Guy

[trish]

I have a quick question I am hoping you can answer. I am currently weaning off the methadone (been on for 20+). Clean for 5 years. I am down to 5mg. right now and hope to be totally off in 2 weeks or so.
Everytime I take a decrease, my heart feels like it is pumping out of my chest. I am very racey where I feel like sprinting around the block...only my legs won't move. I also get very high fevers. Do you know what causes this racey feeling?? Could it be my blood pressure going either up or down because my body is rejecting the decrease?? Any insight would be helpful.

I am due to see the doctor a week before I get off the meth. But alot of these physicians don't know their a** from their elbow regarding addiction and the symptoms.

Thanks Guy

Trish --

first of all, apologies about my silence -- been away from the computer for a few days. I hope the side effects of decreasing methadone have gotten better in those days. Alas, I'm out of my depth here -- just don't have the medical expertise to answer your question. And yes, I know, a lot of doctors really AREN'T up on the in's and out's of addiction stuff. It sounds like you have to may have to research methadone experts -- of whom there have to be many. Do you have a teaching hospital near your community? Or a medical school nearby? I just don't know what to tell you more specifically. HOWEVER, don't dismiss your doctor before you've talked to him. He may know more about this than you expect.

Sorry to be so unhelpful after my absence. My hope is that these effects will decrease as your intake of methadone does. It seems likely that they will. But again -- you have to talk to a medical expert, and I'm not one.

Keep me posted and if I hear of any association to which I can direct you in cyberspace (or elsewhere) I will.

Guy