Opioids Side effects from methadone.

rhun · Oct 20, 2012

I know this is my second post about methadone but it's a very different question and I'm currently clean from all other drugs. And I

OD and the feedback I get here, I can't imagine posting in any other forum.

I've been on methadone for 30 days as of yesterday. I thought it was longer honestly until my counselor today told me I had earned my first step and now have 1 take home a week. For the first 3 weeks, I was extremely sleepy.. it was seriously getting in the way of my life. I woke up at 6am, went to the clinic for my dose, went to work at 7am, and then worked till 1pm. On the days I didn't have work or school after, I would go home and take a "nap." But usually I wouldn't even wake up, I'd sleep from 3pm to 6am. I never had trouble sleeping or anything and when I woke up it just felt like I'd gotten my usual 10 hours (I've always needed more sleep than most people, 10hrs is like 8hrs for the average person).

Now I've become more accustomed to my dose (75mg) and the sleepiness has worn off though I still take naps. I could definitely go higher on my dose since I'm very tolerant to opioids/opiates and my dose keeps me from WD but in the mornings I feel a little sick before I go get my dose and I feel irritable and anxious sometimes like I do when I have minor WD. But I want to keep my dose as low as possible because I don't want to end up on methadone for years and the higher the dose the longer it takes to taper.

I am, however, getting some unpleasant side effects. When I'm sleeping at night I lose circulation in my arms and hands, probably from not moving while I sleep, and they go dead. When I wake up, it's the scariest ever. Last time I got out of bed to pee and I jumped a foot because something slapped against my side. I looked down and it was my own arm flopping around from getting up. There was no feeling in my arm and I couldn't move it at all, not even a twitch. I pinched my arm and I didn't feel it. After 10 minutes of trying to move it sensation returned. But it's pretty freaky and it happens a lot.

There is issues with going to the bathroom just like with all opiates. All I eat is fruit and veggies, I'm officially afraid to eat carbs. Even though it's easier to go now, there's still blood every time I go. A week or two ago the toilet would be filled with blood. Idk if I could have a tear or something?

The third regular symptom is sweating. I'm constantly overheated like it's 100 degress out even if it's a cold night. As a result I sweat very easily which is pretty gross.. :/ Those are the most common symptoms. I have other side effects that occur but not as often. These include weird pressure around my eyes and a headache that goes away in just a few minutes. I don't have trouble sleeping but I wake up a lot and then fall back asleep. It makes my sleep not as restful as it should be. I have ZERO sex drive, which causes trouble with mf bf of course. Oddly enough, I don't have sugar cravings. I don't have much of an appetite at all, I've been losing weight the last few months, first from heroin and now from methadone though not as drastically.

The clinic advertises Vitadone. Does anyone have any experience with it? Or any other drugs/vitamins/supplements that have helped you? Anything you can contribute is much appreciated. Methadone has really helped me.. I do opiates because I don't produce enough endorphins naturally and was diagnosed with depression/anxiety. Opiates make me feel normal for the first time in my life.

I've been using 2 years now. Unfortunately after quitting for 3 months (CT after a year on Oxy. Did NOT work, 90 days and still feeling like shit) my dealer got busted and I ended up using black tar heroin. Smoking it didn't cut it so I ended up IVing for my first time within a few weeks. Being an IV dope addict just fit who I am or my lifestyle (I work 2 jobs and am in school and live with my bf) so I realized pretty quickly that I wasn't going to be able to do it much longer and after not being able to find a doctor who could script bupe and take my insurance I went on methadone. Methadone keeps me from being sick but idk, it doesn't do a lot for me... I feel very sedated and I'm not as happy.

Okay, time to wrap it up. Unlike most people when I'm tired I ramble and my messages are actually longer

Basically, I'm wondering if 30 days is too soon to taper... Do I need to stabilize on it longer since I had a pretty big habit for over 2 years? Also, any experiences with Vitadone or any other drugs or vitamins that helped.

Thanks ODers

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Swimmingdancer · Oct 20, 2012

Losing circulation in arm while sleeping - That's a tough one, that used to happen to me too. Hopefully it will improve with time. Lowering the dose can help, but if you don't want to do that yet, I don't know what much you can do since you already take your methadone in the morning. Being careful of the position you fall asleep in is the only thing I can really think of, sorry.

Consipation and related side effects: This might get a tiny bit better with time, but not much in my experience. You pretty much need to be constantly taking laxatives, getting/taking a lot of fiber, doing digestive cleanses, and digestive enzymes, probiotics etc are good too. You probably do have a rectal tear from the feces being too hard (sorry to put it bluntly). Use stool softeners along with any laxatives, and you can get a herbal cream from the drugstore (I don't like Preparation H because it's made from sharks

). It's really important to get the constipation in check. A lower methadone dose can also help with constipation somewhat.

Sweating: Should improve with time. Wear natural breathable fabrics and use natural sheets/bedding (no polyfill quilts). The only problem that I've found with cotton clothing is that it can get wet as it can hold the sweat in the fabric, so for clothing you might want to try some polyester blends made specifically for wicking away and evaporating the sweat. But for bedding all-natural is really the best IME.

Headache/pressure: Acupressure, applying oils like mint, cool damp cloths, and drinking lots of water.

Low sex drive: May improve over time and/or with a lower dose, to some degree at least. In the meantime you may have to use some extra techniques/products to get you going. You can try some supplements to improve libido, and maybe try some things like warming lube, watching porn, extra foreplay or trying out something new in bed etc to help get you in the mood, (sorry if I'm giving a bit TMI lol). There are tons of different supplements for low libido, you pretty much just have to try a few and see if any help for you. These include: Ginseng, Maca, Omega-3 Fatty Acids (fish oil), Ginko, Ashwagandha, Horny Goat Weed, L-Arginine, etc. I also found I got more pleasure from sex when it was as far as possible from the time I took my methadone.

Low appetite: Not really sure as my appetite quickly increased as soon as I got used to the methadone, sorry. Maybe exercising more and working on your digestive issues might help?

Vitamins/supplements: It's important to get lots of vitamins and amino acids. What I would recommend starting with is some kind of balanced vitamin and amino acid mix, if you can find a good one. You can take each thing separately, which gives you more control over your dose of each thing, and you can eliminate things if you think they are causing side effects, but it might end up being more expensive and it's annoying having to take a bunch of capsules. I would look for:
- a general multi-vitamin
- Magnesium (lots)
- Calcium
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids (fish oil) (lots)
- B-vitamins (like a B-100 complex)
- Amino Acids: (these may have "L" on the front of them, like "L-Arginine", etc): Arginine, Lysine, Glutamine, Tryptophan, Ornithine, Tyrosine, Theanine (it's important to have a balance of amino acids)
- 5-HTP
- if you feel un-energetic, you may want to try some herbs for energy, such as ginseng or herbal blends

Methadone not doing much other than alleviating withdrawals: Yep, that's the problem with methadone maintenance. Once stabilized it really doesn't give much of a mood lift or the kind of effects you get from heroin. But I am really proud of you for sticking to it and trying to keep your dose as low as possible. I strongly recommend trying to use this time to work on your mental health through healthier things than opioids; I know how easy it can be to go back to using heroin because the methadone is not giving you the same benefits. Just try to remember all the reasons why you didn't want to use heroin anymore.

I'm wondering if 30 days is too soon to taper... Do I need to stabilize on it longer since I had a pretty big habit for over 2 years? Do you mean to start tapering off it with the goal of getting off opioids completely? The only problem with that is that you have to really work on all the reasons you used heroin to begin with and be prepared for life without opioids, so that you won't just go right back to using again. But the sooner you get off methadone the better from a dependence, withdrawal and health perspective, so if you feel like you are ready I say go for it.

Other stuff: Have you tried yoga?

EDIT: The Vitadone would be ok I suppose, but it sounds like it is just an over-priced multi-vitamin, made with the idea of marketing it to methadone patients through methadone clinics. If you wanna try and but I would definitely add some other stuff on top of it. I found the Vitadone ingredients list, and I would add a lot more amino acids, add the fish oil, extra magnesium, extra calcium, extra potassium or potassium-rich foods, and I would not take it close to when you take your methadone or any other drugs. I'm also not a fan of the ingredients they use as binders/fillers. And I read a number of reviews saying it is really no better than a cheaper multi-vitamin.

rhun · Oct 20, 2012

Thanks Swimmingdancer

I can always count on you for some solid advice!

Vitadone: Yeah, that was my concern.. that it's just another multivitamin. Is there anything special about it that actually helps methadone patients? I read that a lot of the ingredients are chelated.. but I don't know how much that really helps? Tricomb always suggests chelated magnesium for people using methamphetamine so I'm sure there's some benefit. All I know about it though is that some minerals, for example, are good for you but cannot be absorbed by the body. So if you chelate it, which basically means you attach it to something biological like a protein or amino acid, your body can digest it.

But actually now that I check, all the minerals in the multivitamin I take are chelated..
Here's what I'm currently taking daily:

Trader Joe's Women's Once Daily Multivitamin and Mineral - contains vitamin A 100%, vitamin c 200%, Vitamin D3 200%, Vitamin E 100%, Vitamin K 125%, Thiamin (B1) 1667%, Riboflavin (B2) 1471%, Niacinamide (B3) 125%, Vitamin B6 1250%, Foic Acid, B12, Biotin, B-5, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Choline, Inositol, Boron, Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex. Also: Women's nourishing blend, vegetable juice complex, and digestive support with protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, betaine, and probiotic.

5HTP - 100mg
Udo's Oil 3-6-9 Blend (omegas 3,6 & 9 plus GLA) - 2 capsules
Metamucil psyllium fiber - 6 capsules
Organic Spirulina - 3 tablets
Cranberry - 1680mg x2 plus Vitamin C
Iron - 150% daily daily value (since my daily vitamin only has 33%)
L-Tyrosine - 1000mg for energy since I get so sleepy
St. Johns Wart - 300mg
TJ's Acidophilus and Probiotic Complex

Plus like I said above, all I pretty much eat is fruit and vegetables. The last few weeks all I've been eating is pomegranates, peaches, young coconuts, apples and fresh ground peanut butter from whole foods so yummyyy, grapes, plums, raspberries plus bell peppers, broccoli, zucchinis, avocados, onions, mushrooms, olives, and lettuce. I only cook with olive oil. I stir fry the veggies or scramble them with egg whites. I'm terrified of bread! Cause of constipation -.- And I drink coffee every morning with a lot of milk so I can get some protein in somewhere..

Should I be taking/eating anything else?
Oh, I should add I'm vegetarian.. so no meat or fish oil.

I meat with a counselor weekly, it's part of the methadone program. She's great, she's pretty young and she was on methadone for a long time. But I honestly don't know what to work on. This may sound like some sort of denial, but it's really not... I don't have a lot to work on. I'm really not like 99% of the patients at my clinic. I know why I use.. it's not to get high or fucked up, it's just to self-medicate because there's something missing.. and over the last year I realized it was simply endorphins. Because of this, I've always been able to control my use. Yes, I am addicted, I am well aware of that fact and I've known that from the beginning. But when I used Oxy for example, even after a year of use I remained at 40mg taken in the morning during my work week. I would be sick at night but I would wait till the morning to redose. I could take up to 300mg and I did a few times.. but the goal was always just to feel "normal" not high so I always kept my dose low.

The reason I switched to methadone was because I quickly realized heroin was everything I was NOT using opiates for. Shooting up was the only way I could use because of my tolerance. But it didn't last long, I spent too much time going to get it, I ran out too easily, it didn't help with back pain... I would nod off a lot. UGH. I hated it.

I'm in a good place right now. I live with my boyfriend, we have a nice little apartment downtown. I work too jobs and as soon as I pay back the 900 dollars I ended up borrowing from my boyfriend for dope I will be okay financially. I'm in school, working on finishing my general ed so I can transfer to a University of California and get my BA. My relationship with my dad, despite years of strain, is great now. We talk daily and I go and see him a lot.. I would never have thought this possible when he kicked me out at 18. I'm so similar to my dad with my drug use and lack of endorphins produced/anxiety.. that I learn about myself as he tells me what he's learned about himself. It's very strange in some ways. And growing up, a lot of my issues were because I was dying to be close to my dad.. and that's fixed now.

So what I'm working on now is just school and saving money, pretty normal things. The opiates fix the endorphin issue. Do I want to be off methadone? Of course. But I don't know how to produce enough endorphins without the methadone.. I am considering seeing if I can manage on a very minimal methadone dose. I wonder sometimes if I went up to 75mg due to fear, not necessity.

Thanks for the advice on the low sex drive! I'm going to try all of this. My bf REALLY appreciates it lol. He said to say thanks

At night, I sleep with no blankets actually since I'm so overheated. So I don't really worry too much on bedding.

I have more to say, but I'm pretty sure that this is too long already so i'll zip it!

Swimmingdancer · Oct 21, 2012

rhun said:
Vitadone: Yeah, that was my concern.. that it's just another multivitamin. Is there anything special about it that actually helps methadone patients? I read that a lot of the ingredients are chelated.. but I don't know how much that really helps?

It has a few chelated ingredients, but I don't think there's anything all that special about Vitadone. The only things they have really done are:
- not add any iron, because people with hepatitis aren't supposed to take iron and there is a high prevalence of hep among IV drug users so they wanted to make sure people with hep could still take it
- added extra Folate, Beta-carotene, Vitamin C and in Vitamin E, because some study that found drug users tended to be low or borderline low in those
- added some amino acids (probably not enough, plus that isn’t special to Vitadone)

Vitadone Ingredients:

NSFW:

Here's your vitamins for comparison: (if you are interested you could open each in separate windows and compare)

Trader Joe's Women's Once Daily Multivitamin and Mineral Ingredients:

NSFW:

(not sure which one's in your's are chelated, but the Vitadone says which ones in it are chelated, don't think it should make a huge difference in this case)

Then you’ve added:
5HTP - 100mg – I would try 200mg
Udo's Oil 3-6-9 Blend – sounds like a good one, but I’d take more
Metamucil psyllium fiber – maybe try a drink mix instead of capsules?
Organic Spirulina
Cranberry
Iron
L-Tyrosine
St. Johns Wart
TJ's Acidophilus and Probiotic Complex

Your eating sounds great, much better than most people, but I’d add more fiber to your diet and more protein. Do you not eat any grains? (I would avoid wheat though)

I would also add the following to your supplements/etc:
- lots of magnesium
- a laxative
- a stool softener
- consider doing a digestive cleanse kit (if it has capsules or drink mixes etc don't take them too close to your methadone though as they might absorb some of it)
- more amino acids, as mentioned in my previous post
- consider eating kelp or taking a kelp supplement (although it's supposedly ideal to not take the kelp supplement close to anything else)

Oh, I should add I'm vegetarian.. so no meat or fish oil.

That’s fine, your vegan omega 3 supplement sounds good to me.

You’re counselor sounds good luckily

. And I'm glad to hear things are going well in your life.

What drugs have you tried in the past and what were your results?

Oh, and have you tried things like yoga, mindfulness techniques, etc?

Honestly I think lowering your methadone dose would help with a lot of the side effects, and it's generally pretty easy to lower it until you get below about 30mg/day.

(sorry this is so long!)

helium-4 · Oct 21, 2012

When I first started taking methadone for therapeutic purposes the initial side-effects I got were a bit of sleepiness +3-4 hours after dosing orally, weight gain, increased sweating, increased perception of being hot, and heavy constipation. After a little while the sleepiness went away (its not really a sedative for me anymore), the constipation got a little better (I shit every other day), and the increased appetite isn't as bad. I still deal with the increased sweating and feel hot in situations were I normally wouldn't be so warm. Also like all opioids after extended use my sleep cycle isn't quite normal, but the benefit of no RLS + using benzos for sleep makes it ok. It also gives me a anti-depressant effect which really helps me get through the day.

tricomb · Oct 21, 2012

You're going to want to see a doctor about the blood in your stool.

Swimmingdancer · Oct 21, 2012

^Not to play devil's advocate, of course it's always best to see a doctor if in doubt, but IMO whether seeing a doctor is necessary at this point really depends on the symptoms. If it's just a tiny amount of blood, the blood is red/fresh-looking, it seems to be coming from a tear in the anus or you suspect it is because you have symptoms of hemorrhoids/anal fissures, and it hasn't been bleeding for a long time (or bleeds intermittently), a doctor is likely just going to tell you to take stool softeners, get more fiber, use an anal cream, take sitz baths using epsom salts, and come back if it doesn't improve within 6-8 weeks. If the bleeding is any of the following: heavy, dark brown or black, tarry, heavily clotted, or has been happening continuously for a long period time, then yes, do see a doctor. It's pretty common for constipated opioid users to have a bit of rectal bleeding, and when I brought it up with my doctor he was just like "yeah, methadone is really constipating, take laxatives," and didn't seem concerned or order any tests or anything.

I dunno, maybe this is way more info on bloody stools than anyone ever wanted to read, and maybe since we're an HR site I should be more like "see a Dr immediately" whenever anyone has a symptom, but I just know if it were me I'd like to have some info about how worried I should be or to be able to decide whether or not it's hugely important to spend the time and money on a doctor's visit right away.

Cloudy said:
It also gives me a anti-depressant effect which really helps me get through the day.

How long have you been on methadone and what dose are you on, if you don't mind me asking? I found that the anti-depressant effects didn't last very long for me unfortunately

ugly · Oct 21, 2012

My mom takes methadone which she acquires from a pain clinic for treatment of severe back pain.

She is 73. She has been on methadone for a few years. The side effects have been harsh on her.

Her addiction has been harsh on me. I sincerely wish they had not started her on methadone because it's a life sentence now with no chance of parole. She clings to the methadone and spends most of her time wasted.

She calls me on the telephone and uses "methadone speak" which means she doesn't know what she is saying, or what she means, or even that she's on the phone with me.

She has lost her personality to the methadone. Talk about a killer side effect. She's part dead. She's never coming back to life, she will be mostly dead then just dead.

She doesn't care though because the methadone has comforted her into semi-consciousness.

rob007 · Oct 21, 2012

ugly said:
My mom takes methadone which she acquires from a pain clinic for treatment of severe back pain.

She is 73. She has been on methadone for a few years. The side effects have been harsh on her.

Her addiction has been harsh on me. I sincerely wish they had not started her on methadone because it's a life sentence now with no chance of parole. She clings to the methadone and spends most of her time wasted.

She calls me on the telephone and uses "methadone speak" which means she doesn't know what she is saying, or what she means, or even that she's on the phone with me.

She has lost her personality to the methadone. Talk about a killer side effect. She's part dead. She's never coming back to life, she will be mostly dead then just dead.

She doesn't care though because the methadone has comforted her into semi-consciousness.

i am surprised that the methadone still 'kicks her ass' after a few years. is she mixing drugs by any chance?

ugly · Oct 21, 2012

Oh yes indeed. She takes a grip of drugs and drinks too. She always has. The decline she is in now began with the methadone though. I watched her balance out her substances over the last five decades. She can't balance out with methadone. She's been defeated by it.

tricomb · Oct 21, 2012

Swimmingdancer said:
^Not to play devil's advocate, of course it's always best to see a doctor if in doubt, but IMO whether seeing a doctor is necessary at this point really depends on the symptoms. If it's just a tiny amount of blood, the blood is red/fresh-looking, it seems to be coming from a tear in the anus or you suspect it is because you have symptoms of hemorrhoids/anal fissures, and it hasn't been bleeding for a long time (or bleeds intermittently), a doctor is likely just going to tell you to take stool softeners, get more fiber, use an anal cream, take sitz baths using epsom salts, and come back if it doesn't improve within 6-8 weeks. If the bleeding is any of the following: heavy, dark brown or black, tarry, heavily clotted, or has been happening continuously for a long period time, then yes, do see a doctor. It's pretty common for constipated opioid users to have a bit of rectal bleeding, and when I brought it up with my doctor he was just like "yeah, methadone is really constipating, take laxatives," and didn't seem concerned or order any tests or anything.

I dunno, maybe this is way more info on bloody stools than anyone ever wanted to read, and maybe since we're an HR site I should be more like "see a Dr immediately" whenever anyone has a symptom, but I just know if it were me I'd like to have some info about how worried I should be or to be able to decide whether or not it's hugely important to spend the time and money on a doctor's visit right away.

The reason I thought it was relevant to recommend medical attention was this part of her post, which fits your criteria

rhun said:
Even though it's easier to go now, there's still blood every time I go. A week or two ago the toilet would be filled with blood

Swimmingdancer · Oct 21, 2012

tricomb said:
The reason I thought it was relevant to recommend medical attention was this part of her post, which fits your criteria

rhun said:

Even though it's easier to go now, there's still blood every time I go. A week or two ago the toilet would be filled with blood

Click to expand...

Somehow I missed that last part. Now I feel stupid

helium-4 · Oct 21, 2012

Swimmingdancer said:
How long have you been on methadone and what dose are you on, if you don't mind me asking? I found that the anti-depressant effects didn't last very long for me unfortunately

I've been using methadone daily from January of 2012. I take 30mg of methadone a day. I still get the anti-depressant effects to this day. Some days I do dose higher, some day I do dose lower. Some days I switch over to heroin, like today. But generally I'm primarily on methadone 30mg.

When I take a shit while on methadone, I'll see a bit of blood on some stool or on the toilet paper, but I know its from the process of shitting. Just a tiny bit of blood from shitting. Its nothing serious imo.

Fire&Water · Oct 22, 2012

rhun said:
Thanks Swimmingdancer I can always count on you for some solid advice!

Vitadone: Yeah, that was my concern.. that it's just another multivitamin. Is there anything special about it that actually helps methadone patients? I read that a lot of the ingredients are chelated.. but I don't know how much that really helps? Tricomb always suggests chelated magnesium for people using methamphetamine so I'm sure there's some benefit. All I know about it though is that some minerals, for example, are good for you but cannot be absorbed by the body. So if you chelate it, which basically means you attach it to something biological like a protein or amino acid, your body can digest it.

But actually now that I check, all the minerals in the multivitamin I take are chelated..
Here's what I'm currently taking daily:

Trader Joe's Women's Once Daily Multivitamin and Mineral - contains vitamin A 100%, vitamin c 200%, Vitamin D3 200%, Vitamin E 100%, Vitamin K 125%, Thiamin (B1) 1667%, Riboflavin (B2) 1471%, Niacinamide (B3) 125%, Vitamin B6 1250%, Foic Acid, B12, Biotin, B-5, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Chromium, Molybdenum, Choline, Inositol, Boron, Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex. Also: Women's nourishing blend, vegetable juice complex, and digestive support with protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, betaine, and probiotic.

5HTP - 100mg
Udo's Oil 3-6-9 Blend (omegas 3,6 & 9 plus GLA) - 2 capsules
Metamucil psyllium fiber - 6 capsules
Organic Spirulina - 3 tablets
Cranberry - 1680mg x2 plus Vitamin C
Iron - 150% daily daily value (since my daily vitamin only has 33%)
L-Tyrosine - 1000mg for energy since I get so sleepy
St. Johns Wart - 300mg
TJ's Acidophilus and Probiotic Complex

Plus like I said above, all I pretty much eat is fruit and vegetables. The last few weeks all I've been eating is pomegranates, peaches, young coconuts, apples and fresh ground peanut butter from whole foods so yummyyy, grapes, plums, raspberries plus bell peppers, broccoli, zucchinis, avocados, onions, mushrooms, olives, and lettuce. I only cook with olive oil. I stir fry the veggies or scramble them with egg whites. I'm terrified of bread! Cause of constipation -.- And I drink coffee every morning with a lot of milk so I can get some protein in somewhere..

Should I be taking/eating anything else?
Oh, I should add I'm vegetarian.. so no meat or fish oil.

I meat with a counselor weekly, it's part of the methadone program. She's great, she's pretty young and she was on methadone for a long time. But I honestly don't know what to work on. This may sound like some sort of denial, but it's really not... I don't have a lot to work on. I'm really not like 99% of the patients at my clinic. I know why I use.. it's not to get high or fucked up, it's just to self-medicate because there's something missing.. and over the last year I realized it was simply endorphins. Because of this, I've always been able to control my use. Yes, I am addicted, I am well aware of that fact and I've known that from the beginning. But when I used Oxy for example, even after a year of use I remained at 40mg taken in the morning during my work week. I would be sick at night but I would wait till the morning to redose. I could take up to 300mg and I did a few times.. but the goal was always just to feel "normal" not high so I always kept my dose low.

The reason I switched to methadone was because I quickly realized heroin was everything I was NOT using opiates for. Shooting up was the only way I could use because of my tolerance. But it didn't last long, I spent too much time going to get it, I ran out too easily, it didn't help with back pain... I would nod off a lot. UGH. I hated it.

I'm in a good place right now. I live with my boyfriend, we have a nice little apartment downtown. I work too jobs and as soon as I pay back the 900 dollars I ended up borrowing from my boyfriend for dope I will be okay financially. I'm in school, working on finishing my general ed so I can transfer to a University of California and get my BA. My relationship with my dad, despite years of strain, is great now. We talk daily and I go and see him a lot.. I would never have thought this possible when he kicked me out at 18. I'm so similar to my dad with my drug use and lack of endorphins produced/anxiety.. that I learn about myself as he tells me what he's learned about himself. It's very strange in some ways. And growing up, a lot of my issues were because I was dying to be close to my dad.. and that's fixed now.

So what I'm working on now is just school and saving money, pretty normal things. The opiates fix the endorphin issue. Do I want to be off methadone? Of course. But I don't know how to produce enough endorphins without the methadone.. I am considering seeing if I can manage on a very minimal methadone dose. I wonder sometimes if I went up to 75mg due to fear, not necessity.

Thanks for the advice on the low sex drive! I'm going to try all of this. My bf REALLY appreciates it lol. He said to say thanks
At night, I sleep with no blankets actually since I'm so overheated. So I don't really worry too much on bedding.

I have more to say, but I'm pretty sure that this is too long already so i'll zip it!

I wasnt sure how to quote just the part of your post about the "methadone producing endorphins"...Dont you think there will come a time when even the methadone will also quit producing them ? I dont know myself, I am asking.

Swimmingdancer · Oct 22, 2012

^After you click "Quote", in the text box can just edit the text inside the quote tags - [QUOTE="rhun, post: 10995560, member: 251037"] this text here [/QUOTE] - so as to remove the parts you don't need to quote and leave the part you do want to quote intact. Make sure you don't accidentally delete one of the ] though

Personally I have definitely found that any noticeable mood-lifting effects from the methadone no longer happened after being at a stable dose for a while. You get a tolerance and then all it really does is alleviate withdrawals. That's why I was surprised that Cloudy still gets an anti-depressant effect. Although I've been on methadone a lot longer than that (Cloudy said about 9 months - I've been on it for 10 years), but for me I think that any mood-lift from the methadone had greatly decreased even sooner than 9 months. I guess everyone is different. I didn't find methadone to do all that much for me to begin with, and I have a pretty similar story to rhun's. I definitely feel a lot worse than I did before starting the methadone and I do NOT recommend anyone stay on it for years like me.

NodOut503 · Oct 24, 2012

I have all of those side effects w/ all the opioids that I do. The circulation part about your arms falling asleep, happens to me almost every night! My arm will just flop around like a dead limb..lol another symptom I get from opiates is that when I'm on that edge of nodding out, my body twitches really bad and I jump up scared. Ur lucky to have a bf that stuck by you through the whole thing. My GF & I had to eparate bcuz we trigger each other. When we wer together, my sex drive went down as well. Im a pretty horny guy too so... I think 30 days is plenty to start tapering. You can honestly be clean in One month if you really want to. I've done it a few times, but have always relapsed bcuz of something stupid. I can't even get drunk anymore, bcuz being hungover makes me jonez bad! It's good to talk about this crap. None of my good friends know about my addiction, so I don't have many to convo wit.

Till next time peeps

rhun · Oct 24, 2012

Hey y'all, thanks all of you for taking the time to write the replies

I haven't forgotten about this thread, I promise! I'm itching to write a response ;(
I've been working my two jobs nonstop last couple days, I've barely slept, and no time to write more than few lines.
Should have a little time tomorrow, I'll be on then if that's the case.

Opioids Side effects from methadone.

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