You will likely need to enter into a medically-supervised detox program in order to safely detox and withdraw from the methadone. Because of the nature of methadone, the entire withdrawal and detox process can take significantly longer than with other opioids and other addictive substances.
Symptoms can begin within the first 24 hours after you used methadone last, and the entire withdrawal process can last up to several weeks, depending on the severity of the addiction. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect during the first few weeks of the methadone withdrawal timeline:. With the initial withdrawal symptoms not typically showing up for at least 24 hours after the last dose is taken, the first two days tend to be pretty normal. During the first two days, you may begin to experience the following symptoms:.
Depending on the severity of the addiction, the symptoms can be anywhere from relatively mild to extreme. This is also the time period when cravings will be the strongest. In addition to the symptoms that you might have begun feeling during the first two days, additional symptoms that you may experience during days 3 through 8 include:.
Once you have hit day 9, you will likely notice that some of the symptoms have begun to subside. During this time, you will likely still experience some of the following symptoms:. Symptoms such as strong cravings, low energy levels, and trouble sleeping can persist for weeks after you have stopped taking methadone.
In addition, in the weeks and months after stopping taking methadone, many people have reported experiencing post-acute withdrawal symptoms, otherwise known as PAWS.
Those experiencing PAWS may continue to do so for months or even years after they have stopped taking methadone. Many people struggle when it comes to getting off methadone for a couple of reasons. They might be afraid of the symptoms that will come along with withdrawal. They might have even made an attempt to detox at home, and the side effects were so bad they decided to just continue using. Methadone detox can be done at several facilities. These include a medical facility such as a hospital, a dedicated detox center, or even a treatment facility that also provides detox services, such as Chapel Hill Medical Detox.
Attempting to self-detox at home can be incredibly dangerous and even life-threatening. It can also increase the likelihood of a relapse. One of the biggest benefits of undergoing a medical detox is the around-the-clock medical care and supervision. Because you have trained medical professionals constantly checking on you, they can make the entire withdrawal and detox process as painless and comfortable as possible.
This is mainly because methadone is inexpensive compared to oxycodone or hydrocodone. Furthermore, insurance companies often cover methadone and not opioid painkillers. So, people are forced to choose methadone to save money. But, this only leads to an increase in methadone misuse and addiction. Methadone is a long-acting drug that is less powerful than short-acting opioids. However, it can still produce the same effects as the more potent opioids such as heroin and OxyContin.
For this reason, people often misuse methadone. But, how can friends and family recognize methadone misuse? When methadone is taken in high doses, it can be physically addictive. While methadone is commonly used to treat an addiction to opioids, it often leads to misuse and exchanging one substance use disorder for another.
Similar to other opioids, a tolerance to methadone develops quickly. As a result, users need more of the drug to achieve the same effects. Furthermore, without methadone, a dependent person will go through methadone withdrawals. In other words, methadone withdrawals are the body trying to repair itself. This process can be extremely uncomfortable. It often leaves people asking how long is methadone withdrawal. Similar to opioids such as morphine and heroin, methadone withdrawals can be mild to severe.
At the same time, methadone stays in the body longer, causing many to struggle through methadone detox. Those who have severe addictions to methadone often go through severe methadone withdrawals. Moreover, people who misuse multiple substances may have a more intense and more prolonged methadone detox. Methadone withdrawals like withdrawal from other drugs depend on the individual, the length of use, and co-occurring disorders.
However, a person typically experiences methadone withdrawals within 24 hours of last use. But, it may take up to 60 hours for methadone to leave the body and methadone withdrawals to begin. While the first 7 to 10 days are generally the worst, detox from methadone can take much longer. For instance, some methadone withdrawals may not peak till day seven. When methadone withdrawals peak, the common symptoms include anxiety and flu-like symptoms.
Over the next few weeks, methadone withdrawals will fade away. Days — Typically, methadone withdrawals begin within 30 hours of last use. Methadone users usually start feeling withdrawal symptoms within 24 hours of their last dose. The first seven to 10 days are the most painful days of withdrawal. The entire withdrawal process takes three to six weeks or longer for those with a severe addiction and for those who have been taking a higher dose than 40 milligrams.
Here is the breakdown of the detox timeline for methadone. Click on any of the following four-time frames to learn the methadone withdrawal symptoms one may experience during that span:. This timeline is for someone taking up to a maximum of 40 milligrams. For those using more than that dosage, the timeline will likely be different. Methadone is most commonly used for two reasons: detoxification of opioid dependence and opioid replacement therapy.
Dosage depends on the goal of treatment. The medically approved dosing information below applies to adults. When medical professionals use methadone to detox a patient from opioid addiction, they should treat it as a brief course to stabilize the patient. After stabilization, a period of medically supervised withdrawal should occur with a gradual reduction in dosage.
Day 1: Administer a dose of 40 milligrams per day to the patient, in divided doses. After days: Gradually decrease the dose in two-day intervals while maintaining a sufficient dose to keep withdrawal symptoms tolerable. When methadone is used for detoxification and maintenance treatment of opioid addiction, the dose administered is different than in short-term detox.
When seeking treatment for opioid addiction, patients should only use methadone in conjunction with appropriate medical, social and psychological services. For cessation of therapy, abrupt discontinuation is not advised due to severe withdrawal effects.
The initial oral dose of methadone for opioid addiction typically is 20 to 30 milligrams. An additional dose of 5 to 10 milligrams can be given orally if withdrawal symptoms are not repressed or if symptoms reappear.
Methadone levels accumulate over time, so the detox professionals should carefully and gradually titrate each patient down. For patients in a hospital or recovery facility, an injectable form of methadone is still currently available. Particularly for patients who cannot take medications orally, parenteral methadone can be a temporary treatment for opioid dependence. Keep in mind that all dosing information and guidelines for methadone in this article are for adults only.
Pregnant women will require different detoxification guidelines.
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