Methadone Treatment: Methadone Facts

Question: Has anyone heard of methadone treatment causing depression and anger?

(Posted by: sarah d on 2008-08-11 01:22:08)

Thanks for all of your advice, but, I'm not the one on methadine treatment. It's my friend and since he's been on it he seems more irritable and testy than he used to. He doesn't think he's more irritable b/ c of it, he doesn't think he's changed at all, other than the usual physical side effects. He says his depression is from his job. He's on maintenence for addiction. He has another friend who's on it, too, and this man is also really irritable. I've been told this man wasn't irritable before he began methadone treatment.

Posted by: kphelps2012 on 2008-08-12, 17:21:03

Depression and anger are not normal side effects of Methadone. However, different people react differently to medications. If your friend is using it for pain then he may need to switch to another med. If he is using it for addiction clinics provide counselors and he may need to discuss this with him/ her. It may be due to coming off the opiates (although Methadone is an opiate it works as an opiate blocker which is why it works for withdrawal) that is causing the problem. The opiate pain pills tend to numb our emotions and we sort of "wake up " after recovery. Is he aware of the change?

Posted by: star slight on 2008-08-11, 01:29:26

It causes sleep and casual sex.

Posted by: aye on 2008-08-11, 01:40:19

Be away from those thing which cause depression and anger. live with friendly and good people. if u have no friends do not worry and read good books and listen music of your choice. spend your extra time with tv, internet,radio etc. try to follow these instuctions and live happy.

Posted by: gaston8291 on 2008-08-11, 01:46:31

Psychological side effects from taking opiates differ from person to person, are you using it for pain relief or part of a maintenance program...if part of a detox/ maintains program you might want to consult a doctor into some psychotherapy as switching from a drug which produces euphoria to one that does not can cause negative mood changes as you describe...

Posted by: Mel P on 2008-08-11, 01:48:10

No, but now that you are away from the drugs that were stopping you from feeling the depression and anger, you are actually feeling it....I think you may have to deal with the problems that caused all the drug taking in the first place. Go and see a good psychotherapist who can help you revisit your life moments, revise what you concluded about then and relinquish the problems that came out of them. Mel Mel