Cessation of regular opiate therapy produces an unpleasant experience called withdrawal. The classic symptoms include diarrhea, runny nose, goose bumps, abdominal pain and dilated pupils. . The duration of these symptoms varies, but can last several weeks. Methadone withdrawal tends to be more prolonged. For a several weeks after discontinuation of opiates patients frequently have increased pain; this is part of the withdrawal process. Three months after discontinuation of long term high dosage narcotic therapy, a patient’s pain is usually less than when they were taking the narcotics.