Switching from Methadone to buprenorphine

[Poe7]

I’ve been taking Methadone for a little over 2 years after I augmented on Tramadol.

I absolutely love how well the Methadone works. I rarely have symptoms and when I do get them a quick hot bath and I’m good again.

The part I don’t like is the 20 pounds I’ve gained. It makes me feel hungry all the time and crave sweets so much.

I’ve heard that buprenorphine didn’t cause weight gain.

So my questions are

is that true?

Has anyone switched from Methadone to Buprenorphine?

We’re there any concerning side effects that Methadone didn’t have?

Was it a hard transition?

Which one works better or are they the same ?

And lastly, was it hard to get your doctor to switch you?

I’m sorry I have so many questions. But any answers someone might have will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

[Merny5]

My neurologist did not give me a hard time concerning the 2 meds. I started with Buprenorphine. I only used it for a week. I wanted to switch because I read on here about tooth decay and the medication not lasting the entire week. The thought of going with out medication in my system for a day or two was frightening. I take 7.5 mg of methadone. It’s not really covering my symptoms. How much do you take to get complete relief? Oh, btw, it doesn’t give me cravings.

[Poe7 in reply to Merny5]

oh, thanks for that info. I'll look into it more.

I have to take it twice a day or it doesnt work well for me. I take 5mg in the morning and 7.5 before bed. So 12.5 altogether daily. I've tried to not take the morning dose but I start getting symptoms by late morning.

I wish it didn't give me cravings. They're so bad. I've just been keeping the sweets it if there house but that makes me sad. Lol

[Merny5 in reply to Poe7]

I had horrible urges to eat, well EVERYTHING when I was using the Nuepro patch. That is horrible, sorry. I just remembered that my neurologist told me that there really was no difference, but then again we all react differently to medications. I wonder why no one has responded to Buprenorphine. I know that there are several people on this site that use it. I hope someone can give you some on-site🤞🏼

[LotteM]

I have no experience with methadone, drs here (The Netherlands) do not prescribe it for RLS. I am one of the rare persons who got prescribed buprenorphine. I eat well on it, no obvious cravings. I do get fatigue that I think is attributable to the bup. And the fatigue makes me want to eat at times, sugary things, in the obscured hope that it will provide some energy. It does sometimes. I have gained a bit of weight (c. 3kgs), but I am not sure that is really due to the buprenorphine. Btw, I am on the patch, 7d, 5mcg/h. Works well for the RLS. And sleep!

That is my two cents of worth.

[Poe7 in reply to LotteM]

Oh no! 😂I just now realized, reading your post and seeing that it's a patch, that the Butrans Patch I was prescribed 8 years ago is Buprenorphine! I cannot believe I never realized that. But it was a long time ago for a very short amount of time. Lol

I tried it for a couple of months when I started having issues with tramadol. Which turned out too be Augmentation but my doctor I had didn't know about that. I only finally found out from being in RLS forums.

The patch worked a little but not completely so my Dr prescribed time released tramadol twice a day as well.

But I never got full relief so I ended up back on tramadol until 2 years ago when my neurologist prescribed Methadone.

So it looks like I'm just going to stay on the Methadone.

I was just chosen to be a part of a two year study with a weight loss and fitness coach so I don't think that could have happened at a better time. Hopefully she can help with handling the cravings than I've been able to on my own.

Thanks for your reply and helping me realize I already know that buprenorphine didn't work week for me only I didn't realize that's what I was taking. 😂🥰

[Graceman]

Hi Poe7,

I've been taking 10mg Methadone at bedtime for years for RLS--perhaps 12-13 year. I've never had any augmentation or issues with it at all. It's a wonder drug as far as I'm concerned. Google "Dr. Christopher Earley with Johns Hopkins." Look for his YouTube videos. He's one of the foremost experts. He says Methadone is the most effective treatment for severe RLS. He shares that he has patients on it for 15-20 years with no augmentation. My doctor is Mark Buchfuhrer here in California. He knows Dr. Earley and is about the most known RLS doctor in California. He's not afraid of Methadone at all. Dr Buchfuhrer is amazing guy. Enjoys helping people. He's in Downey Calif. Many people fly in from all over America to see him. I thank God for him because a lot of docs only put people on the drugs that have horrible augmentation and withdrawal issues.

As far as weight goes, I don't know? I guess every drug can cause that, can't it. I'm overweight, a bit, but think it's mostly aging. I'm 63 I walk 5-7 miles a day. In great shape, but I think it's mostly genetics. Who knows? Maybe it's the Buprenorphine and not so much Methadone?? Anyway, if I can help further don't hesitate to get back to me!

[Poe7 in reply to Graceman]

Yes, the reason I'm taking Methadone is because Tramadol caused augmentation and I actually took printouts to my (new at the time) Neurologist and that's how she knew how you treat me. I'm in Florida and I go about 2 hours away to Gainesville to UF heath to see her every three months bc I couldn't find any Drs here who even knew about augmentation and what was going on with me.

The DA meds and tramadol are the only ones that cause augmentation.

Also I just realized from another reply that three Butrans Patch one Dr tried me on 8 years ago was in fact buprenorphine but I never made the connection until now. Lol

It didn't work nearly as well as the Methadone. The only issue with it is the food cravings and I just found out I was chosen to participate in a 2 year fitness and weight loss coaching study. So that couldn't have happened at a better time! 😊

[TeddiJ]

Hi. I went from methadone to kratom to suboxone (which is BUP). The transitions were easy for me-pretty seamless, though I had side effects on all of them. It is easier to get a prescription for suboxone than for methadone; 2 doctors cut me off of meth cold turkey. I found methadone to be very strong and I realized I didn't like being on it, once that happened and I was clear-headed again. Hence the kratom. I lost weight after getting off the DA's and I continued to lose on the opioids, as they tamp down appetite for many of us. I noticed your age and I think it is possible that you are having the cravings and weight gain due to hormonal imbalance. Do get your hormones tested-it is life changing. Plus, opioids can affect hormones.

[Jetto]

never been on Buprenorphine

So I can’t say

[Lee545]

Hi methadone to bubronorpine swap can be easy or like entering he'llYou must release all traces of iopiods in it system and can take as much as 6-7 days if you don't you will feel awful

IF u have a lot of meth in u still God help you

Precipitated withdrawal

Takes 20 mins to come on then bang imagine the worst rattle uve had x it by 100 honest sorry to say

Some people go to AE

[Poe7 in reply to Lee545]

Thanks😊 I actually figured out that I had been on it years ago and it didn't work great for me. So I'm sticking to my current meds.