Weight gain while taking opiates

This question has been going through my head for a few months now.

I realize everyone metabolizes drugs differently. When I took Norco's I never got that buzz everyone talks about.  I also never got that energetic feeling that I so often read about here.

But I did gain weight while on this medication. That was another reason I wanted off of it.  When I told me doctor this, he said this wasn't a side effect.

I have been off this medication since May10th and have already lost weight.  I am not exercising anymore or less than I was on it...well maybe a little less because I am afraid of overdoing it and causing pain.

I read where people sneeze alot when they quit this med:  I did that too.

But what about that weight gain?  Anyone else gain weight while on this stuff?

Thanks,
SJ

[grateful4all]

I gained weight on oxycodone (about 15 lbs).  I was very thin before, but to be honest I'm not comfortable at this weight.  I hope I'll lose some after detox!  Nice to hear someone else had the same issue!

[wannabefree330]

I gain weight when using.  I eat alot, but I also get bloated.  swollen ankles, and can just feel the water building up.  I think using the oxy or hydro stresses the kidneys and in turn you retain more water.  ? Just my thoughts.  Good question!

[Sajonna]

Narcotics are known to have a constipating effect but I still had my IBS-D while on it.  I think it did control it abit, but I still would empty my stomach every morning. I usually didn't take my first dose until around 10a or Noon.  

Right now off the pills, my IBS-D may flare one more time a day..but not that bad.

[extrmeski]

Interesting, as I lost weight when I was on pain killers?  I had no interest in eating at all, I guess everyone is different.

[avisg]

I gained 30 pounds while I was using ...Thankfully it all came off when I stopped

[darienguy]

pain meds slow down your metabolism- causes constipation- and, well- you can figure out the rest  :)

[lvm6]

yes! i used to be a size 2 and weighed about 112-115 pounds. i have MS and was only taking 5 mg as needed for pain for a few years, but when i started taking 10mg 2x a day - i gained 30 pounds in a year! i feel positively obese now, barely have any energy, and have now suffered a heart attack and a dvt. no matter what i do i cant get the weight off and am very depressed about it. its to the point where i have lost interest in everything and hide out in my house because i'm so embarrassed. i need to be pain free, but i cant stand it like this either.

[tray_c]

Interesting. I didn't gain weight but bloating and constipation happend in a bad way! I have lost about four pounds during my seven days of WD so far, due to fluid loss I am sure. I have always stayed about 130lbs over the three years I used.

[puglove27]

ok my first post on here was about this, and i only got one response. this motivates me so much to here this has happened to others. i was on lortabs for 2 yrs, and gained 50lbs!! i am disgusted, i also got lazy and stopped going to the gym as much, but i don't feel like i was pigging out or nothing,i was drinking a lot. so do painkillers  slow down your metabolism? this is the kind of stuff i was trying to find out. i have been clean 10 days and back in the gym eating healthy so hopefully i will get my old body back soon.  is  a lot of this water weight, swell, or bloat, cuz i don't think i look like i gained 50 at all, but thats what the scale is saying. please any knowledge on this matter would be helpful

[candothis247]

i lost weight, no appetite, couldnt eat much.....

[Jennafro]

I see these r old posts but I'll throw in my 2 cents! :) weight issues ugh.my theories: obviously we all react differently to the meds(norco and oxys being my main DOC and most popular in this convo) side effects. For some these pain killers mellow u out while others have tons of speed like energy. We have different metabolisms & with eating drinking, sleeping, exercising,etc
habits even more different there's no WAY anyone could study to establish a pattern to say yes u will gain or oh yea u r going to get skinny! :) and then u have to think amongst even a small group of addicts to the mentioned meds, we all take varying amounts of one or both of them and probably whatever else we can find when we
don't have that! Many people avoid WD at all cost. Back to my theories.. :).. I had a sis-in-law who(RIP) I know liked Norco as DOC in her beginning. She was one who lost weight. Like CRAZY! she was petite anyway. 5'2"110lbs approx. She never ate- everyone assumed anorexia- which she might have had- but I(as an addict now-wasn't then) know from experience don't eat so u get full effect of the norco. Over a few years she was in the hospital and 76lbs. Then rehab. Came out hooked on Xanax started pain meds and everything else she could fathom  up symptoms for. Abuse led to seizures(over approx 10-12 yrs) then death from brain swelling the dr's couldn't stop cuz they had no clue what was wrong. She always came up with symptoms to justify all she took- even if it was off the street- so to her she NEEDED all the meds. (oh,I forgot to mention denial and honesty as a couple more variables that makes users/and-or addicts different from each other too)  now I'm not getting into the whole being honest with others here cuz I'm going on a novel now. Just an example of differences-obviously touching on the whole ' we have to have mental issues to be an addict to begin with right?' so in her case my theory - she lost weight on Norco- lots- not cuz she had an awesome metabolism. She rarely ate a meal worth calling it that, only thing she binged on besides pills was mountain dew and cigarettes. Was never honest with herself to admit- I'm an addict. I lik..LOVE THE WAY I FEEL ON PILLS. in effect denied that as a problem, or a cause for failing health. Even tho she might have known it inside, she had no will to be drug free. With every new illness a door opened to new, more meds that she NEEDED. I'll never know now what she really thought about it all. She may have believed in the dr's and a diagnosis was something she couldn't control. But sympathy was what she craved. Maybe that's all she needed to be happy besides a high. Her story. -- ME- I gained weight on Norco. Started taking it early 20's. Did for about 3years. Moved out of state so I quit for a couple years- but managed to meet the "wrong" person. Got back to it. I neve had a fast metabolism or liked exercise. When on Norco I took so much for so long I would get nausea so another theory of mine: gained weight due to horrible eating habits, lazy(except cleaning and basic errands) drinking only soda. So once my stomach hurt I'd break down and eat. So that once a day meal,usually before sleep, and BAM!-30-40 xtra lbs.  I guess the lack of food in the day might cause some to lose weight- goes back to differences. Plus if u get that gogogo feel u might do more physical activities than I did. Hydro was my DOC for years and then a few years ago roxys(oxys) were prescribed. I didn't like them at first but went with it and then they became preferred. Strangely tho, this med seemed to affect my hormones!-- so some of u might consider that as a theory to your weight issues?- for me, I honestly thought I was pregnant, even tho I had tubes tied. Periods stopped. Taste buds changed. I drank diet DrP for years and suddenly no way! Switched to tea. Took PG tests( couple times a week for over 3 months) not PG. Went without a '.' for a yr and a half, lost weight but I started to eat more!! I think the med is stronger than the 1st so I can take it wait 30 min then eat and it doesn't seem to mess with the effects. --note: I'm aware that could just be in my head! :)-- back to weight- if u r feeling bloated, fat, round belly honestly think about when u had your last BM!! Noone wants to talk about it much less if its an issue go to the store and buy laxatives enimas

[Jennafro]

Oops! Wrong button! Sorry this is so long! But seriously about constipation issues. I tried any and every way to "go" without having to buy help that my family might SEE. How embarrassing. May not bother some folks but as for me and my other half- we have never shared that info. And I like it that way. My EX would make an announcement every time he had to s#*t. 11yrs  of me just not needing to know. At least he was private enough so I never had to see him sitting on a toilet. Hehe. As for my beau now; 7 years and he hasn't poo'd. :D yea. He has never 'announced' going. I have never walked into a stinky bathroom or hell