[genxprof]

Hi--I have been taking suboxone as prescribed for a little over a month, and I have gained a lot of weight. Has anyone else had this experience? I've checked the drug info sites and weight loss is the only metabolic side-effect listed. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

[eastcoastsunshine]

I'm trying to wean myself off of suboxone. It is a slow and painful process. Had no idea it would be this hard.

Anyway, I have been on and off of it for almost two years now. I have gained forty pounds since I started taking it. I have never been this heavy in my life.

I have constant heart burn, the constipation is the worse (even though doctors say, just take something for it, that didn't work with me).

I honestly think all of my weight gained was due to the suboxone.

Good luck.

[eastcoastsunshine]

I'm trying to wean myself off of suboxone. It is a slow and painful process. Had no idea it would be this hard.

Anyway, I have been on and off of it for almost two years now. I have gained forty pounds since I started taking it. I have never been this heavy in my life.

I have constant heart burn, the constipation is the worse (even though doctors say, just take something for it, that didn't work with me).

I honestly think all of my weight gained was due to the suboxone.

Good luck.

[lupa]

Dear Genxprof,

In answer to your question about Suboxone and weight gain, I have been on Suboxone for about 7 months and have had significant weight gain. My weight was 135 before the Suboxone and is now 165. I have never had a weight problem in my life other than maybe being to skinny. This is the heaviest I've ever been and it is miserable. But I am off the hydrocodone so I cannot exactly regret taking it. I seem to crave sweets with an intensity I've never had before. In fact, I rarely ate many sweets before the Suboxone. But now I can't go a meal without something sweet after it. I've tried to stop and replace sweets with more healthy alternatives but I always end up right back to the sweets. I'm hoping to be off the Suboxone soon. I will let you know if my cravings for sweets goes away when I'm off the medicine. And if my weight returns to a more manageable number. Good luck with your treatment. It's a hard road but well worth it!

Lupa

[suboxdetox]

Hello, I know this is an old thread but I wanted to add my 2 cents because I thought it was just me. I have been on Subbies for almost a year now. Since high school I have been a steady 150-160lb tops(I'm now 30yrs old). Last time I dared to weigh myself I was 190lbs! Last Thursday my prescription got thrown away (long story), I had to wait until Monday to get my refill, It was the longest I had went without in along time, It was very hard to sleep and I was restless, BUT the cravings for food were totally gone, and by monday morning (seriously) I could see a difference in the mirror, and I felt like I was getting lighter. I didn't weigh myself but it's Tuesday now and I feel huge again, I think it's like water retention, it has to be? Is there any other way to drop weight that quick, then gain it back in two days? I'm sure I probably didnt actually lose alot of weight, but the bloated feeling was totally gone. I am gonna start a "weening off" process because this fatty boom balatty is killin me. Anyway to sum everything up and shoot straight SUBOXONE MAKES YOU GAIN WEIGHT, for sure. I wonder why they don't mention this, or is it just an unlucky few that have to squeeze into there pants??

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by suboxdetox

Hello, I know this is an old thread but I wanted to add my 2 cents because I thought it was just me. I have been on Subbies for almost a year now. Since high school I have been a steady 150-160lb tops(I'm now 30yrs old). Last time I dared to weigh myself I was 190lbs! Last Thursday my prescription got thrown away (long story), I had to wait until Monday to get my refill, It was the longest I had went without in along time, It was very hard to sleep and I was restless, BUT the cravings for food were totally gone, and by monday morning (seriously) I could see a difference in the mirror, and I felt like I was getting lighter. I didn't weigh myself but it's Tuesday now and I feel huge again, I think it's like water retention, it has to be? Is there any other way to drop weight that quick, then gain it back in two days? I'm sure I probably didnt actually lose alot of weight, but the bloated feeling was totally gone. I am gonna start a "weening off" process because this fatty boom balatty is killin me. Anyway to sum everything up and shoot straight SUBOXONE MAKES YOU GAIN WEIGHT, for sure. I wonder why they don't mention this, or is it just an unlucky few that have to squeeze into there pants??

There are obviously some people who've gained weight using suboxone. You are living proof. It's not the suboxone though, at least not to my knowledge.

It's very common when anyone stops taking RX opiates like percs, vics, oxy or whatever that they are inclined to begin eating more. It happened to me too but I wasn't even on subs at the time. We spend all of our time putting pills into our mouths and we have to find something else to do with that time, with that energy that went into taking pills throughout the day. So we eat, more out of nervous energy than anything else.

There is nothing in the chemical make up of suboxone that would contribute to a weight gain. It's just us getting clean and blowing off some nervous energy. Start an exercise program, do something constructive with your time and the weight gain will stop.

It's a standing joke in 12 step recovery ... new people begin coming to NA meetings and after a while a LOT of them start gaining weight. People joke about them "growing" in their recovery. You seriously need to find new things to do with your time so you don't eat. That's the bottom line. God bless.

[Malal31]

The suboxone luckily hasn't caused me to gain weight yet but I seem to crave sweets and soda all the time. I never use to until I started the medicine... is that one of the side effects?

[Robert_325]

But you stopped pain pills before you started the subs. It's stopping the RX opiates not the subs making you crave sugar. That happens a lot. God bless.

[tabcat]

I have gained about 25 lbs on suboxone...not really changing my eating habits at all. But I think it does make you crave sweets alot...so who knows? I am the heaviest I've ever been in my life.

[Robert_325]

Just like I said on the last post lots of people crave sweets when they go through opiate detox. It's the fact that you've just stopped taking opiates and not the suboxone that's caused this to happen. At least that is the case in the majority of cases. God bless.

[tired2]

I've been on Subs and have to force myself to eat and for the first time the sound of something sweet does nothing for me...nothing really taste that great to me....don't get me wrong I do eat but I drink a lot of water you need to flush your system....ditch the soft drinks and sweets they will really mess you up and start excercising it will help with the tapers ....Please do not take this the wrong way as it is not ment that way.

[melinda7.5]

Originally Posted by tabcat

I have gained about 25 lbs on suboxone...not really changing my eating habits at all. But I think it does make you crave sweets alot...so who knows? I am the heaviest I've ever been in my life.

Hi Tabcat
I never took the sub's but after I was off of all my drugs and I started working out...and everything started to look good again...
So just hang on you can always take the weight off when you get done with this taper and your going to be better than new ...

I promise you it will all be worth it...
Have a great day, Melinda

[wondrbelli2009]

I have to tell you all my experience. I have been on Suboxone/subutex for almost 4 years. I went off it for 6 months last year from around may 08 to nov 08. First off, I had been on it for around 2 years. I tried several times to detox and wa unsuccessful in doing it in my bed. I made it to 4 days a couple of times. I just couldnt stand it anymore. I was ready to use over it. so I started to take it again. anyway, I got off it last year, let me tell you.. it was THE longest 12 days in my entire 34 years of life!!!!! no understatement there!! SO I ended up back on it after a relapse in sept. Here is where the weight thing comes in. I gained 60 pounds on it the first year. I got off it and worked a job at a golf course. so I lost about 30 pounds, although it looked closer to 40 to 45 pounds in the mirror(maybe it was just a figment of my imagination) being used to seeing myself so heavy. But since Nov. 08- I have gained even more. I am up to 225. I was 160 tops when I started this whole bupenorphine thing 3 and a half years ago. I am so sick of looking at myself! but I dont want to go back to using! and I really want off the BOX! I go to school and I am telling you, it messes with my motivatiion. I have never loved sweets, but I am eating it all the time. I almost only eat sweets!!! I am imobile persay, I feel like I am lazy, I dont want to go out and do anything. I simply am fine getting lost in my favorite tv shows and new movies. I wrote all this to say,.. yeah, I am glad to be off the dope, but am I sure this is the best thing for me... NO! my anxiety is up too! anyway, I am sure that if you have anything in common with my BOX experience, its because of the suboxone. beleive me, you may find it hard as hell to get off. and hard as hell to lose the weight after, but I would not hold it against you for trying, and anyone who says otherwise, can take the ******** themselves and find out what its like trying to live your life with no energy and in a cool haze!

[wondrbelli2009]

I dont know if your experience is consumer or book! But I beg to differ with your post that : craving sugar is because of the detox of opiates.
IT CAN BE! people often have a metabolic reaction causing the body to crave in adjustment to its loss. But I have been clean on it for 2 years at a time, I have been a acreditted counselor and I am a Biology major with first hand consumer experience. The BOX CAUSES the cravings of sugar as well. It has to be something to do with the pleasure center of the brain in my opinion!!!

[kidmonster]

I personally haven't had my cravings for sugar increase since stopping Subs once month ago...But who knows it may. I understand when the other posts say that once you stop the opiates to go on to the subs, it's the lack of true opiates that click on the sweets need

[Robert_325]

wondrbelli ..... There are exceptions to every rule but I've worked with countless people on this forum not counting all the others I talk to off the forum working in recovery. My personal experience is plastered all across the forum.

Gaining weight while using suboxone is an exception, NOT THE RULE. LOTS of people do crave sugar however when detoxing from opiates. It happens with RX opiates, heroin, lots of opiate detoxes result in a craving for sugar. That is a fact.

I would like for you to show me clinical study results that prove the consumption of buprenorphine causes sugar cravings. I will pass on further comments on this subject until I see a legitimate report verifying such in print. I doubt that such study results exist.

Nothing against you personally but I don't believe you're correct unless you're referring to your own personal experience ONLY as an exception to the norm. God bless.

[cheekysod]

well here i go with my 5 cents worth,
on methadone i gained a ton of weight and craved sugar. the doctor said no its not the methadone, its your eating habits. bullsh!t. everyone i know on methadone puts weight on, and loves ice cream and soda.
now change to subs, i was hoping that sugar buzz would be gone for me.
well it isnt. BUT IT IS LESS THAN METHADONE.

so my vote is in the fact it does do something. thankfully for me i think i have lost a bit of weight on subs, and dont eat ice cream every single night, like i used to on methadone.

mind you im counting off the subs, and im really hoping then i lose all this weight, and start being a bit "normal" again.

cheeky