Methadone Maintenance: Methadone Symptoms & Side Effects

Question: My husband is on a methadone maintenance program. but, he sleeps all the time, is this normal?

(Posted by: concerned wife on 2009-06-25 08:16:50)

He has been on Methadone for about 4 months. But, all he does is sleep. We work together and while at work, anytime he sits down, he goes to sleep. During lunch...he cant even eat because he is falling asleep. And, at home...oh my gosh, we cant even sit and watch TV together because he falls asleep. When he drives, he nods. To look at him, you would think he is in a drunken stooper. It is so embarrassing. Our friends and family know of his drug problem in the past and also his addiction to pain pills. It is so embarrassing to be around our friends because my husband ALWAYS falls asleep. He looks like he is high. This cant be normal? Someone please help!

Posted by: buggin on 2009-06-25, 08:32:34

He is high. methadone is synthetic heroin, used as a replacement that is slowly decreased over time, and eventually stopped. it is supposed to be used in addition to a program, such as narc - anon, so he can start to live his life without drugs. if he is nodding that much, it means either: - he's on too high of a dose - or - - he doesn't tolerate that particular drug well and needs to use something else - or - - he is still using in addition to the methadone

Posted by: T-Dawg on 2009-06-25, 08:33:00

Is he taking too much methadone? If he is taking over the recommended dosage a state of a "drunken stooper " would likely to occur. Most negative reactions to getting on a methadone maintenance program are mood swings including anger, depression, and others but a physical reaction of falling asleep is directly related to the amount or quality of methadone being taken. Talk to the program director and tell them what you have told yahoo answers... they may be more of a help. Good luck... and don't be embarrassed, be grateful. Wouldn't it be more embarrassing/ sad if he was still on the junk vs nodding off and at least trying?