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Avatar universal

Once skinny, now Fat, & Hate Life!

My Question is pure & simple....Does methadone cause weight gain?  I read so many of peoplesaying it does, ome say no whats the truth?? Why wont someone a professional that knows exactly everything about this drug come clean!! I  am 5'2 & have my whole life weighed NO more then 115-119 lbs, I was first on Morphine sulfate for about 4 years & then put on Methadone & I've been on that for 4 years now & counting  I get 300 QTY, 10 mlg a month, I can take up to 13 at once & not be phased by em. BUT I dont take that amount everyday usually  I take about 5 or 6 a day, & I weigh about 170 lbs & have for the last 3 years or so. I used to be able to drink Dr pepper & eat 2 whoppers & not gain an ounce, now  I can drink 1 soday & gain 10 pounds, WHY?? My doctor thought I may have had Diabetes type 2 but I had blood taken again because I wanted to know for sure, The test for the Diabetes came back Normal, & then I am hearing Im getting old & my metabolism is slowing down. Really??? at age 39????   After reading the other stories Im hearing people have gained weight also because of Methadone, I asked my Dr if it causes weight gain & she said no, but something is doing it & I want to know  what so I know what to do,  I cannot stand to look in the mirror anymore, My face looks flushed,& I'm always crying & am always depressed & I sleep like up to 14 hrs a day! & never have energry, unless I take a high dose. Then its like a speed & gives me energy. So I depend on that to get basic things done during the day.  I wont even date  & have been single for 6 years now. I just wanna die most of the time,. I want this weight to go AWAY! """"  My Dr said>>>>.... If I want to get off the Methadone theres a NEW PILL now that keeps you from having withdrawls from the methadone. I'm going to find out what the name of it is when I see her on the 15 & I'll post it, but if thats True I think Im going to try that, becauseI gotta do something. Thanks Jennifer
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Avatar universal
Methodone does in fact cause weight gain - not because the methodone itself has a high caloric make up but because it slowes the metabolism down for most people. Think about it - one of the side effects of opiates (and methodone)  is constipation - it just slowes everything right down.

It seems to affect some people more than others - when I was nursing I remember some patients on methodone put on a substantial amount of weight even though their diet and activity level did not change. It also does cause some people to crave sugar which of course dosen't help!

I would imagine that once off the methodone your metabolism will return to normal.

Good Luck.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Please text me!!!
Was anorexic for 20 yes and finnaly stbilized at97 lbs. Then they changed me from fentanyl to methadone and in at 120,.  I am about to go to a special treatment center for small bodem obstruction cause i literlly put 12 lbs on over the weekend. That happenned eight months ago and nodig im wonderING of. It is methadone at the root of It all! I am miserable and havent none anywhere since about Thanksgiving, being verf careful cause everyone thinks i may have a rupture any time! I eat almost nothiNG cause it hurts me so badly. Could all this actually be from methadone?? I dont want to go back where i was with ana again,,but am afraid my mond will go back there of tuis doesnt come off!
Please before i spend 5400$ at tuis hospitaal, tell me the truth! Is it physically IMPOSSIBLE to gain that much Weight at a time! ***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just an FYI...you cannot take diuretics with methadone as it removes the methadone from your body as well. The weight gain on methadone is from a combination of factors. These range from the simple fact that most of those on methadone did not eat properly or eat much at all when using and by beginning methadone treatment the addict will start to also begin healthy lifestyle changes including "normal" eating habits, thus the weight gain. Also, methadone DOES slow metabolism which obviously leads to weight gain. Opiates, methadone or not, are linked to increased sugar cravings; another cause of weight gain. Methadone can also cause drowsiness and decreased energy levels, which may or may not be linked to the metabolism decrease, and decreased energy levels will of course lead to weight gain. Another reason includes the fact that many on methadone have chronic pain issues and are essentially unable to perform "normal" exercise regimens. These are just a few of the contributing factors. Point being, the thousands and thousands of methadone patients experiencing significant weight gain cannot ALL be inherently lazy and unhealthy in lifestyle choices. There is an obvious medical correlation between methadone treatment, its pharmacology, and possible side effects in regards to significant weight gain. Which is why innumerable patients flood the message boards and online forums with weight gain issues, despite them trying EVERYTHING to lose the weight. AND exactly why so many doctors and scientists are researching the subject and continually making valid links between the treatment and the weight gain. It is not psychological, nor lack of healthy choices, instead it is quite clearly related to methadone's pharmacology and interaction/side effects with the patient.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You can see in my case that my belly has a lot of EDema (swelling) / water weight by simply pressing a finger or two down on my fatter belly and it takes a few seconds for the skin to return back to normal. Like I said In earlier post. My Dr prescribed me a mild diuretic to help but its not healthy to take them long term. I think I would be gaining even more weight if I hadn't started taking it. I'm in the process of detoxing off. Down to 68 from 100 and dropping 2mgs/wk. hopefully as soon as I get off, I'll drop these 20lbs. Bf taking methedone I couldn't gain weight when I tried. I use to drink ensure shakes with my meals just to keep weight on
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've been on for a yr. weighted only 108-112 bf and now 129-134. I work out regularly- ride my bike 50-100miles/ wk. walk at least 2-5 miles a day. And use weights. I eat super clean. No gluten, no sugar ect.... Despite my healthy lifestyle and eating habits I have swollen up. It def seems like a lot of water weight. I have even gone on a mild dietetic to help but so far that has only helped keep more weight off. My dr thiught I had a thyroid issue Bc I even went down to 700-1000 calorie/ day diet with NO weight loss. Therefore in my case I can def say this is either slowing down my metabolism, putting water weight on or BOTH! I was on 100mgs. Have come down 30 over the last few wks but so far none of the weight has dropped. But looking at other posts looks like u have to come fully off. I weight more now then when I was preg! And went down to 105lbs after having my son 18yrs ago and stayed bet there and 112 til going on this methedone. Recently I even ran and trained for a 5k and didn't drop a single lb but def ran a lot of the meth off. So I'm convinced that it must cause some people to gain due to slowing their metabolism and putting on water weight.  That's my experience
Helpful - 0
5541044 tn?1369528201
I've been on methadone for a yr & a half & have gained quite a bit of weight. I hardly eat & I sweat so bad I look like I just got out of the shower all day. I also have very high blood pressure now. I eat healthy when I feel like eating & am so frustrated about this weight gain & how fast I gained it. I gained almost 60lbs in 3-4months of starting it. And as I've said I don't over eat. I talked to some others on it & they too have noticed alot of people gaining weight, & here's the real kicker, most are women who've gained the weight when taking methadone & most of the men it seems they stay relatively the same.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
That medicine is Suboxone or Subutex. You put it under your tongue. But then you get addicted to that and that is very expensive and I don't believe any insurance covers it yet. I wish you lots of luck. Let me know how you are doing. ***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Methadone made me gain 100 lbs and I'm anorexic, go figure that one out. I'm 5'2" tall and have been a size 0 my whole life. I'm on methadone for pain and in the process of taking myself off. I can't breath walking up stairs, I'm so backed up I look 9 months pregnant I can't tie my shoes. Im done!!! HONEY GET OFF OF IT, IT WILL RUIN YOUR EXISTENCE.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have only been on Methadone since late February 2011. I got put on Methadone cause I was pregnant. I was taking Suboxones. I took Suboxones for a couple years and never had one problem with weight gain. Now that I had my baby 4 months ago I have noticed unexplained weight gain. I am bigger now then when I was pregnant. I am doing research and now that I know for sure that it's the Methadone. I am going to go on a slow detox and go back on Suboxones.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was on methadone for 3 years and I ate nothing but cereal, all of the good sugar filled kind too and over the course of those 3 years I put on over 50lbs. I have been off of it for 1 year and a half now and have lost over 20lbs. But gnarly is right, it does very much slow down your gastro/intestinal function and combined with loss in physical activity, depression, and a hightened taste for sugar and fatty foods it will cause a substantial weight gain. Now towards the end I was taking laxatives, stool softeners, and L glutamine to help and it very much did help. But what helped the most was getting off of the methadone all together. Its not an easy struggle and you will hate life for a while but I can tell you that it was the BEST decision I have ever made and I have never looked back. What drug the doctor is going to tell you about is suboxone and from what I have heard it really does help.....good luck!!! You can do it and no matter what, big people need love too and we are all here for you!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
WOW this is a heavily debated subject....well from my experience I always wore a 36/38 waist I dident go into mmt till I was 40 my waist went up to a 42/44 and I had gained about
70 lb over 6 1/2yrs....as I tapered off the methadone the weight came off...I was  told by my doctor that the weight gain was due to the methadone slowing down your gastro/intestanal
system...and you simply absorbed more calories from the same amount of food...I also noticed I seamed to have a sweet tooth that I never had b/4 it also went away wile on it I would eat a quart bowl of corn flakes with at least 10 heeping spoons of sugger on it .now I rarely eat them and with like next to no suger...so use me as a typical ginni pig and you can see where the weight came from it was both change in diet and matbalizim that was my personal experence on methadone......Gnarly  
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
Thanks for posting that link. I found it very interesting. It still doesnt really answer the question, does methadone cause weight gain? And if so, How? The line "the precise aetiology is unclear but may involve"... xyz ( which basially means we dont know)says it all really. They are speculating. An increase in appetite is an easily resolvable issue but its still the extra donuts that make them overweight not the methadone. There are many OTC and RX diuretics which could help counter excess water retention. Also, there was nothing in the article to suggest that methadone has a unique ability to stall normal metabolism that all other opioids are not subject to which causes methadone to make people fat.

Their explanantions leave out several other alternative reasons why people may pick weight up whilst on methadone which i have mentioned in previous posts.. These have more to do with a change in lifestyle, and/or aging methadone poplulation than the methadone itself.

Does anyone know if heroin makes people overweight or morphine, fentanyl, buprenorphine, pethadiene, palfium, etorphine, carfentanyl,remifentanyl, codeine, hyrocodone,oxycodone etc. OR is it  an unexplainable methadone phenomenon.
Helpful - 0
599071 tn?1300068702
OK, there isn't a simple answer as pain control & appetite mechanisms in humans have evolved as primal responses over millennia.

I'm not aware of research saying the receptors response is specific to methadone.  The precise mechanisms are yet to be understood.

There's a useful easy to read review article on methadone pharmacology you may want to read at http://pmj.bmj.com/content/80/949/654.full.pdf

It notes that:-

Weight gain is a commonly reported side effect among
patients on methadone maintenance. The precise aetiology is
unclear but may involve appetite increase and/or noncardiogenic
peripheral oedema. Previous studies have indicated
an onset of weight gain three to six months after
initiation of methadone maintenance treatment or after a
sharp dosage increase.

Good memory, Perch, you were spot on on the oedema.
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
I still dont understand. How are these opiate receptors react differently to methadone and not other opiate/opioids including longer acting buprenorhine formulations. How does the longer half life of a once a day methadone dose differ from several daily doses of a shorter acting opioid or the sustained release of fentanyl patches.

I am not suggesting there is no correltion between methadone and weight gain i just think there are other possible causes for this, least of which is the stability and disposable income that is common when people enter maintenance programs.

Also, when people enter into maintenance programs there is a tendency to search for alternative outlets for their addictive behaviours. An obvious choice for many is food. I think once again people are confusing a correlation with causation.  

I am a layman and dont pretend to have any special knowledge on this matter. If someone could kindly direct me to the relevant studies i would be extremely appreciative.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
It has nothing to do with receptors. It causes metabolism slow down, it does this so that the opoid can stay effective in your system for a very long time.
599071 tn?1300068702
Published research indicates that opiate receptors are involved in the normal regulation of food intake & defects in these receptors can contribute to obesity  & anorexia.  This is consistent with Perch's observations that her patients responded differently to methadone, this is because of variations in their opiate receptors.

There have been trials where administration of the opiate antagonist naltrexone has controlled weight gain in opiate withdrawal.

If someone needs to be on methadone, as others have said, the best thing you can do is be as careful as possible about diet & exercise.  Medium intensity exercise will help maintain a normal metabolic rate & also stimulate natural endorphins.

It must be frustrating to be doing your best & still have the weight gain but it's likely that you will lose the weight once you longer need the methadone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I remember when I was doing my bachelor of nursing  learning about a link between long term opiate therapy causing weight gain for 2 reasons - odema (water retention) and metabolism slowing down. I remember methodone, due to both its super long half life and the fact that therapy of methodone is usually long them - being mentioned specifically.

There must be something to this - because time and time again I see on this board and other addiction boards people on methodone complaining about significant weight gain - and I googled 'weight gain methodone metabolism' and got a huge amount of hits. Also - when I worked in mental health with people on methodone so many complained about gaining significant weight.

It does come to my mind though that people on methodone, probably for the first time in years (depending on how long they were using for)  - are eating regular meals once again, where as when they were using were probably eating sporatically at best. So logically, you would actually expect some weight gain.
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
So are you saying that all opioids can cause weight gain or  just methadone? Again, is this evidence based( citable references) or just your opinion?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Just Methadone. This is why ONLY Methadone stays in your system for days as opposed to hours. We have evidence right here. Have you not noticed how many people right here are saying that they have gained weight?
401095 tn?1351391770
oh

and age helps with wt gain as well

before i turned 40 i could drop 5 lbs in a week easy...now it is a long slow process to lose weight...but i gain it faster...our metabolism slows with age...and it is common for folks not to be able to eat whoppers and fries daily without gaining weight

be careful with this wonder drug to get u off mdone withdrawal free...be safe
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
Overeating causes weight gain!  Lack of exercise causes weight gain.

I know folks on methadone for yrs for chronic pain who r thin as a rail...others who r overweight....many say birth control pills are to answer for their 50 lb wt gain...others do not have this issue.

I think it is true some drugs may cause an increase or decrease in appetite..but minimal unless it is a diet pill for wt loss....alot of it comes from our lifestyle
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just my .98 cents worth but while on celexa I gained a bunch of weight unfortunatly it didn't fall of when I stopped taking it but when I started taking effexor I begun to lose weight. Everyone has a differant experiance with differant meds. Each person has a right to their own opinion. Who is to say whom is correct and who isn't. We all just share based on our best knowlage and experiance. Every thing must be taken with a grain of salt. Becca
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
Fair enough. Everyones personal experiences are relevant. I guess i dont understand why everyone on methadone doesnt pick up weight and am curious to know why this is limited to a minority. How does a drug with little calorific value cause weight gain? IS it interfering with the normal metabolism? I have yet to read any empiracal studies that have conclusively proven a link between methadone and weight gain. I think there are many anecdotes from people claiming methadone as the cause for their otherwise unexplainable weight  gain but they are confusing correlation with causation.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Its NOT a minority at all. Its the vast majority. Look at any clinic, and you will see that the vast majority are overweight, and the ones thta are not overweight are all people who have been there for a short time. I have not yet met a single person that uses it and is thin. You don't have much experience with this, do you?
Avatar universal
I did all that and still gained 50lbs over the 4 years and when I talked to my dr. and read up on methadone, it can in fact cause weight gain. Obviously more if you don't watch what you eat and discipline yourself, but even doing that I still gained weight, and as soon as I stopped I lost weight, just like my Dr. said I would. It may be different for everyone, I was just sharing my experience, what I read and was told.
Helpful - 0
185545 tn?1331074866
  Methadone itself is not calorific so i dont see how the methadone can be blamed for weight gain. If people give in to sugar cravings and eat too many donuts whilst on methadone then it is the donuts that have caused the weight gain not the methadone. I am aware that many people gain weight on methadone maintenance but discipline, regular exercise and a healthy diet will eliminate the possibility of picking up excess weight. My point is that a fatalistic,apathetic and defeatist attitude with regards to methadone and weight gain is prevalent in some people in spite of the fact that it can be avoided altogether.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
It causes weight gain by slowing your metabolism, not by being fattening itself, although of course if you drink it, it does have calories. The way it stays in yoursystem for so long, is because it causes your body to metabolize at a snail's pace. This is what makes you fat. Exercise will NOT help, neither will dieting. If you want to loose weight, you need to reduce your dose to a very small amount.
I'm afraid that the people who do not gain weight on Methadone are very, very few. And it has nothing to do wit attitude.
Avatar universal
YES, Methadone causes weight gain. I was on methadone for about 4 years for IC pain. Worked great in the begging then started feeling worse. I gained 50 lbs over the 4 years. My Dr. told me that the weight was from the Methadone and as soon as I quit taking it, I would start losing weight and I did. I lost 20lbs in the first 2 months and have kept it off so far. Hope this helps!!!
Helpful - 0
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