Here are some tips that could help you in your withdrawal from methadone. A gradual approach is needed to minimize the side effects and to allow the addict to still function.


Steps

1. Speak to your health care professional as this can be dangerous and should only be advised by a suitably ranking medic.
2. Dose of methadone should be reduced by approximately 5mg a day for the first 3 days and then 1 mg a day thenon. As methadone has such a long half-life (about 30 hours) withdrawal will be felt on the second and third days of the cessation program. It can be helpful to have some other faster acting "breakthrough" medication with a shorter half-life (i.e. morphine, oxycodone) to deal with these withdrawal symptoms.
3. The temptation to renew acquaintance with the drug is hard to avoid, in some cases short-term use of a tranquilizer can be beneficial.
4. In any case withdrawal is likely to be complete after a week after last dose is taken. This is for a complete clearing of the system and for the pituitary-hypothalmic-gonadic axis to return to "normal" levels.

Warnings

• DO NOT attempt this without medical intervention!
• The author does not take responsibility for any loss of life or injury due to this advice. This advice should not supplement for full medical advice!