Menopause and Methadone

[Katodd97]

I am a 37 year old female on Methadone Maintence for about 4 1/2 years.  I have been having issues lately with my dose being stable.  The doctor at my program suggested I have my thyroid tested for underactivity due to symptoms such as weight gain, eyebrow loss, sluggishness, numbness in my hands, swollen feet, legs and hands plus family history.  There is also a family history of early menopause and my hormone levels show I am in that range.  I have not been on birth control for 8 years and have never gotten pregnant so that was an issue also.  My thyroid tested fine but my blood sugar level wasn't.  My primary care Dr. started me on 500mg Metformin once daily for this and possibly PCOS. I've been on it for about 3 weeks now.  My question is basically will any of this affect my methadone dose at all?  I am having a lot of withdrawal symptoms before I get dosed.  My stomach hurts, nose runs,  jitteryness, and the hibby-jibbys, can't sit still, cold sweats.  These go away when I take my dose of 90 mg methadose but throughout the day when I'm working I get horrible hot flashes with a runny nose and jitteryness and crawling skin that feels close to withdrawal symptoms.   I'm trying to do research on all these issues and have follow up appointments with both doctors within the next month but it's driving me crazy and really getting up in my head.  I will not relapse after 4 years being clean but the withdrawal symptoms are too much.  I know it's not all in my head and I don't want to have to take the methadone so seriously.   But I feel like I can't function normally until I get medicated.  Thank you for your time and help.  Katherine

hi im on methadone aswell  4 yrs now ive been havin bad withdraw 12 hrs after i take my dose its 185mg i dont know wat to do i ended taking more then screwin my self when i have to wait till i gotten go back to my clinic iv lv looked into like menapause meds vitumes and stuff but no luck iv even got pills online that say it helps with the withdraws still hurting phrymcies keep tellin me to take like benadrel well it dont work the night and day sweats the crippy crawlies the not being noable to sleep the jidder the shakness all of of can someone please help with something that i havent tried or any other ideas please i need help

[ellijaygal]

I am on methadone for severe chronic pain. I have recently been put on metformin. I was fine when I was taking the 500mg at night, but when I added the next 500 my pain has started climbing like crazy. It sounds like we have similar issues. I see this post was in May. Did you ever get an answer to your question if the two had some sort of interaction where it made the methadone not work as well?

[MethadoneHelp]

Suggestions:
Walk into the pharmacy that dispensed your metformin, and ask to speak to the pharmacist. Present them your story as they understand interactions, and have ready access to databases of information on how these drugs may react and the training to interpret it.

Next time you get dosed, ask again to speak with the physician, and be prepared to wait. Squeaky wheel. There are state and federal agencies that oversee these programs, and you can suggest if it is easier for them, you can take your concerns over their heads. You can also ask to see their policies relating to a patient who is requesting to see the doctor.