Methadone and Depression: What Users Say

• MSp...
• March 27, 2017

For Chronic Pain "I have suffered the effects of MS for 9 years that cause constant head pain, back pain, nausea or vomiting, difficulties walking, and decreased activity and depression due to my symptoms. My pain doctor put me on methadone 7 years ago, and I felt the pain decrease for the first time in years. Now he has me on Burtran patches, which have awful side effects, and I want my life back. So, I'm going back to get the methadone back. Make sure your doctor gives you the smallest dose to start, then increase until it helps. If you get 10 mg right away, it can be fatal! Hope this helps anyone out there."

• 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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 24, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Started on methadone in the hospital after 2nd laminectomy and fusion L-4 to S-1. I am on 30 mgs 4 times a day (120 mg in 24 hrs). I noticed an immediate weight gain of 20 lbs (that I can't get rid of) and complete cessation of my menses! I was NOT warned of these side effects! The extra weight adds to my back pain and depression. I just don't know what to do! I want off of this, but I have failed other medications! I just want my body back (20 lbs lighter) AND help with my pain!"

• sla...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 6, 2023

For Pain "I have been on methadone/methadose for 15 years for fibromyalgia and lumbar and cervical stenosis. The doctor started me at 20 mg, 3 times a day, but I didn't like being on so much, so I weaned down to 5 mg twice a day 10 years ago. Although I have worse pain now from spondylolisthesis and chronic sciatica in my right leg, I'm finding the low dose is still working. Sure, there are days I could take more, but I just don't. It doesn't take all the different types of pain away, but it's been a lifesaver for me. The side effects for me are a lack of motivation and some minor memory loss at times, but nothing serious."

• met...
• September 28, 2010

For Opiate Withdrawal "Methadone works great to stop withdrawal from all sorts of opiates, but it's also very hard on the body. Everyone that I have spoken to that attends the same clinic as I do has said that they all have experienced the same side effects: excessive weight gain (I've gained 100 lbs plus without much change in diet), excessive sweating, sugar cravings, and no sex drive. Started out fine and just went away, some depression. You have to work to keep yourself busy and motivated. If your dose is not right, it is almost impossible to stay awake and alert, which makes driving dangerous. Methadone is also addictive, and you have to be weaned off from it too."

• YUR...
• July 23, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I've been through 8 back surgeries and neck surgery. I was taking 80 mg of OxyContin 3 times a day for 17 years. Since the new laws have come into effect, they changed me to 80 mg of methadone. It has helped somewhat with the pain, but it also has bad side effects. All I do is sleep and be tired and depressed! Plus, forget about sex. It kills your sex drive. I can't do this much longer, methadone is a terrible thing! Stay away if you can. I've been on methadone for 5 months now and want my OxyContin pills back. Methadone is OK for pain, but it will cost you dearly in your well-being and your sex life!"

• 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."

• Sam...
• May 25, 2020

For Chronic Pain "My GP put me on hydromorphone, and it changed my life, pain tolerance went up, etc. After 1.5 years, she sent me to a pain clinic. There, doctors bridged the HM with the methadose (MD) by increasing the MD and decreasing the HM slowly. We went up to 100 mg MD, and it didn't work. He lowered it to 10 mg, and it still didn't work. Somehow, both decided to keep it at 35 mg twice (75 mg total) a day. I feel a bit better, but after like a month of taking it and so on, I've started having vision problems, tiredness, sleep days/nights, body flashes, sweating all the time, lack of energy, low mood, depression, loss of appetite, gained weight somehow, no more sex, loss of memories, and hard to focus. So, I asked the pain clinic to change the MD for a better solution, and now it's been a month since I'm on Suboxone. Uh, you don't know whether it is how useless the Suboxone is or how much withdrawal I am having. Plus, having a severe headache, and I don't have tolerance anymore for my back pain, lose my patience too fast, swearing, and a lot more."

• Fib...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 6, 2021

For Chronic Pain "I have taken methadone 5 mg 2 times a day for many years for fibromyalgia pain, and it works very well. I have tried the other so-called drugs the gov recommends to treat fibromyalgia, and they suck. One (Cymbalta) made me feel suicidal, and another one (Lyrica) made me more depressed. It has been 16 years on methadone. Before that, I was on Lortabs and Percocet, which made me feel like a drug addict. Methadone has saved my life."