Problem with Methadone - Pain Management Message Board

painman123 · 05-25-2005, 12:15 PM

Hi all
I have been on pain meds for 2 plus years. My diagnosis is unclear DJD Fibro RA??? nothing clear except my pain. I am presently on Oxy and Roxi for BT and have been on Methadone also for 4 months 3X 40mg since starting i have gained 25Lb though i am not eating much and the problem is my gut is bloated and pained and i wake up at nite having to vomit. I am not constipated but every time i eat the pain gets worse. I am going to get off the meth but now i'm not sure if that is whats causing all this. I wish i could say any pain meds have helped alot but no they have given me a 10-20% or i'm at an 8 of 10 instead of 9. Has anyone heard of these side effects
Thanks

LibraBalancer · 05-25-2005, 12:49 PM

Painman,
I know of people gaining weight becuase of opiate pain killers, but esp. due to methadone. Years ago my late best friend was on methadone for detox, and he ballooned up big time. It just seems like he was eating 12 dozen donughts every day and tons of other foods that he was craving, since he started taking his methadone. My mother, who suffers from chronic pain, started methadone almost 10 years ago and she has put on a considerable number of pounds since she started taking methadone. She also had an insaciable appetite for sweets. She would eat some ice cream before bed. Wake up in the middle of the night, go for some more ice cream, or sweets. And sometimes repeat this during the night 2-3 times. And it's deff. due to the methadone. She has since come to acknowledge this problem and eats more healthy, well tries too. Myself, take methadone, in the beggining was doing the same as my mom...wake up during the night craving something sweet and cold. But oddly enough, I've lost weight since being on methadone.
I don't know if it's 'scientific', but my layman observations have led me to believe that methadone does cause, in alot of cases, a stronger than usual craving for food, esp. sweets. I would just keep this in mind and start eating less fatty foods, or something, but the medicine itself is not causing you weight gain. I know for a fact that none of the opiates cause that to happen. Some water retention maybe (urinary retention), but weight gain not due to eating.....no way.
Vomiting, sure...I can see methadone causing that. I've heard of people starting out taking it and vomiting several times in a day. But that should of passed after 4 mnths, I'm assuming. Try taking a dramamine pill along with your methadone dose thats SURE to make even a little difference if not take care of it all together.

RetiredDirector · 05-25-2005, 12:53 PM

Hi Painman,
I don't recall hearing of anyone on two heavy duty pain meds like you are, plus Roxi for BT. You didn't say what your dose of Oxy is, but you are on a pretty healthy dose of Meth at 120 mg a day. I'm at 180 with no BT meds.

I'm certainly no doctor, but my intial thought would be the fact you're of Oxy and Meth, plus Roxi may be your problem. I think the best thing you could do is go on one med (my preferance would be the Methadone) with the Roxicodone for BT if needed. You would undoubtably have to up your Meth dose since you're giving up the Oxycontin, but I would think that would be better than using two heavy meds at the same time.

I have had stomach problems since I was in my 20's (over 30 years) when I had a perforated ulcer and had to have emergency surgery. The doctors told me I just about didn't make it. What I'm saying is, I have had problems with diarreha and vomitting and about six years ago was diagnoised with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I have been on Oxycontin and now Methadone, but I was on only one at a time and neither gave me increased stomach problems. As far as your weight increase goes, I'm not sure what to tell you. I just gained a little over 20 pounds from being on Prednisone, but I went off it in March and I have lost about 20. The prednisone was for tumors in my lung, which they were able catch in time so they weren't able to develop. I was on the Prednisone for a year and a half, starting at 60 mg. If you've never heard of this, don't worry, I hadn't either. Back to you. I again think the weight problem may be caused from the taking of the two meds at the same time. I would give it some thought and with your doctor, decide what med would work best for you.

Good luck and I hope you're able to get rid of some of the problems and get some pain relief too.