A Look Into the Impact of Methadone on Weight and Other Options
If you experienced weight loss during opioid use, you aren’t alone. Factors like nausea, appetite and metabolism changes, and nutrient imbalance can make you lose weight. Even though this isn’t a healthy weight loss, people may offer compliments. When you start gaining this weight back during early recovery, however, you might find yourself discouraged by these changes.
Weight gain in early recovery is a sign of health and the bodily changes experienced during active addiction are starting to reverse. However, you may find yourself wondering, “Does methadone cause weight gain?”
Many people experience weight gain as a side effect of methadone treatment. Keep reading as we break down the factors that affect weight, other side effects of methadone, strategies for maintaining a healthy weight during recovery, and alternatives to methadone treatment at Purpose Healing.
Does Methadone Cause Weight Gain?
The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis and methadone is one stand public health organizations have taken against overdose deaths. But, this does not mean that methadone treatment comes without side effects.
Weight gain caused by taking methadone might be slight initially. Most people experience average weight changes of 10 pounds during the first six months of recovery. Women are more likely to experience weight gain than men and have more significant body mass index (BMI) changes.
According to this study from the National Institute of Health, this can lead to an average of 12 pounds gained by male patients and 28 pounds gained by female patients. They also had a higher BMI after addiction recovery while going through methadone treatment.
Why Do You Gain Weight from Methadone?
Many people notice appetite changes during recovery from opioid addiction. However, more research needs to be done on how heroin, fentanyl, and other opioids impact weight.
While it may be hard to eat during active withdrawal, this changes as the worst of these symptoms subside. You might also notice worse diet habits like craving sweets, something common after opioid addiction because opioids change how the body processes sugar. Giving into more sugar cravings can make you gain weight.
Taking methadone also has other effects that can make you gain weight, such as increasing water retention and problems urinating, along with being bloated from constipation. Weight gain from these situational changes comes off as your methadone dose is decreased over time.
Remember though, weight gain can be healthy. It may represent that your body is starting to heal from the weight loss and changes experienced during opioid addiction. While you do want to focus on healthy decisions, weight gained during recovery doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
Other Side Effects of Methadone Treatment
Testimonies and research show that taking methadone is an effective option for addiction treatment that has been able to help countless people lead healthier, happier lives. Like any medication, however, it’s important to follow the methadone dosage recommended by your doctor.
Taking methadone comes with a risk of side effects ranging from slow respiration, nausea, sweating, and itching to restlessness, sexual problems, and constipation. More serious problems that might warrant medical help include rapid heart rate, chest pain, hives or a rash, feeling faint, problems breathing, confusion, or hallucinations.
Taking methadone treatment has the goal of relieving withdrawal symptoms. It activates the same areas of the brain as opioids like heroin, prescription medication, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. With long-term methadone maintenance treatment, though, this helpful drug has its own potential for addiction.
Your doctor should be aware of your full medical history and situational factors that might affect the best options for treating addiction. You also should not drink or use any unapproved medications or substances during methadone maintenance therapy.
Managing Weight Gain During Recovery from Opioid Addiction
Weight changes are common during recovery from any type of alcohol or drug abuse. This happens as you heal. If you are unhappy with weight changes or unhappy about the risk of side effects that come with being overweight or obese, like an increased risk of heart disease, there are steps you can take to manage your weight gain during recovery.
Change Your Perspective
Your body weight is a number on the scale. It doesn’t reflect health or who you are as a person. However, it does make it apparent that you’re experiencing changes. This change can be a good thing, as it represents the efforts made toward turning around your life.
As you adopt healthier habits after getting help for an opioid addiction, your body starts getting stronger. Positive lifestyle changes can help with good weight gain. Healthy weight gain represents renewed health and hope for recovery.
Adopting Healthier Habits
Even without weight gain, holistic treatment programs encourage patients to engage in physical activity, eat a healthy diet, and practice better sleep habits. These benefit sobriety and overall health. They support you in the work you are doing to overcome drug addiction.
Changing eating habits doesn’t have to involve following a strict diet or restricting the foods you enjoy. It simply means choosing foods that help your body heal after addiction.
Aim to get regular nutrition from your food choices, and don’t be afraid to give in to your sugar cravings sometimes, too. Get help from a nutritionist if you’d like help achieving a specific body composition going forward.
Alternative Options for Medication-Assisted Treatment
We offer medical detox and medication-assisted treatment as part of our comprehensive, convenient care at Purpose Healing. Common alternatives to methadone that can help with the symptoms of opioid use disorder include:
- Benzodiazepines – Benzos do not affect the opioid receptor at all but they still help reduce side effects like anxiety and tremors.
- Naloxone – This can be prescribed alone or with another drug. It blocks the area of the brain responsible for the high you feel when using opioids.
- Buprenorphine – This medication affects the same receptors as opioids, but to a lesser extent. This reduces addiction risk compared to methadone treatment.
- Suboxone – The medications in suboxone are buprenorphine and naloxone, so it manages withdrawal while reducing cravings.
Purpose uses an individualized approach to treating use disorder, aligning with the guidelines of leaders in the substance abuse field. With so many diverse treatment offerings, accompanied by our Joint Commission-accredited treatment programs, our clients find the best chance of lasting recovery.
Find Methadone Alternatives at Purpose Healing
The methadone alternatives offered at Purpose Healing Center let our clients choose the treatment that will work best.
Alongside medication-assisted treatment, we use a holistic approach involving proper nutrition, regular exercise, recreational activities, and improved sleep habits that support better weight management and long-term recovery from opioid addiction.
Take a significant step in healing and reach out for help today! We can discuss treatment options and answer any questions you might have over the phone.
480-579-3319