Methadone and cognition

[ratfancy]

I just had a cognition test and came out "low normal". I have felt the last couple years that my memory is not what it used to be so this is confirmation. However, I feel much more stupid on methadone. Could this be related to my dose? Take 10 mg around 10 pm, and then another 5 mg in the middle of the night if I have RLS breakthrough. I am most stupid in early afternoon. Since I'm 70 and my mother and her sisters had Alzheimers (although they lived into their 90s) I'm worried about any contributory effects of methadone use.

[Joolsg]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Worryingly, there does seem to be a link. I am not sure what to say. I am on a similar drug which apparently has similar side effects.

But, I cannot contemplate life with severe RLS, so unless and until new drugs are discovered, I'll have to accept cognitive impairment.

[ratfancy in reply to Joolsg]

I might ask my doctor about memantine add on

nature.com/articles/srep09708

[SueJohnson in reply to ratfancy]

That was an interesting article. You might want to check your insurance as it is expensive.

[ratfancy in reply to SueJohnson]

Go figure - it's covered under Medicare.

[SueJohnson in reply to ratfancy]

That's great. Go for it.

[TeddiJ]

oh, God! Ugh! So sorry. I felt that way while on 7, sometimes 10, mgs of methadone, too; but not so much on the suboxone I am on now. Although I may be dealing with some depression on it-not sure. I hate opioids and there are so many reasons to do so. But, as Joolsg says, many of us have no other options.

[TheDoDahMan]

I'm on 10 mg/day; don't feel any dumbing effects.

[Rezcat11]

I've had RLS for over thirty years. Currently, I'm on 30 mg/day [2 doses of 10 mg each during the night and 2 doses of 5 mg during the day when I try to sleep; as sleep at night is mostly impossible]. I'm definitely stupider - with less willpower - than before, which I hate, but like Joolsg my RLS is too severe to go off of it.

Thank you for the article on memantine, ratfancy; I'm going to ask my doctor about it.

[Shumbah]

I suffered severe memory loss on oxycodone I could not participate in family conversations I had everything sewn onto piece of ribbon which were sewn into my handbag.it was so terribly embarrassing 8 was like a China doll.

Buprenorphine has been brilliant for me , no more brain fog.

Buprenorphine has totally resolved my memory .Buprenorphine hangs onto a lot less receptors in the brain.it’s a win win

[funnyfennel in reply to Shumbah]

Interesting, Shumbah. i am on 10 mgs now,, recently increased and not the cure but helpful along with prami. But am finding my memory is sometimes scrambled. How much were you on ? and must look up buprenorphine too as am apparently going to have an appt with a neurologist in the future .

[ratfancy in reply to funnyfennel]

I take 5 mg methadone. My insurance plan won't cover buprenorphine. To make matters worse, Florida just put more restrictions on doctors prescribing methadone and my sleep doctor wants to send me to a pain clinic because they are more used to dealing with the required paperwork. The sleep doctor can't figure out how to comply with new Florida laws.