Does methadone make u gain weight

[MaraDnB]

I have heard from many people that methadone makes you gain weight.  the doctor at the clininc and my psychiatrist and my primary care doctor all insit that it doesnt... they say it makes you crave sugar and most people gain the weight because they werent eating right before they started the program, and the done makes you crave sugar.  I need an answer from someone who is actually in the program.  I dont want to hear he said she saids... i need the truth.  I spent 600 dollars on a personal trainer last month and lost 15 pounds and 6% body fat... i dont want that to come back.  HELP
-Mara

[wannabefree330]

I have no experience with methadone but from reading these forums and hearing from others who have had the drug it does make you crave sweets.  If you have the control to stay away from them and continue to work out, you will be okay.  I understand methadone is one of the hardest drugs to quit, so I would be very hesitant in starting it at all.  But it is your decision and you are right in trying to get as much information as possible.  Keep asking questions here. you are doing the right thing.

[sadinmichigan]

yes it does..I don't know one person that hasn't gained [email protected] joke..thankfully i only weighed about 92lbs then..liquid methadone will also rot your teeth eventually..they call it meth mouth..

[worried878]

My friend uses methadone and she is obese at this point...6 months later...tiny thing at the start...now she is having he!! getting off of it...do what u need to do to get clean but methadone does seem to be a lst choice from what i have learned and read

[worried878]

I meant "last" choice

[highOnLife7]

Sorry but I have to agree with everyone. It makes you gain a lot of weight. It is gradual, at least with me. When I got off methadone the weight did disappear. With me it was all water retention. For some reason it held all the water in me. When I stopped the methadone I peed so much and the weight came off. Good luck.

[dlr2007]

Methadone makes it VERY hard to stay thin. I've been on it for over 4 years now, and have gained about 20 lbs. I started out as one of those disgusting women who was still skinny and had a six-pack stomache after 2 kids- and I could eat whatever I wanted. After about 2 months on methadone the weight started creeping on- then I quit smoking and it got even worse. Not only does methadone slow your metabolism and make you retain water (causing that sexy cottage cheese look on the butt and legs)- it also gives you a huge appetite for sweets. I really feel like it diminishes my self-control when it comes to dieting- I used to be SO disiplined but now I just can't seem to stop eating. However, I've been lucky- most women on methadone that I've seen have gained WAY more- 50 lbs and up. It's scary to watch. I manage to keep my weight from skyrocketing by walking on the treadmill and staying as active as I can- and weighing myself daily.
  The thing with your teeth rotting is also true, unfortunately. I started methadone with 2 molars missing- now most of them are gone. And I brush my teeth regularly- it doesn't seem to make any difference. My teeth crumble from the inside out, it seems- they will look fine and all the sudden I'll be eating and one will just be rolling around in my mouth. The roots remain intact, which means I have to go to an oral surgeon to have them dug out- fun fun!
  I'm not sure what your situation is, but getting on methadone is a BIG decision. It does save lives, but it has it's bad points too. I think it's only justified in people who have proved to be chronic relapsers who simply can't live without opiates. I wish I could turn back the clock- I would've spent the 4 days or week or whatever it took suffering through withdrawals, then I would've been FREE!!! Instead I was too afraid of the despair I felt during withdrawals- it wasn't the physical part so much, but the emotional devastation- so I took the "easy" way out and got on methadone.  And now I'm too scared to attempt to get off of it. I have 2 kids and 3 jobs and a husband and a household to run- no time for being sick. And, I'll admit, I'm a coward- I'm just too terrified of how I'd feel without it.
  So to anyone who is considering methadone- please be careful- think long and hard before you take that step. It's not easy to break away from it once you're on.
  Best wishes and prayers,
Dee
  

[welldigger]

Methadone is awful to come off of. I have been off about 1 1/2 months and still have some problems. I did gain some weight, but only about 10 pounds, but it messes your whole system up. And from what I hear, it takes forever to get back to normal. My advise, don't take it. In the long run, it's not worth what it does to your body, and what you have to go through to get off it. Good luck.

[Miranda907]

Hi Dee,

I have had exactly the same problems with my teeth and 15 weight gain. I was never an addict, I am on  meth for chrinic pain after a horrible disabiling car accident. I have been very very upset with my weight gain and could not understnad why. My eating habits and lifestyle has not changed one iota. I will talk to my dr about water retention help.
Your post helped me realize I am not the only one having these symptoms,
Thanx,
Miranda

[TRISTANSMAAMA]

ACTUALLY YOU ALL ARE WRONG AND OBVIOUSLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT,METH MAKES U CRAVE SUGARY FOODS.AND PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW CLEAN AND ON METHADONE ARE FINALLY EATING RIGHT AGAIN.ITS  EASY TO BLAME YOUR BAD FOOD CHOICES AND LAZINESS TOWARDS EXERCISING ON METHADONE,BUT IT SIMPLY IS NOT THE CULPRIT.I HAVE BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR AND HAVE STEADILY BEEN LOSING WEIGHT.I NOW WEIGH 119.GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT,GUYS,AND GET HEALTHY.DONT BLAME YOUR UNFIT BODIES ON METHADONE

[MaraDnB]

thanks yo.  i have been loosing weight, although i gained 5 pounds in the first month, i lost it in 2 weeks,.... and i was the one who posted the question.  All you guys knock the methadone, well, its totally helping me.  It has kept me from sticking needles in my body or sticking **** in my nose.  I take it as directed, i dont abuse it.  Sometimes, i take my prescribed klonopin and clonodine and sometimes when those urges to use happen, i just grab a promethiezine (phenergan) and that helps relax me for some reason (not quite sure how it works, but it does).  I am weening myself off the pines with the help of 2 doctors.  I've been on at least 2 mgs of klonopin and 0.2 mgs clonodine.  I have tried to cold turkey the benzo, but it sent me into a seizure...and if i don't take as much as i am prescribed, i have serious tremors that are terrible... believe you me.  The only problem i have had with the methadone is that it makes me sweat something terrible.  Every 2 minutes i am wiping my face off with a papEr towel.  THAT REALLY *****, but it also makes you **** less and its really hard for me to pee.  Im definetly not dehydrating myself or anything either.  I wonder if any of you guys know an herbal supplement that helps with the "going to the bathroom", please let me know.
I appreciate everyones comments, but i have to say, i dont have as bad a problem as some people in the program, but its help me stay clean this long.  I plan to be on it steadily until 5-6 months, then i will have my doctors and counseler SLOWLY ween me down.  Comment back peeps!!!
-Mara tha Blank Dank

[mtgoat911]

yes you will get fat and toothless, even after some time clean i still have weight issues because the methadone screwed up my metabolism, and i am not even going to mention the amount of money i have had to spend on dental work, and my teeeth still look like ****

[loriegurl]

I am guess I am lucky. I have been on methadone, at the clinic, since april and I swear, I feel "stuffed" all the time. I cant eat. I have to make myself eat. which is fine, i had gained up to 155 lbs on oxys and have always been "small" as in 120 lbs. I am down to 140 now. LOVE THE METHADONE.  But I do know that it is going to be hard to come off of.  I hear alot of folks at the clinic talk about craving sugar, but I dont. And trust me, I have always loved my sweets, especially cake-like b day cake, wedding cake, cookies, choc, etc......and since I have been on meth, I dont want anything to eat. WOO HOOO

[loriegurl]

ohhh, yeah.....I guess I should add, that I also have my life back and things are better than ever!!!  I am happy, I really am and I recommend this to anyone else. Again, I dont know how I will get off it, but I know that ir will be a slow, slow, long process. But I will cross that bridge later. Right now, I am just grateful to be off the oxy/ lorcet roller coaster.

[GoingToMakeIt]

It is so good to see you here again! You have been missed !!!!

[Leanne8622]

YES!!  
I'am on the Methadone Program, and have been for the past 6 months.
I am very happy to be drug free! Although, Sadly I've gained alot of weight.
My healthy weight has always fluctuated between 115 and 120.
However, I gained 30 LBS!!! I could not believe it. I immediately went on a diet and noticed that the weight was ALOT harder to loose. (cuz of the methadone.)
I've noticed that for the most part the weight gain has a harsher affect on women.

[rick412]

yup i gained 30ibs in 6 months.the only people i hear say good things about done are the people on it and the people giving it. the clinic was so good to me when i was on it. when i came off they would not help me in anyway. i feel they set me up to fail.hoping i would come back crying with my wallet in hand. but i didn't.and how many x done user's are at the clinic helping other's. none where i was going.all i ever got was your not ready.and the last thing they want is someone helping people get off it.thats there pay check.i guess if you believe your hopeless and never want to get clean it will work 4 ya. i walked off 16 days ago and i'm not dead. i'm still xing that bridge and believe me it's a long bridge to cross.has anyone posted  i'm clean now and done was so good for my recovery. most will tell you it made it harder to get clean.i almost used H  to come off the done. thak god i stayed strong and god helped me get to this day

[Tuck24]

I think its totally up to you. I've been on Methadone for about 15 months and I weighed about 250 and now I'm 235. ANY NARCOTIC will make you crave sweets. Just eat right. I know I'm dependant on narcotics, but I quit about a month ago and have had some withdrawals as you will with anything when you have been taking it so long. Everyone is different and you must know yourself. Be strong!

[worried878]

have heard that it does make u gain weight...also loose teeth..that scared me!

[laurel453]

hummm...interesting.

i'am not on methadone, but i¡d like to share almost a similar experience ( gaining weight ) since i'm clean. The first  weeks after the worst days of wd had gone, i had hugh cravings for sugar and junk food, you know ...and ok, wth, i said to myself  that i would eat whatever i wanted as a sort oof present to myself for being clean....

no way, i put on more than 5 kilos in 3 weeks even if by the end of the first week i had  started exercising ( more or less but i was eating a lot and without order, grr ) so maybe it's true that narcotics make us eat/crave for sugar  and when i left my DOC ( hydros )  i was also addicted to sugar and my body was craving even more  for it  ...

don't know but  i had to stop it, i've  already lost two kilos since i've started a sort of healthy diet trying to keep  the levels of sugar stabilized and that's the point here with sugar...to stop those cravings, we have to eat 5 times a day ( two of them,  just a yoghourt or a piece of fruit but something healthy ) so that we can  keep those leves without highs and downs.

I had cut also in fat, we need fat to function but not sooooo many fat in our food and i'm eating a lot of veggies ( salads, soups ..whatever..),  slow carbos  gives us energy along the day, fiber is also good and proteins, but cut in fat and junk food and eat 5 times a day and maybe even while being on methadone , you can keep the weight ... for sweet cravings, i have dark chocolate and it keeps me calm about sugar :)

as for whole fat dairy products, an adult usually develops an intolerance to the fat in them with the years, that's why so many people stop having swollen ankles and feet just by cutting these products or  eating them low fat  ( you stop retaining fluids...).

i think that if we gain weight is not by miracle, there is always some reason in our diiet or in our way of eating...maybe you can try doing what i'm doing now and works for you too, good luck!

[laurel453]

here, kane

[trinitastartelmoth]

Female 47 on 30 mgs. Yes I gained weight. Most people I see start on this drug gain weight but there a few that don't. Weight can be managed with the usual diet and exercise.

[fools_must_be_corrected]

The member "sadinmichigan" said in the second comment above - "liquid methadone will also rot your teeth eventually..they call it meth mouth.."

She obviously does not know what she is talking about. If someone has "meth mouth" they have got it from smoking crystal-meth (methamphetamine), it has nothing to do with methadone.

Anyway, when i was taking heroin & smoking crack i became very skinny and would often not eat for several days. When i decided to quit drugs and start taking methadone i noticed that i did gain weight very quickly, but this is probably because my body was used to being starved for long periods of time and then suddenly i was eating regular.

I have now been taking methadone for the past 3 years and i have gained 3 stone in weight. My doctor has recently switched me over to the sugar-free methadone, so hopefully with exercise i can lose this extra weight.

[Kova]

wow, that is a pretty strong nickname you've decided on.  way to gain friends and influence people.

Kova

[kane332]

wow fool!