Does methadone cause weight gain and/or slow down metabolism?

Wow! If u feel that way about your methadone clinic then you really should start detoxing NOW. Esp since you claim to have to work 3 jobs to 'afford to live and pay for this replacement drug habit'. Nobody put you there but you and it seems that more people (including myself) have been helped by methadone maintenance than not. This forum was supposed to be for helping with the issue of weight gain from methadone - not to bash the clinics. As for me, I would have died from a drug overdose of 'pain killers' if I hadn't found out about methadone . It's been 3 and a half years and 40 lb. weight gain and I'm now detoxing a milligram every other day. I know from talking to people who have made it through and out of the program that the weight will come off when I have detoxed from methadone. The weight gain is a small side effect-as most drugs do have- compared to losing your life.

I was on methadone for 12 years, when I started taking it I was 38 and 190lbs My doctor started me on 5mg two times a day.  At first I did not really notice much gain, but as my pain got worse my dose got stronger.  When I reached 295lbs it scared me that I was a 300lb man with worsening pain.  Here in AZ the MMJ law passed so I decided to try it and stop the methadone.  In the two years sense I stopped the Methadone I have MUCH less pain and I am down to 214lbs.  I really have not tried to loose the weight, the only thing that I have changed in my diet is to stop drinking soda and I seem to not need to eat as much.

i am also on a clinic and when i first started i went up to 125 mg and stayed there for 3 years and noticed about a 30 lb weight gain i took my dose down 5mgs a week to 15 mg and lost the weight faster than i put it on but unfortunatly being at such a low dose i started getting high again like an id**t my dose is now up to 70 and i put the same 30 lbs on i never had a problem with my  weight and i can definetly tell its mostly water retention and i am also a firm believer that methadone messes with my testosterone levels to that also will make you gain weight and feel lazy if you can maintain your dose at no more than 30mgs that is the only way to get around the obnoxious weight gains

Hi 

I'm in the uk and on just a few mls now,i have withdrawn over the last year from 50mls.

I too have gained weight,around 2 stone= 28lbs,NASTY !!. I am so glad people here have mentioned the feeling of it being a different kind of fat feeling,as i was thinking that too. The sweet craving too is like being on your monthly constantly,but much worse. I think i'm addicted to sugar now. They say you can go from one addiction to another thank god its sugar ! lol. Its just nice to know you arent the only one having these feelings. Good luck to everyone xxxx

I guses it really depends because I have weighed 110 lbs my whole life im 41 years old andimnot gaining any weight actually losing. I have been on methadone for back injury for about 5years. I was thinking it was making me not gain weight. I guess it really depends on a lot of factors.

OMG! its like im reading my own story in so many of these! ive been on methadone for over 2 yrs at 120mg per day & i have been thin all my life until i started methadone! i hate weighing myself but id guess in the 2 yrs ive put on at least 70 lbs! and its in places i never gained before like my belly. when i ask the doctor & staff at the clinic they all say that maybe 5 to 10 lbs is the normal weight gain & its suppose to stop after at least the first year-I WISH! And its such a catch 22 cuz my life has so changed for the better in so many ways becuz of methadone but now my self esteem is so low & i feel sooo unatractive. its like we have to choose between being fat & happy or skinny & a miserable addict! I did have one question about another side effect: Has anyone experienced changes in there menstrual cycles sense starting methdne? i was like clockwork until now.its totally out of wack & unpredictable in days, lenght of cyle, amount etc. Anybody have that too? Thank u all for your posts...Im not alone on this weight gain issue anymore!

The 'professionals' say no methadone does not cause weight increase, or if it does it will level out after an increase of 7-21lb. This they put down to you changing your ways, which if you think about it could be plausible for some gain. By this I mean if you think back to when you were using, probably at your worst just before you went on the script, you were probably running around like a blue arsed fly doing this and that to fund the habit, when you do remember to eat whats the chances it was a proper meal, and if it was chances are you were not having breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now look at how your eating and how your not running about so much after being on it a while. I'd guess 99% of people are eating better and far more relaxed during their day, which could explain some gain. This however does not account for the people who seem to put on weight each time they weigh themselves, long term methadone users who have been on it 3+ years an still going up in weight. IF it's true what they tell us that no it does not cause weight gain, perhaps there is some other reason. I know for me I couldn't fathom why I kept getting fatter and fatter and I was saying I am not eating much at all, getting those looks of disbelief again as if they are thinking, yeah of course not fatty thats what they all say. It started to really impact on my health and even my drug worker had to agree that my life was better when I was using as apposed to how it's supposed to be the other way round. I've just found out I have thyroid issues which explains my reasons for becoming a blob to some extent. I'm still not sure enough to say this with conviction, as I just found another article claiming it increase thyroid activity (which would make you loose weight) so take it with a pinch of salt, but some of the articles I am reading online are saying methadone can effect your petuitry (dam I cant spell it)gland, which is part of the thing regulating your thyroid-your thyroid being the gland that regulates how hungry you are, how fast you burn energy, what energy is converted into body heat and so on. Again I am not saying every fat methadone user has this issue, it could be clutching at straws of just trying to find some explanation, but if it's not just the weight gain and you have other issues; I would sound like a hypochondriac if I listed all mine so heres a short summary lol Constantly cold, slowed heart, breathing issues, dry skin literally like I slapped porridge on my face issues, no energy, insomnia but then almost to the point of narclepsy falling asleep in the day switching back n forth.omg do I sound like a hypo yet or do you want more lol The point being thyroid is seriously under diagnosed. If you have put on a lot, or continue to put on weight after being stable a while its a simple blood test (or not for some IV ex users lol) It may be worth asking for it to be done and rule it out.

To answer your question on menstruation yes yes 100% yes it stops your period in some users, (as can thyroid issues to confuse the issue further) The higher your dose it seems the more likely your periods will be effected. It may stop them all together or 3-6 months then one then nothing for a year and poof they come back again. Without dose change or diet change they seem to be random when they will arrive. Do always remember though just because it is stopping your period does not mean you cant get pregnant as you still can.

I guess the best answer to the main question I could give of 'does methadone make you put on weight' would be if it is not leveling off a few months after any diet changes you have made, Speak to the prescriber discuss any other symptoms you may have, it may help them to figure out if there is another reason behind the weight gain, if enough of us bring this to their attention perhaps over time statistics will change and they will make new studies. I know thats of no help to us now and we always seem to have to fight so much harder than a non addict would for anything, one day perhaps someone can answer this question with 100% certainty as I'm sure it effects a high percentage of us, not just females.

I GAINED 40 POUNDS,AND ONLY BEEN ON IT FOR 6 MONTHS,I HOPE THATS ALL ILL GAIN

I've heard various things on methadone & weight gain, & there seems to be different information. It seems like weight gain is a very common thing. Though some people insist 'it's not the methadone, it's because it makes you crave sweets', or 'it's just an excuse-I've LOST weight on methadone, blah blah blah', & it can be quite confusing. I'm going off of my own personal experience on methadone, & I will say that I have gained weight. And I don't sit on my rear end all day eating sweets, I'm a fairly active person. Yeah I have somewhat of a sweet tooth, but that's not the methadone, that's how I've always been. I can't tell you for sure how much I gained (I really didn't want to know to be totally honest),but it was 2 dress sizes. And it's like, the weight really creeps up on you. Like it seemed like I was the same size, & then all of a sudden, bam! Anyway, I decided I was going to try to nip it in the bud before I gained to the point where it would become really overwhelming, & I started an intense work out program & a very clean diet-basically the bulk of what I eat is chicken breast, fish, lots of raw veggies & fruit, some nuts & skim milk, & that's about it, & I keep it to about 1200-1500 cal a day. I'm losing weight, but it is a sloooooow process. I've recently increased the workouts to about an hour and 45 minutes a day,& I'm making progress, but not nearly at the rate I used to. I've lost 1 size so far, so like I said, I'm getting there, but it's just slow going. This has convinced me that methadone does indeed make many individuals gain weight,it's not just an overabundance of sweets or laziness, but the drug itself. I know this is an older post, but I hope your sister is doing well & has found something that's worked for her. What finally seemed to be working for me is the diet combined with upping the strength & resistance training, & I've been doing the Insanity workout videos. They're intense, but they seem to be working-wish me luck!

I go to a methadone clinic and a few girls lost weight by slowly decreasing their dose. I am trying it now I will let you know how it goes. PS these girls lost a good amount they look great hope this helps

Not everyone is on methadone for drug addiction. Its has been used for years for chronic pain. I know it is also used for heroin addicts, but not always. Quite being so judgemental.

I too was on methadone for chronic pain.  I was on it for about 3-4 years.  I too started gaining weight after about 6 months of taking it.  I couldn't figure out why.  It is not listed as a side effect of the medication.  This medicine has been around for many many years, and they should know about the weight gain with it.  I have never been over weight, and even with a good diet and exercise, I kept gaining like so many others who have posted here.  I finally got off of it completely about 3 months ago.  I have had some weight drop off in areas, but the scale has still not moved.  It is a totally different kind of weight gain.  It's very hard to explain unless you have gone thru it.  I feel like so many people here have wrote my story.  Its good to know that I'm not alone.  I too am still dealing with the weight gain of 50 pounds.  I am hoping that in time all the excess weight will come off again.  I figure if it took 6 months to start gaining, it will probably take a little time to start losing it too.  It is possible to get off this medication.  I used Suboxone to get off of it.  I have found other ways to deal with the pain, and would never go on pain meds again unless I absolutely had to.  Doctors do not realize what they are doing to us with these meds.  I am very careful what I put in my body after what I have been thru. The really weird thing is some areas of my body are smaller, but no change on the scale.  Looking forward to getting back to my old weight again. My prayers are with all of you who are going thru the same thing.  You too can get off of this stuff.  It's hard, I'm not going to lie to you, but if I can do it, you can too!

I've been on methadone for 6 years for a 15 year heroin addiction. I also take 2 mg of klonopin a day. Both of these meds slow down your metabolism. Another thing with methadone is that it makes your crave sweets. You really need to be diligent and try your darndest not to eat them. I was on 160 mgs at my highest dose. My normal weight and height is 5'2, 130 lbs. In the first 4 years I exercised 20-30 mins every other day and did not over eat. I did not completely deprive myself of sweets. I would eat sweets one day a week. I ended up getting pregnant almost 3 years ago. I gained 30 lbs during my pregnancy. After having my son I decreased my dose to 80 mgs. I continue to workout every other day and eat the same way. I lost 20 lbs of the 30 I gained. White flour, sugar, and soda are our biggest enemies. You also have to stay active. You don't need to exercise everyday. Every other is more healthy. 390 mgs is an extremely high dose to be on. The higher your dose the slower your metabolism will be. When I detoxed from 160 mgs to 80 mgs, I went down 3 mgs a week. You should really consider going down to a reasonable dose, like somewhere in the upper 100mgs. I wish you luck. I too will most likely be a methadone patient for life. I can't risk going back to the streets and using again. I think if you move down on your dose and continue to eat and exercise the way you say you are doing, you will start to see a difference. Good luck :)

Hi, your post was very helpful to me. I appreciate all of you who shared. I was in an awful car accident in 2008 when a mini van blew a stop sign and T-boned me , after a number of surgeries,plates in my neck, rods in each side of my spine from a broken back that smashed my sciatic nerve, my whole right side is trashed, disability,multiple different meds, my docs switched me from oxycotin to methadone about 6-7 months ago. I have put on rediculous amounts of weight, 20 lbs in the past 2 months alone. No matter whatI eat, the weight just keeps packing on. And you are all right, it is a different kind of weight. I am only 39 now, and the accident was almost 5 years ago, before that I had a full hysterectomy from severe endometriosis, which makes losing this weight even harder. I don't know what to do anymore, I have gained around 50 lbs total since the accident, and am really losing all of my self esteem also.I am so greatful to be alive though. I have become a Christian since the accident and thank God for not taking me from my family. If anything worked for anyone, please let me know. Thank you for your stories and God Bless.

Hi, your post was very helpful to me. I appreciate all of you who shared. I was in an awful car accident in 2008 when a mini van blew a stop sign and T-boned me , after a number of surgeries,plates in my neck, rods in each side of my spine from a broken back that smashed my sciatic nerve, my whole right side is trashed, disability,multiple different meds, my docs switched me from oxycotin to methadone about 6-7 months ago. I have put on rediculous amounts of weight, 20 lbs in the past 2 months alone. No matter whatI eat, the weight just keeps packing on. And you are all right, it is a different kind of weight. I am only 39 now, and the accident was almost 5 years ago, before that I had a full hysterectomy from severe endometriosis, which makes losing this weight even harder. I don't know what to do anymore, I have gained around 50 lbs total since the accident, and am really losing all of my self esteem also.I am so greatful to be alive though. I have become a Christian since the accident and thank God for not taking me from my family. If anything worked for anyone, please let me know. Thank you for your stories and God Bless.