Methadone and Tiredness: What Users Say

• JoJ...
• October 7, 2015

For Chronic Pain "I find this to be the best and most affordable pain medicine on the market. I live with chronic pain from four abdominal surgeries for endometriosis and several broken/shattered bones in my wrist and foot since I have osteoporosis, as well as a torn rotator cuff injury now. I take 2-3 of the 10 mg tablets a day, which makes me a little tired some days and causes problems with constipation since I have loads of adhesions from stomach surgeries. That adds to the constipation, too, but I can live a normal life now, and I thank God that my doctor prescribes it for my pain, as some doctors would rather have me take eight Percocets a day or have more surgery, and they don't help half as much as the 2-3 methadone tablets I take as needed. They are also so cheap in price compared to other drugs."

• cjh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I have not been on methadone for a great amount of time, but I have been on it long enough to find that the pain-free result is not worth the life-ruining effects it's having on me. I have no life because of this drug. It makes me so tired, lethargic, and just useless! I can't work anymore, I can't maintain most social relationships anymore, and I am so isolated and lonely now, which is having serious deteriorating effects on my mental health condition! I have never hated another drug more than this one. I know that for some people, it has changed their lives for the better, and I'm really happy for these people! I just think that people need to know that there is a real nasty side to methadone too for some of us. Cheers."

• cjh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I have not been on methadone for a great amount of time, but I have been on it long enough to find that the pain-free result is not worth the life-ruining effects it's having on me. I have no life because of this drug. It makes me so tired, lethargic, and just useless! I can't work anymore, I can't maintain most social relationships anymore, and I am so isolated and lonely now, which is having serious deteriorating effects on my mental health condition! I have never hated another drug more than this one. I know that for some people, it has changed their lives for the better, and I'm really happy for these people! I just think that people need to know that there is a real nasty side to methadone too for some of us. Cheers."

• Joe...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2014

For Chronic Pain "I took methadone for 2 years and finally had to give it up. Yes, it was effective against the pain, but I'd gained 40 pounds, very lethargic for 3-4 hours after the dose, developed uncontrollable jerking of my extremities, difficulty urinating (I am talking hours being unable to urinate), break out in sweats after taking the medicine, constipation, severe nausea, and occasional vomiting with taking the medicine. It didn't matter if I had eaten or not, and finally confusion for weeks when first starting. Yes, my doctor was aware of this all along the way and would have kept me on it, but I couldn't take it anymore. Now, back to more conventional treatment options. I had so hoped the methadone would be the long-term answer to my pain, and it DID help, BUT."

• pet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I have been on 50 mg methadone oral liquid for 4 years, and it does nothing at all for pain. I was on morphine sulfate 10 mg for 3 years and was taking 30 mg a day after 2 years. My doctor died in a plane crash, and I was taken off morphine and suffered the worst 8 days of my life. No one can explain just how bad withdrawals can be unless you have been through them. Horrible. I was placed on methadone because I was coming off morphine. This medication does nothing for pain. I have lost testosterone, I can't work, I have to go to a drug store every day to dose. I have put on weight. I feel like crap, lazy, and tired. I have come down to 35 mg, but the thought of the withdrawals worries me. It's a long sickness to get off this rubbish. Hate it, bad."

• Med...
• June 18, 2017

For Chronic Pain "Switched to Metadol (methadone HCl) from a rotation of Morphine Contin and Hydromorph Contin. The transition was without any complications or side effects. From 100 mg of morphine twice daily (or 3x18 mg Hydromorph daily) ...to 4x10 mg daily of Metadol (methadone HCl). Almost a year has passed, and no worries! With 1 to 2 gms of medicinal cannabis and 40 mg of Metadol daily, all of my pain and other side problems are now in the past. No side effects except lethargy (a lot of time in bed but not having quality sleep; I suspect a lack of REM sleep). I'm attending a chronic pain clinic. I'm 65 years old with lots of youth experimentation with most recreational drugs. With acceptance from the authorities, the Metadol cost is covered."

• A C...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I had high expectations for methadone when I started it. I had to switch from OxyContin to methadone because of insurance coverage. It works OK for the pain, but I realized I was so unbelievably tired with each one I took and noticed it 'peak' within 30 min. to an hour. I had NO desire to get out of bed! It took every bit of my motivation away, gave me an uncomfortable head buzz, and when I went to the doctor a few days later, they said my blood pressure was low, which explained why I felt dizzy, faint, and just plain drained constantly! I have heard it's harder to get off of than oxycodone also. Prescribed for chronic pain, spinal stenosis, DDD, double laminectomy surgery, constant pain!"

• ece...
• June 22, 2009

For Pain "I was born with arthritis and have been on many of the narcotic-based drugs in my 20 years of being treated. I noticed someone saying that methadone makes them feel tired when they sit. I know that is a normal side effect, but I urge ALL men that are taking ANY narcotic pain medication to get your testosterone checked! Narcotics lower the level of testosterone, and that makes you feel very tired. I was feeling very tired all the time and didn't really have any get-up-and-go and would have 'hot flashes.' I got my levels checked, and my testosterone was almost at female levels. Now I get testosterone shots and feel much better. If you are on medications long-term, get your levels checked!"

• 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!"

• mo8...
• July 23, 2009

For Opiate Withdrawal "I was taking anything that would get me high, and then it was just to keep me from getting sick. I started the program 2 years ago, and it has changed my life. Although there is more to it than the methadone, it, in combination with counseling, can change lives. I would also like to say that if you are suffering from low sex drive, tiredness, unreasonable weight gain, and hot flashes, you might need to get your testosterone levels checked because methadone can cause your levels to get low and maybe cause the underlying problems. Overall, it has improved my life, and I wouldn't change a thing."

• Reb...
• August 3, 2009

For Opiate Withdrawal "I've been on a methadone treatment program for about 5 months now and am very thankful. Without this medicine, I would definitely still be addicted to painkillers. Methadone is great. There's just one thing: it makes me tired during the middle of the day, but I couldn't do without 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."

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 11, 2024

For Opiate Withdrawal "I am 27 years old. I have a love/hate relationship with methadone. Even though methadone helped me come off illicit drugs, it has severely impacted my life to the point where I don’t have a life. Everyone always says methadone is supposed to help you improve your quality of life, but mine has drastically declined in different ways while on it. About 5-6 hours after I dose, I become extremely tired. I sleep about 15 hours a night, waking up still tired, having chronic fatigue during the hours I am up. The first month I was on it, I was sleeping close to 20 hours a day until my body got more adjusted to it. Also, when I was just taking illicit drugs, I was extremely more active and social. I could go 2-3 days without using before withdrawals set in. With methadone, I experience withdrawals every single morning. No matter what dose I am at, it doesn’t last 24 hours. My social life is nonexistent, I haven’t hung out with a friend and done something in 4-5 years."

• Anonymous
• June 10, 2009

For Pain "This drug has helped my nerve pain in my leg, however, I am feeling tired when I sit. This is something I haven't gotten used to yet."