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What Causes Insomnia, Anxiety And Restless Legs Syndrome After Weaning Off Methadone?
I am very much swallowing my pride here. Hello, I have been abusing methadone for a few years now. The last few months, I have tampered down, but I was doing them at a rate of about 30-40 mg per day for the last few months. This is my fourth day off them, and I am experiencing withdrawing symptoms. Insomnia, RLS, anxiety, cannot get comfortable, etc. Is there anything I can do, and how long can this last? Thank you.
Fri, 13 Nov 2020
Hi,
Methadone is a long acting synthetic opioid painkiller that is often used to treat individuals who suffer from addiction to opioid drugs like heroin or prescribing painkillers. Stopping Methadone abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms. They usually begin 1 - 3 days after the last dose. The symptoms are anxiety, uneasiness, yawning, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, runny nose, sleeping difficulties, joint pain, watery eyes, fever, sweating, tremors, muscle aches, loss of appetite, insomnia, restless leg syndrome etc.
These symptoms generally reach their peak around the sixth day, but some may last for several weeks. Since Methadone is an opioid, medical detox is always required to withdraw from the drug. In some instances, individuals will be gradually tapered off Methadone, whereas individuals may be switched to another medication like Buprenorphine or L-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) in other instances.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam, General And Family Physician
Methadone is a long acting synthetic opioid painkiller that is often used to treat individuals who suffer from addiction to opioid drugs like heroin or prescribing painkillers. Stopping Methadone abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms. They usually begin 1 - 3 days after the last dose. The symptoms are anxiety, uneasiness, yawning, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, runny nose, sleeping difficulties, joint pain, watery eyes, fever, sweating, tremors, muscle aches, loss of appetite, insomnia, restless leg syndrome etc.
These symptoms generally reach their peak around the sixth day, but some may last for several weeks. Since Methadone is an opioid, medical detox is always required to withdraw from the drug. In some instances, individuals will be gradually tapered off Methadone, whereas individuals may be switched to another medication like Buprenorphine or L-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) in other instances.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Zubayer Alam, General And Family Physician
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