Dowling - Methadone Detoxification

Methadone detoxification can be a very uncomfortable and difficult experience. Symptoms usually begin between twenty-four and forty-eight hours after the user's last dose of methadone. Common symptoms include: stomach cramps, sweating, nausea, extreme cravings, tremors, sneezing, irritability, chills, anxiety, paranoia, fuzzy-headedness, hallucinations and clinical depression. Additionally, methadone withdrawal symptoms tend to continue much longer than heroin withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the dose of methadone and how long the person has been using methadone, the symptoms can last for several weeks to several months. Professionals in the field of methadone detoxification share that it is important to gradually decrease your dose of the drug over a period of time instead of completely stopping all at once.