I'm 61. Us old farts need to proceed slowly with detox. I just detoxed off of 11 years of 89 mg methadone. It took me 8 months. I went in the " blind". And I went at it 2 mg a week. And when it got rough I slowed to 1 mg a week. I took 2 halts of 2 weeks. I did it. It is achieveable.
September 29
That answered my questions on tapering. I do have Narcan in my home just in case of problems.
September 24
Tapering off methadone is a gradual process, and going slowly is really important — never stop it suddenly or "cold turkey," as this can cause severe or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. General guidelines suggest reducing the dose by less than 10% at a time, with 10 to 14 days between each reduction. This gives Show Full Answer
Tapering off methadone is a gradual process, and going slowly is really important — never stop it suddenly or "cold turkey," as this can cause severe or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. General guidelines suggest reducing the dose by less than 10% at a time, with 10 to 14 days between each reduction. This gives the body time to adjust comfortably at each step.
Here are some key things to keep in mind during a taper:
- The timeline varies from person to person and can take months
- Your healthcare provider should tailor the plan to your individual needs
- Doses can be adjusted along the way if withdrawal symptoms become difficult
- Tapering can happen in an inpatient or outpatient setting depending on your situation
It's also worth knowing that after tapering, the body's tolerance to opioids decreases. This means that if opioids are used again, even a previously tolerated dose could increase the risk of overdose. Many providers recommend having naloxone on hand during and after a taper for this reason. Working closely with a healthcare provider throughout this process is the safest approach — they can monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed.
September 24
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