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135222 tn?1210432488

Lack of sex drive from Methadone (opiates)

Okay. After seeing the post on sex being good for w/d I had to ask this. Methadone has put my sex drive in an early grave. Not to brag, but I used to be very popular with the ladies until Methadone entered my life. I am embaressed to say this but it has been years since I have been laid and the sad thing is it doesnt really bother me. This is yet another reason I am quitting. All I can say is I feel sorry for the first woman who falls into my clutches after getting clean. She will probably have to beat me off with a stick : ) Is there anyone else out there whose sex drive has been killed by methadone? I would be curious to hear. Especially from the guys.
41 Responses
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Avatar universal
Im down to 8 mild now on methadone and still find sex hard work. Im on tabs to help with getting a hard on and can still have problems. This is worrying me trouble because I feel like Im letting my girl down, who enjoys sex and I just find it so hard to get on the mood, when I should be able to enjoy my sex life. Methadone has killed it and doctors dont tell you the side affects of it when you go on it. Anyway Ill be off metjadone in six weeks, but still dont have a high sex drive. Any Advice would be most helpful.
Helpful - 1
437415 tn?1211829556
Let's start a new forum and call it "Sex lives of recovering addicts"!!!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I was informed by my wife that it's been 7months since we have had sex and 8 months prior to that. When we first meet I was 44 and we had sex 3 to 4 times a week. Now at age 49 I'm doing 3× the daily usage of opatiates and have no sexual desire.  If your just looking for someone to agree that opaites kill sex drive, I guess I can!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My boyfriend went through this. Methadones the worst!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you dont mind me asking this for a friend. How long were you on the program for? Because my friend on the program for six months and he thinks it's happening to him. Is that a long enough period time you think to do that? And do you have any idea of what you did after the program to help you get your testosterone back? Because he thinks that sexual enhancement supplement from a drugstore would probably work after he gets off the program and he has more of anxiety so would have to get on a psych med as well because it has been such a long period that he's been on the program and it would be a big change to just stop using a substance or prescribed medication for so long.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi
It has happenned to me. It's a side effect if you will, esp if you've been using it for ages. I actually have to come up with some ingenious ways to have sex.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been on methadone for 7 months approx after a 2 year addiction to heroin which was the worst couple years of my life and through that time my boyfriend was using also so yes our sex life became non existent for the most part and I was aware that heroin could make it hard to have orgasms and kill ur desire to have sex all u care about is getting ur drugs but also it basically is numb when u have sex u don't even feel it but anyway me and that boyfriend have broken up and I am seeing a new guy now who never tried an opiate in his life he does no drugs and he never has even tried anything outside of weed and alcohol and he has an insane sex drive and he is by far the most experienced partner I've ever been with sexually and I haven't even realized that even though the sex is amazing and he has an orgasm every time I cannot get there at all! I enjoy our sex so much i just cannot have an orgasm to save my life and it finally dawned on me that it has to be the methadone. He goes out of his way to try to get me to have an orgasm it's frustrating for him I believe and it's embarrassing for me cause of my drug use I can't have enjoyable sex with the person I care about ! I am only on 90mg of metabdone and it really is causing an orgasm to be impossible cause trust me I would have had one every time with this guy if I wasn't on it
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I unfortunately have a very high pain level due to crushed discs in my back and residual pinched nerves, herniated discs, and torn tendons on my shoulder and scapula.  I'm in pain all the time, a lot of it.  So my doctor gave my OxyContin!  Yes, back when it was safe and good.  Turned out to be neither and some friends told me I was acting like a junkie and embarrassing to be around.  So I kicked 80mg x 3 OxyContin per day.  That was a bummer.  But the pain got worse, since the opioids went away, natch.  So I ate my way through percodan, Percocet, hydrocodone and codeine in various mixes.  Finally I told my doctor this wasn't working.  I'm still a junkie just one eating s ton of acetemphine now.  She put me on methadone, saying that was about all we hadn't tried.  It worked enough to let me walk around in pain, but not agony.  This was good.  The methadone wasn't.  It has horrible side effects.  I kicked it, about 1.5 years ago.  About 8-10 months later I discovered my sex drive.  Wow.   So (here's the cherry on top of this sundae of a story) my wife just packed up, took the money and left me high and dry. ( I don't think it was the sex. That would be adding insult to injury.). So now I'm emotionally devestated.  She refuses to call or text.  She blames me for everything that ever went wrong in her life over the past 20 years, and says stuff like "I deserve to be 100% happy 100% of the time and the only reason I'm not is YOU!  You're selfish, an *******, you aren't worth the effort I would have to put in just to stand being around you."  Etc.  Mind you two months ago we were "in love." And, as an example, I got her tickets to a musical, a nice dinner and a $4000 Louis Vuitton handbag for her birthday 6 weeks ago.  She got me nothing but did lie to me about going to the store and went, withdrew $120,000 or so from a account we both were on, and moved into a really, really, nice mansion in the wine country with some rich guy who I don't know.  I'm obviously a complete wreck, and don't know what to do, except I've learned very clearly, crystal, that asking her what's going on isn't it.  She leads with the insults, goes right for the "it's all your fault," then after emasculating me she cuts me off with a "I can't talk about this!" *click*
I never got a chance to even finish the question, and for a woman who I love and thought loved me she sure can say a lot of hurtful things and finish by concluding it isn't a thing she can actually talk about.  Except for all the words she hammered me with.  So.  There you go.  I'm not sure what the moral in but 20 years down the drain, apparently I'm an *******, and I'm worried about her hormone levels or getting her an MRI.  She won't entertain either.  She's 44. I'm 47.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Me too !   Hey Mary !   You were here when I got off the opiates years ago !  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Okay. I have to comment after reading all the post about losing your sex drive/testosterone levels. I was on methadone for several years on and off and went to the Doctor to find the same problems you are facing. I've done some research and come to the conclusion that methadone treatment is only meant for detox and not for long term treatment because the long term effects on the body are staggering. Not only does it remove the testosterone but at the same time adds estrogen, and if there is another option like suboxene I'd consider taking it. I am now a advocate against the use of Methadone and I know there are other viable options. I've also heard the horror stories about heroin use and that is a worse option, that is the one I choose and that was a nightmare I don't wish anyone to have to endure. I ended up in prison because of it.
I have had to suffer for my decision all for the sake of a sex life. I look back now and know in my heart is was the right decision, I just went about it all wrong, so I'm telling you this hoping you don't make the same mistake I
did. Find another option other than methadone/opiates. Please!  
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
If you dont mind me asking this for a friend. How long were you on the program for? Because my friend on the program for six months and he thinks it's happening to him. Is that a long enough period time you think to do that? And do you have any idea of what you did after the program to help you get your testosterone back? Because he thinks that sexual enhancement supplement from a drugstore would probably work after he gets off the program and he has more of anxiety so would have to get on a psych med as well because it has been such a long period that he's been on the program and it would be a big change to just stop using a substance or prescribed medication for so long.
Avatar universal
The same thing has happened to me!!! I feel like I could live the rest of my life and never have Sex again and be ok!!!! This is bad cause I have a girlfriend of 8 years that don't take it and loves sex+!!!!!! This is crazy!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have tapered down on Methadone. My sex drive and performance feels like I am 18 again. Not sure how long this will last but I'm enjoying it for the time being. And, so is my wife!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The clinics don't tell you about the side effects before they get you on a high dose and hook you. Methadone is harder and it takes longer to get off of. Unfortunately, from my experience, your sexdrive doesn't return until your off methadone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Urmmm wouldn't you be afraid of all the splinters? I would pay to see someone beat you off with a stick though. Lol Ok, anyway, in all seriousness, methadone is famous for dulling sexual desire and can even prevent one from climaxing. It can put some serious strain on relationships when one or both people are in a methadone treatment program. You get the sexual desires/aches/etc back fairly quickly once you stop using opiates. I have noticed that when I'm in withdrawl my sexual urges are already raring to go. And actually, orgasms are a wonderful little relief while withdrawing. Your body releases all kinds of pleasure chemicals making you feel better for a little bit at least. Good luck getting your bow chickah bow wow back! Lol
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i took pills for years vicodans and anything I could get my hands on  till I started taking 25-35 a day now on methodone and I cant even get it up
want to stop don't know how

my wife thinks its her !!

whats the best way to do this
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i am a woman who recently began taking methadone and am very upset to realize it is killing my sex drive :( is there ANY way around this??? i have always been an extremely sexual person, and never experienced anything like this before. it is very disturbing. i want to stay clean and off heroin, and for that reason methadone has truly saved my life. but this COMPLETE lack of any sexual desire is very upsetting. anyone... please help! ? :( :(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ANY opiate WILL & DOES NUMB you.. sex and otherwise.. that's why getting and STAYING CLEAN is SOOOOO much FUN!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was on the roxy oxy bull junk for 3 1/2 years and didnt have a problem but when i moved to the methadone yes problem really fast. My girl thought eather i was cheating on her or didnt like her any more cause we havnt had sex in 3 years. Wow I cant beleave that but anyways. I've talked to lots of guy about this and what they tell me is stay clean take vitamins with zinc to build your testosterone levels back up and when able to start  excursive. I was told both of them would bring every thing right back to normal. Good luck it geets better day 10 of all pills and drugs.
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
This is an old post..a new qustion may draw more atttn to ur post

methadone/like sub/is a long wd...u r still not really back on ur feet yet..much less back on ur 3rd foot/leg...LOL...not meaning to be crude but u have some healing to do...believe me it will come back and u will be sexual vibes u never thought possible...they were there but narcotics suppress our feelings/which includes sex drive...those feelings will return and bombard u like a hurricane!

I hope u have a mate when this returns..i did not...and i was really in a state of "need'  (:
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I detoxed from methadone 12days ago.  Feel better than
I have I 5-6 years. My sex drive is still zero, and
not to be crude about it, but I'm ready to get back "out there"
now.  Does anyone know how to get it back, will I ever get
mine back?  

Can anyone help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Im doing oxys for my back,,about 120 a day,,i have 20s and 40s,and norcos,,i dont eat the norcos cause they make me feel like ****,,however i eat the Oxys,,,,and not only do they rid of most of the pain, i feel great,,im 50ish,,i live with my girlfriend and kid,,been on these and before these vics for the last couple yrs,,we still go at it 3 to 8 times a month hard,,we both work long hrs,,once in awhile i cant get off,,but most of the time it feels great,and everything works great,,alls it takes is a little intiation and its on,,it does make my back sore for a couple days after though,,i had no idea it affected so many like this,,that sucks in the wrong way,,
Helpful - 0
352798 tn?1399298154
Opiates, synthetic or not = 'just say no to sex' :)
Get off of opiates and you can...well you know! Lmao
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
Never took methadone but the hydros made me lose focus on everything fun in my life after a while...i do remember when my sex drive came back...it was sudden and full force...she better be ready whoever that lucky girl may be!  LOL
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
you kill me...rofl....!
Helpful - 0
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