Methadone And Menopause Weight Gain?
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I have been on Methadone for 15 years. I am now 56 years old l really need to know why l have put on so much weight on? Does anyone know about Methadone and Menopause? Any information would be appreciated.

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Ask your doctor if they know about Opiate Induced Endocrinopathy, get a referral to an endocrinologist and get your hormone levels checked. Although endocrinologists know that methadone causes weight gain by suppressing hormones, nobody else seems to know this. I have been on and off methadone for two decades now and the weight gain over the last six years destroyed my life. By chance I had my hormone levels checked and discovered that my testosterone levels were abnormally low and I was referred to an endocrinologist who advised immediate reduction of not discontinuation of methadone due to Opiate Induced Endocrinopathy - the fact that methadone and other opiates with a long half life suppress the endocrine system. After a long series of diagnostics and scans they found that the only possible cause was methadone which is suppressing the function of the pituitary gland. I have now been on testosterone replacement for a month, during which time I have lost 16 kilos.

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7

I'm going cold turkey from 18 yrs of methadone 100-120MG. I'm in he'll right now, but I don't ever want to be treated the way the clinics in La. treated me ever again. the ER isn't going to help you. they will send you packing heartless. it's just pitiful how methadone maintained patients are kicked around. and clinics do what they want to for the most part. they do not care if you are in crisis over withdrawal. where I'm from no $97.00 a week no meds. the day before hurricane Katrina I was given two days of Medication. I couldn't get out of the house we were trapped in for almost two weeks. no realistic plan for patients. we all were in trouble. I'll spare the ugly specifics. but I feel for you and the ice where you live. don't expect the clinics to. good luck.

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I'm a methadone User, and where I live we are experiancing horrible weather. I was wondering if clinics close ever, do to ice on roads, if I go with out my meds a trip to ER will be nessasery. Please get back if u now please!! I cant get any one on the phone! Ive called since they were suppose to be open today at 5 am... its now 8:35 I live 2 hours from my clinic! No other close to me

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I am a 45 year old woman. In 2009 my doctor put me on Methadone for chronic pain, and about 6 months after I started the Methadone I began to go through Menapause. My weight in 2009 was about 140lbs; since that time I have gained 70lbs. Please help?

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4

It's because you changed your life style. You're not running around looking to score and eating better. I'm 60 next month on 160mg for 22 yrs. I just lost 45 lbs over 9 months by eating only and up to 12oo calories a day.

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Methadone is famous for weight gain especially in women. I personally believe it lowers the blood sugar, especially in your sleep and I've ever had counselors that have come to believe the same thing after hearing 1000's of patients all tell the SAME story. The methadone itself does not put the weight on, but it makes people crave sugar more than they ever had in their lives it makes people sleepy a lot, (due to many being on higher doses than the body requires) and it makes it very easy to be lazy in general. it does not cause these things, it just makes it easier to indulge in them.

First off, don't talk to a regular physician about methadone, its not their field and bottom line is they just don't know! There is very little research on what exactly long time methadone maintanance causes and doesn't cause. There isn't a huge push in the research community to know these things so its not very high on the list. I too have hot flashes, irregular periods and many other things I did not have until being on methadone a year (the periods stopped immediately).. it may not be menopause, but its menopause like symptoms. I was 26 years old when it started so no ones going to convince me i've been going through menopause from the age of 26 on and am still going through it today at 37. 11 years is enough. Methadone is a VERY strong drug and yes it has a lot of benefits but taking anything that strong that does alter your system in many many ways, is going to have an effect on things. it effects homeostasis. people can disagree all they want, but i've lived it and talked to and read about countless others that have the same things happening. Until they have enough research to know definitively one way or the other, they will just continue to tell you no no no no no... its not the methadone.. of course not...

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Well, I would like to add that narcotic medications, such as Methadone, can cause weight gain as a side effect, this is due to the effect that they have on the body.

Other side effects can include: nausea, drowsiness, dizziness and constipation.

They, however, do not cause Menopause or the associated symptoms.

Read more:

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Methadone/­

Does anyone have any questions?

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Hi..I am 55 years old and I have been on methadone off and on since the early 1980's. I got on maintenance in Jan 2001 and have been on it ever since. When I started methadone, I weighed 125LBS, about 8 months later I realized I gained 30+ pounds, and everyone said it was the methadone.Its always the demon drug in everyones little minds, well, I went for my annual with my PCP and he was pissed about my weight gain. He is fully aware that I am a methadone patient and he didn't believe it was the methadone, and I will add I didn't believe it either, well a week or 2 later he called me with my blood work, it WAS NOT the methadone, I have an underactive thyroid that caused my weight gain, water retention, etc. I started taking the medication and the weight came off, I am now at a healthy 135LBS. I also wondered about menopause and methdone, again because people put it in my head. My doctor says and I qoute How can an opiate have anything to do with menopause.? If you are having hot flashes, water retention or all of the other stuff that comes with menopause, that is probably what it is, plain old menopause, My periods stopped even before I got on maintenance, but I did have hot flashes all of the time, but in the last few years, those have almost gone away along with my menstral migraines, I still get them, but only a few attacks a year, I used to be in bed on my periods because the migraines were so bad, then came Imetrex and for me, that was a miracle. For some reason demoral, vicodin, or many other opiates made the migraines worse, thankfully the methadone has no effect at all on them..If I were you, before anything, I would get a full checkup. I am sure you know this, but the worst thing to do is to listen to people who say Its the methadone Talk to your doctor and he/she can help with your menopause and take blood tests. I don't know anyone who gained a lot of weight because of methadone, just think about it..The key for you is, you have been on it for 15 years and you just now have started to put on a lot of weight, If it were the methadone, you would have gained the weight the first year you started taking it..I hope I helped..Just stop listening to the busy bodies and let your doctor tell you what is really going on....
Pat

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