losing weight while on methadone

[tif1975]

i have been trying to do some research on methadone and weight gain. i have noticed that i am not the only one out there that has gained weight while taking methadone. it would be great if anyone can help or have suggestions on losing weight and if it is easy to do. i have read alot of people asking similar questions but no replys on the subject at hand.

[AmyCarolyn1974]

How much methadone are you taking?

[georgie434]

Hi
Congrads on your success thus far.  I'm currently tapering.  Started the taper 5 months ago at 160 mg.  Now I'm down to 70.  I also started living and eating healthier.  I have been juicing once or twice a day for the last 6-8 weeks.  I have lost an incrediable amount of weight since the juicing was
added.
I have 2 questions.  Do you find the juicing causes the methadone to metabolize quicker, do you feel "dope sick" in the morning??  Also at what dose did you start the 1 mg weekly decrease?  I go every 2 weeks so I came down 10mg twice a month, then when I hit 100 they only do 5 mg every 2 weeks.  I feel I can go faster but will trust someone other then myself.  any nutritional tips are welcome.


I

[Amanda011387]

Hi Suzi, I saw your post and I wanted to say that I have had some success losing weight on methadone. It was definitely not easy, as it isn't for anyone trying to lose weight. I went from 156lbs. to 118lbs. (Nearly 40 lbs.) How did I do it? I ate less than 1,000 calories per day, usually around 700-800 calories each day if possible, for an entire month. During that time, more than HALF of that 40lbs. was gone. I know that it wasn't a very safe thing to do.. I was practically starving myself. But it did work, and I have been reaping the benefits for almost 2 years now. Also, keep in mind that I am only 5 feet tall, so you can imagine how unpleasant it was to carry around as much weight as I had been carrying. AND.. the funny thing is, all my life I had been a skinny person! When I was 18 years old and started using Heroin and Cocaine, I was about 88 lbs. but never more than 95lbs. and I felt so comfortable being thin. When I got on methadone, I gained a ridiculous amount of weight. It was no doubt the most depressing thing ever. I felt terribly unhealthy. I still hate how much I weigh, although I do feel better than before, by far. But being 118lbs. and 5ft. tall, it's still too much weight for my small frame. My goal weight is 105lbs. but I can deal with 110lbs. if necessary. I plan to lose the last 13lbs. or so by doing exercise videos at home and trying to eat less, but when it starts to get colder outside (maybe October), that is when I really plan to get more active. I have absolutely no tolerance for hot weather AT ALL. Plus, this summer is supposed to have been the hottest on record so far! (Yuck.) Sorry for such a long reply though.. I just wanted to make sure to give all the details so you know what to do if you want to try out what I did for weight loss. Oh.. one last thing I almost forgot: My current methadone dose is 90mgs. I had tapered (willingly) from 150mgs. (yes I know.. it was an extremely high dose) to my current 90mgs. I feel much better at this dose, but would still like to taper even more, as I really hate how this medicine makes me sleepy if I sit down, itchy, gives me dry mouth, sweaty if it's hot, not to mention the constipation.. there's just too many side effects. I hope to get off of it in the near future, but I would be sure to do it slowly to ward off withdrawal symptoms.Well, good luck with your weight loss! :)  --Amanda--

[presence505]

hi ive been on for 3 years and am tapering by 1 mlg a week,i wait until my body adjusts then go down 1 again. this has been very successful as i am at 16 mlg today. this is a very long process however its working!!!! i am a vegetarian and take lots of vitamins and water as well as an avid juicer. my mornings are full of pain b4 my dose.  the medicine has also made me gain wait. as well as memory loss. im asking for some encouragement to help me know that i can be off and stay off returning to a normal physical and mental state. any suggestions?  i am a firm believer in natural healthy life style so i am not interested in any pharmaceutical solutions. thank you and i appreciate any help on this subject! Presence

[krissy996]

I am on 115 mg of liquid m'done. They don't offer the pill version any more at my clinic.  I was  a size 4 when I started 4 years ago on my 40th birthday.  I weighed about 115 pounds.  I have always TRIED to gain weight!  lol  I now weigh 153 pounds.  It's killing me.  I have tried every diet fad, exercise routine out there and cannot lose more than a couple of pounds so I get frustrated and give up.  It is really depressing me.  Don't get me wrong, I am so glad to be off pills.  I like to think that I am past the wanting pills so I want to taper down on the m'done.  Kinda scary, but I know it has changed my personality. I don't laugh near as much and want to sleep a LOT.  I think i'm gonna start the taper at my next pick up date.  ***** too that I will prob. not get take homes during the taper. Wish me luck!

[joanna37791]

i have been on methadone for 7 yrs. i got depressed about 5yrs ago and went from 150ls to 220. i feel so horrible. i wear alot of hair and make-up. but im uncomfortable in my own skin. i look so gross. i can feel fat on my stomach, face and everywhere else. i would rather use than look like this