Question: What happens when someone stops taking methadone completely?
My son was taking 39mg and does not to be on it any more. He has not had any in 5 days.. Will he be alright?
Thanks,
XXXXXXX XXXX
Brief Answer:
If an abrupt discontinuation: withdrawal symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I shall surely answer all your queries to your satisfaction, hopefully. In response to your first question, if an abrupt discontinuation of methadone has taken place then the individual is most likely to start experiencing the withdrawal symptoms within a few days from discontinuation of the medication.
The first thing you need to know is that methadone discontinuation needs to be done slowly/gradually over a period of time, and under the supervision of a medical practitioner. Usually a gradual reduction of about 1-3 mg/week is considered to safest approach. As your son was taking 39 mg, which is a high dose, the chances of him suffering withdrawal symptoms is moderate-high.
Another important aspect is the duration for which your son was on the medication, please write back to me about this ma'am.
As your son is not on the drug for a duration of 5 days now, if he is to suffer withdrawal symptoms, we can expect them sometime soon. I would recommend a visit to your family doctor, to whom we can explain the situation and he can take over your son's responsibility. Your doctor will make sure your son is comfortable at all times, and for the next few weeks will require frequent visits from your son to make sure he is doing well.
As your son has not experienced any withdrawal symptoms so far, it being the 5th day, I am hoping he was not on the medication for long, and wish he does not experience the withdrawal symptoms at all. But it would be unsafe for him to discontinue the medication so abruptly if he were on the medication for a long duration of time, in which case it is best to report to your doctor at your earliest convenience.
I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.
What kind of withdrawal symptoms can we expect? He has been in it about a year . He is aching and sleeps a lot. He was given methadone because he was addicted to ocxycodine. He had being using coke lately. He had moved back home to get away fro it all. We don't have a doctor.
Brief Answer:
Symptoms listed below ma'am, need to help him
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Withdrawal symptoms you can expect range from moderate-severe, and they are:
-Chills
-Light headedness
-Chills
-Tremors
-Flu-like symptoms
-Aches and pains (more often of joints and muscles in the body)
-Fluctuations in blood pressure
-Fluctuations in the intensity of pain
-Photophobia
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Altered bowel habits
-Hyperventilation
-Depression
-Delirium
-Insomnia
-Anxiety
-Suicidal tendency
-Apathy
-Anorexia
-Hallucinations
-Uncontrolled orgasms
-Paranoia
and a few others.
A year on the medication is long enough to expect the symptoms. I am guessing that your son was sent to a methadone clinic to help deal with the oxycodone dependence, where he was given the methadone? If this is the case, then you should consult the doctors there to help him to come off the drug.
We need to help him ma'am. The withdrawal symptoms seem to have started, and he may not be able to deal with them alone. Please do get him some help and try to be as patient and supportive as possible.
Wishing and praying for him. Do feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to be of assistance.
God bless.
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Can I Discontinue Methadone Completely?
Brief Answer:
If an abrupt discontinuation: withdrawal symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I shall surely answer all your queries to your satisfaction, hopefully. In response to your first question, if an abrupt discontinuation of methadone has taken place then the individual is most likely to start experiencing the withdrawal symptoms within a few days from discontinuation of the medication.
The first thing you need to know is that methadone discontinuation needs to be done slowly/gradually over a period of time, and under the supervision of a medical practitioner. Usually a gradual reduction of about 1-3 mg/week is considered to safest approach. As your son was taking 39 mg, which is a high dose, the chances of him suffering withdrawal symptoms is moderate-high.
Another important aspect is the duration for which your son was on the medication, please write back to me about this ma'am.
As your son is not on the drug for a duration of 5 days now, if he is to suffer withdrawal symptoms, we can expect them sometime soon. I would recommend a visit to your family doctor, to whom we can explain the situation and he can take over your son's responsibility. Your doctor will make sure your son is comfortable at all times, and for the next few weeks will require frequent visits from your son to make sure he is doing well.
As your son has not experienced any withdrawal symptoms so far, it being the 5th day, I am hoping he was not on the medication for long, and wish he does not experience the withdrawal symptoms at all. But it would be unsafe for him to discontinue the medication so abruptly if he were on the medication for a long duration of time, in which case it is best to report to your doctor at your earliest convenience.
I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.
Best wishes.