Methadone Treatment: Methadone Facts

Question: Does anyone know what the actual side effects of methadone treatment for pain pill addiction are?

(Posted by: TD on 2008-06-04 12:34:37)

My boyfriend has been taking methadone for pain pill addiction since Nov 2007. He has transfered clinics and I am glad he has because the first clinic was a joke they gave you as much as you wanted even if you would fail the drug tests. This new clinic as far as he tells it won't allow you to go over a certain dose and you can't keep failing the drug tests. What I am wondering is does anyone know if methodone makes people go go go and then crash or make people believe that everyone is against them and very irritable? Sometimes I feel like I am walking on eggshells anytime I open my mouth. Please does anyone have any insight?

Posted by: savvie on 2008-06-04, 12:42:45

Is it possible for you to go with him to his new clinic, or maybe contact them for some support for yourself - as a carer of a opiate addict you should get some support network of your own so you can direct any questions or worries you have to the appropriate person who knows your BF's particular case. Regarding the specific of methadone causing your bf to go go go then crash, you mentioned last clinic being softer maybe the harder regime in the 2nd clinic is having the desired effect. ie he can't cheat by supplementing his methadone with opiates or other drugs - it's hard to give advice you really need to be talking to the people treating him at clinic number 2 as they know his history. your on a tough path, and you need to get that support in place to look after yourself. Good Luck I mean it.

Posted by: ghost on 2008-06-04, 12:43:20

Overdose is common on methadone, especially when it's mixed with other drugs. Methadone also has a worse come down than heroin. Basically it hurts more than anything.

Posted by: anoosha f on 2008-06-04, 13:03:22

Wow since 2007? And he hasn't been taken off that yet?? Methadone is another addiction, they prescribe it to Heroin addicts as well when they go into rehab so why has it taken so long for him to quit?? Maybe you should encourage him to take up sports or some other activities... Good Luck

Posted by: Belliger on 2008-06-04, 13:09:19

Hello, I think this is a difficult question to answer. I can easily give you a list of the known, possible drug side-effects of methadone, - - they are the same as the morphine salts in general, viz. (from British National Formulary Sept 2007 edition, page 228, - - Side-effects: nausea, vomiting, (particularly in initial stages), constipation, and drowsiness. Larger doses: produce respiratory depression, hypotension, and muscle rigidity. Other side-effects: include difficulty with micturition, ureteric or biliary spasm, dry mouth, sweating, headache, facial flushing, vertigo, bradycardia, tachycardia, palpitation, postural hypotension, hypothermia, hallucination, dysphoria, mood changes, dependence, miosis, decreased libido or potency, rashes, urticaria, and pruritis. I'm assuming that you are not conversant with medicalese, so I will try to translate the relevant ones: low mood (dysphoria), mood changes, decreased sex drive, hallucinations of things that aren't there sometimes. (The others are related mostly to the bowels, the bladder, the heart, and the skin). It's difficult to answer because what you are describing may relate to the drug side-effects of methadone, or to his previous personality, or to other drugs he is still taking, ('go-go-go-crash' would be more common with amphetamines, cocaine or other stimulants or 'uppers' : methadone is not that much of a mental stimulant). Or he might have psychological trouble, and this 'everyone is against them' is what a doctor might call 'paranoia.' 'Very irritable' suggests he is wound up tight inside like a spring. I hope this is of some help. Best wishes, Belliger (retired uk gp)

Posted by: kphelps2012 on 2008-06-07, 17:18:43

Was his behavior worse or better since the stricter clinic? If he is stable on his does then he should not be overly active or sedated. Also, a person who is opioid-dependent is kept free of withdrawal symptoms for 24 hours with a single dose of methadone. In contrast, a person who uses heroin to avoid withdrawal must use three to four times a day. So, he should not be "crashing " before his next dose. Withdrawal symptoms begin within one to three days after the last dose of Methadone. The person who stated that he should be off of it is not educated about Methadone. There is a video about MMT treatment that explains many of the myths about at findingnormal.webs.com/ about half way down on the Home page. You can also go to the forum and ask questions. There is a section for families. The dosing cap is also a debated issue but I attend a clinic in a state that is among the strictest in the nation. However, i view this as a plus because without it we would experience many of the problems seen at other clinic. You also may want to try a website called We Speak Methadone at... readybb.com/ nama_wespeakmethadone/ index.php Good luck!