Side Effects Of Methadone: Methadone Symptoms & Side Effects

Question: Side effects of methadone?

(Posted by: stephanie danielle on 2008-01-25 07:25:39)

My boyfriend has been going to a methadone clinic since may of 07 and i have noticed a huge effect on his sex drive or even wanting be close to me physically, he says it is because of this but is it really all the methadone? He says he just does not have a desire for anything.Please help i dont know how i am supposed to handle this because i am not taking it but i feel like i am losing out.Is this selfish of me?

Posted by: Sarah Kav on 2008-01-25, 07:32:53

No you are not selfish, you've been very understanding to your boyfriends illness (as addiction is an illness). But he cannot expect you to live in an emotionless and sexless relationship. You have helped him in so many ways, and in my opinion it is now up to him to repay you for all the love you have given him. Could a counsellor or doctor help him to understand why he doesn't want to feel close? there could be many reasons, but if he is not prepared to try and find out, then maybe he doesn't care and respect you quite as much as you do for him. He has to make the effort, a relationship is about give and take. good luck x x x

Posted by: Mr. Know It All on 2008-01-25, 07:32:56

It does basically the same thing to you as herion. The only difference is you are not out on the streets risking your life trying to 'cop' or messing with needles. That is why they call it, 'maintainance'; it is not designed to cure you of any addiction. In my opinion, it is just trading one bad illegal habit for a legal one...actually, it is worse because methodone has a much longer 'half-life' which makes it harder to kick. In my experience, people that have been on methodone a long time are worse off than street junkies. I'm sorry, i'm on a passionate tangent.

Posted by: metalhead on 2008-01-25, 07:33:44

Here are some possible side effects: Frequent: Sedation, decreased BP, diaphoresis, facial flushing, constipation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting. Occasional: confusion, urine retention, palpitations, abdominal cramps, visual changes, dry mouth, headache, decreased appetite, anxiety, insomnia. Rare: Allergic reaction. So I doubt that it's the meds that are reducing his libido. He could just be feeling ashamed or embarassed by having been in the clinic. Hope this helps.

Posted by: JoAnn N on 2008-01-25, 07:47:38

What are methadone's adverse reactions? Deaths occur more frequently at the beginning of treatment in methadone programs; they are usually a cause of excessive doses (i.e. erroneously estimated tolerance) and they are affected by concomitant diseases (hepatitis, pneumonia). Methadone generally entails the entire spectrum of opioid side effects, including the development of tolerance and physical and psychological dependence. Respiratory depressions are dangerous. The released histamines can cause hypotension or bronchospasms. Other symptoms are: constipation, nausea or vomiting, sedation, vertigo, edema. Check out this website: heroinaddiction.com/ heroin_methadone.html Looks like he may be addicted to Methadone now. You need to decide if you love him and if your going to stay with him or not, this could be a long road.

Posted by: Bob H on 2008-01-25, 08:03:21

It's a merry-go-round. Dope doesn't cure dope. My friend, shot heroin, then got on the program and did methadone, couldn't stand it, so started drinking to quit methadone, but couldn't stop drinking. Finally he joined AA for the booze, and that worked. Got married and moved out. His first wife and fellow traveler got as far as the booze, died of cirrosis. The label doesn't matter, dope is dope, and nothing works when it's in control.

Posted by: Kat on 2008-01-25, 09:38:04

My husband goes to pain management for a very bad back and knees from an accident. He takes methadone in a low dose pill a few times a day. He doesn't get the effect of a heroin addict taking it. But it has at times interrupted our love life so I would think in your case your boyfriend gets much more than my hubby and that will cause the problem. He needs to get off the methadone now and go to NA or AA and some rehab counseling.

Posted by: KMORRIS3202 on 2008-01-27, 15:15:36

Its the methadone for sure!Im going thru the same thing!it sucks!Every girl I know that has a boyfriend on methadone says the same thing,I think the only thing that helps is if he goes down on his dose then it should get a little better.