Methadone and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Twi...
• September 29, 2019

For Opiate Withdrawal "People can falsely say all the bad things they want about Methadone because when taken as the only medication in your arsenal for drug addiction, it's a lifesaver! I can FINALLY, after 14 years, have a normal life. I can finally have a steady job & go to college. If I kept living the way I was, I'd either be dead or homeless. Methadone saved me, literally. I did try to get clean many times and did even succeed and was clean for 3 years, but I still had such bad anxiety and fatigue. My brain chemicals never went back to normal. I was screwed and started using opiates again. I couldn't work or live my life for the 3 years I was 100% clean. After I started using opiates again, I knew I was screwed for life and I'd be dead or homeless one day. I finally went to a methadone clinic, and it was the BEST choice I ever made. I've been on it for 7 months now, clean from everything else. It doesn't get me high but allows me to live again!! Please don't suffer forever like I almost did."

• Ant...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2020

For Opiate Withdrawal "When I wanted to quit opiates, I thought Suboxone was my only choice. I was on Suboxone for over 4 years after a 3-year rapid addiction to opiates. I thought Suboxone was all great because I didn't have to use to feel okay. But little did I know, basically the only time I was somewhat happy was when I relapsed and used. Suboxone drains your mind, yes, it is an opiate blocker, but I swear on everything it BLOCKS A LOT more than just opiates. It blocked my happiness and my emotions. I relapsed numerous times, causing me to have horrible depression and anxiety. Last month, I was on 24 mg of Suboxone (the highest I have ever been). I was done, so I made the switch to methadone. I'm only on 45 mg at the moment, but I already feel WAY better, best decision I have ever made. I wish I knew about this 4 years ago. My new life and journey begins!"

• tov...
• March 15, 2014

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've had problems with painkillers mixed with real chronic pain problems for 20 years. Methadone has been part of the problem and help over the years. It works extremely well with pain. Better than most other medicines out there (and I've taken them all for pain at one time or another). It's pretty easy to come down to a very small amount daily, like 5 mg a day, but to break that last 5 mg pill is torture. And then you have weeks of feeling off and not yourself."

• Har...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 24, 2017

For Opiate Withdrawal "Was prescribed methadone for withdrawal symptoms in 1979, and never realized how absolutely addicting this drug actually is. It can make one sleepy, and it doesn't make one 'high.' At the beginning, however, it can give what one person called 'a garrulous sense of well-being.' It takes away nervousness, but then one of the early symptoms of heroin/methadone withdrawal is a sense of nameless fear, a stomach-rolling anxiety. Over 30 years later, I am still on methadone, being 'encouraged' [is there a choice?] to transfer to buprenorphine. Long-term addicts who have made the switch seem to rate the buprenorphine 'clearer headed.' By the way, methadone needs very careful titration in the beginning. 'Start low, go slow.'"

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2016

For Opiate Withdrawal "I have been using opiates since I was 22. I will be 27 this year, and I need to QUIT, it's affecting my daily life, my relationship, and my pockets!! I started on hydrocodone about 30 mg a day, now I'm at Percocet/Roxy at least 50-60 mg a day. A friend of mine gave me methadone to see how it works for me. I'm not sure if methadone is what's BEST, but I woke up sick this morning (stomach cramps, anxiety, sweats), took a methadone, and 30 mins later I felt better. I'm not sure if it will help me not crave the high, but I sure hope so. Good luck to everyone, we can do this!!"

• Anonymous
• February 4, 2010

For Opiate Withdrawal "I am an opiate addict, started abusing OxyContin, then went to heroin. I started methadone maintenance 8 months ago. I have not used since. It works great for me, stops cravings, and helped with my anxiety and depression. I take a daily dose of 90 mg. It has given me my life back! However, I am afraid of detoxing from methadone due to symptoms of opiate withdrawal. My counselor says that I can go down as little as 2.5 mg a week until I am no longer dependent. I am starting a very slow detox soon, I will let you know how well it works."

• SFS...
• December 13, 2010

For Pain "I started taking 20 mgs 2x daily for chronic back pain associated with degenerative disc disease and bulging disc disease, and it has worked wonders for my pain. It has even taken away my anxiety and depression disorder. I would definitely recommend it to someone who really needs it."

• Anonymous
• December 4, 2009

For Pain "I have lupus, RA, two other types of arthritis, nerve pain, back problems, and many other health problems. I'm only 30. I tried many pain medicines, Dilaudid is the only thing that I can take without horrible side effects and poor quality of life. There is no 12-hour form of Dilaudid, one is being made but not yet released. The pain doctor wanted me to try a 12-hour pain medicine. I tried Opana, within 20 minutes, I felt horrible, and it lasted hours. The next try was Methadone. I just took my first (and LAST!) dose 11 hours ago, at the 4th hour, severe, horrible side effects of this drug hit me: chest pain, dizziness, nausea, slow heart rate, hallucinations, nervousness, and fidgetiness. I'm still very ill from it! I take a very low dose of Xanax for tremors, possible interaction, but not a good drug for pain for some!"

• Met...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2021

For Opiate Withdrawal "Exceptional. No withdrawal, no cravings, no perceivable high - yet, it's as if you were high, in the sense that you do not feel the need to use smack. I'm productive, in a great mood all the time, no anxiety, nor, on the other hand, side effects. Great drug, so much better than buprenorphine for this purpose."

• Con...
• February 24, 2009

For Pain "I started taking methadone for back pain last month. I had been taking morphine for the 10 months prior, and after dwindling funds and no insurance, decided to go through the withdrawals from the morphine on my own. After about 2 weeks of hell and the pain, I went back to my doctor. She decided that methadone was a better, less expensive alternative. She was wrong. Methadone has placed me extremely on edge, and the pain in my back is barely touched. I would not recommend this medicine for pain."