touch.......but anyway if freaks me out. ...Well that's my worthless contribution to this thread.....I prolly didn't help much but maybe someone will get a little chuckle at what an ass i am.

[furber]

after you become clean you have a honeymoon period when you feel fine,then without warning you suddenly go into full withdrawl this can happen any time up to a year or so after

[Zoop]

Junk Yard Saint, you are totally on the money - those "electric shock" like sensations are typical SSRI withdrawals. I've been on Zoloft for about 11 years, and the times when I ran out because I forgot to call the doc or get the refill, I got those sensations, just like you're about to fall back in your chair and you catch yourself. Unsettling, to say the least. I guess methadone w/d can cause the same feeling too. Which makes me wonder, does methadone affect serotonin receptors? The structure is similar to some SSRI drugs - definitely not your typical phenanthrene opiate skeleton.

Anyway, what's the word on bupe? Is it easy to get on it like maintenance-wise? I think I'd like that, although I have never taken it. Methadone put me right where I wanted to be though, but you gotta go on a government list for that shit and go downtown and mix with the rif-raf to get your fix everyday. No Thanks.

I'd like to just take a bupe RX down to CVS every two weeks or so. Y'all do that? Anyone who's on bupe maintenance?

[kramorph]

I was on bupe for about 18 mths still hard to kick though but not as bad as methadone.Unfortunately though here in oz it has become a major street drug due to the cost and quality of available H.So itas is the same deal now as methadone , every fucking day down the clinic where the dealers offer you smack while ya waiting in line.Pigs occassionally raid, but that just causes new faces to turn up selling the next day. Some people still get take home bupe, but most shoot it or sell it and buy H. The irresponsible few fuck it for the rest of us.I am the only junky i know who has a pc, most make pawnbrokers rich.

[HeidiW]

I've had the jolts too. But I don't recall having them while using opiates - I got them when I was using crystal meth. or Ritalins. I'm glad to know I'm not crazy - that they really do happen.

[rebo]

Heidi ,did you get my e-mail ?,I'm just wondering because I've had a little problem finding my way around.