Methadone

[Heidi86]

I need some help. My husband has been taking Methadone for a little over a year now for back pain due to being over weight.. He is taking 120mg a day. Here recently he has been having problems with kidney pain (or back pain near the kidneys). He has also been throwing up occasionally and just over all not feeling well. I keep telling him that he needs to stop taking the methadone, then lose the weight. I guess I am just having a hard time understanding what he's going through. But it breaks my heart watching him go through this. I just want my husband back. Please help!

[mr.lucky66]

atthebeach, really understand what your husband is going through after 14 years. The dose doesn't matter nearly as much the time on methadone. It wouldn't really have mattered much how he tapered, he has to go through it. It can be done but it takes longer for that long. I've known several methadone addicts who were on it for that long or longer.Hiedi, the original poster, something sounds wrong with the story or the doctor who has him on such a big dose of methadone. Please get a 2nd opinion! all the best

[atthebeach]

my husband was tapering 2mg every couple weeks. as gnarly said it takes months..... he just went cold turkey 2 weeks ago from 18mg. he is so sick. was in detox now rehab. hasn't eaten or sleep in 2 weeks has lost at least10 lbs.he is so weak, feels like he has been hit by a mack truck. he was on maintenace for almost 14 long years. it definitely makes you gain weight. he has to want to get off of it. the longer he waits the harder it is. it is a hard,long withdrawal for mind and body.
god bless,
debbie

[gnarly_1]

Hi and welcome to the forum...well first off I dont think the sickness and the methadone are related so you probably want to get him checked out by a dr...second he's got to want to come off it  b/4 you can do anything...methadone withdrawals are ruff going
and you got to want it bad....more then anything else if your going to be able to do it
it took me 8 1/2mo to taper off 150ml so its nothing thats going to happen overnight
if he decides to do it...I was also put on it for back pain but it quits working after a wile and then your stuck with the huge addiction...its probably the worst narcotic to get off
and to say the least it was extremely difficult to do....but it is doable if your ready to quit...tell your hubby his back pain my be being caused by the methadone and once hes off it will subside and be manageable with otc stuff ...I know it worked that way for me...but the biggy here is he needs the desire to quit without that you got nothing...good luck and God bless....Gnarly    

[emwave]

First, he must have a doctor he can see, so have him checked out.  Ultimately it sounds like he needs to lose weight, but have a doctor check out the throwing up, pain near his kidneys and the "just over all not feeling well" ---  methadone doesn't do that to people.  Unless he's trying to lower his dose, but you didn't mention that so I'll assume he isn't.

I'd be a little suspicious of any doctor that would put a person on methadone for back pain that could be considerable lessened by losing weight.  Many people gain weight on methadone -- I've never heard of anyone losing weight, though.  Is he supposed to be trying to lose weight while he's on the methadone?  And if so, has he been successful?

Get your husband to understand that it will take him at least six months (probably longer) to get off the methadone he's on.  And it won't be fun.  

But have a doctor check him out to make sure something serious isn't going on -- let us know how it goes.