Methadone plus cannabis THC?

[Rayme]

Hi all, I take 7.5mg methadone before bed. This helps with the RL , though still get breakthroughs quite frequently. Often I am awake with insomnia and after an hour of lying there the RL starts, though it's very mild. I wondered if cannabis with THC would help me get to sleep and maybe it'll forestall the RL breakthrough. Often I wake up every 1 to 2 hrs, sometimes up to 4 times a night. Do any of you combine methadone and cannabisThC oil and how well does it work for you? Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

[Joolsg]

I occasionally take medical cannabis with Buprenorphine. I use the cannabis for MS nerve pain. I have never had any issues using the two meds together.I don't have opioid insomnia. But others with opioid insomnia use a sedating med. A small dose of pregabalin or trazodone.

[Rayme in reply to Joolsg]

thanks Joolsg that's helpful to know. I have some Pregabalin on hand. I'll try out both ways and see which suits me best.

[Merny5]

Hi Rayme, I take 10 mg. of methadone and a 10 mg. THC gummy 1/2 hour before I go to bed. It certainly helps me get to sleep.

[Rayme in reply to Merny5]

Thank you so much for your reply Merny. I really appreciate your info. That's what I'll do! I'm pretty sure now that the combination of getting to sleep sooner, plus the methadone will make quite a difference. After all these years of RL, especially severe RL, I find even the slightest niggles of it can make me feel so tense and stressed. Falling asleep sooner will help me avoid that feeling.

[BeachGolfer]

I’m on Oxycodone and use both 100mg capsule of CBD and 25mg Delta 9 THC gummy about 1 - 1 1/2 hour before bed. I usually wake up twice but fall right back to sleep. Hope you find what works for you.

[Rayme in reply to BeachGolfer]

thank you, this is helpful to hear that it works for you. I'm definitely going to try this as it will hopefully help me keep the methadone dose at 7.5mg.

[707twitcher]

I use cannabis with buprenorphine, no problem. Make sure it's Indica strain (not Sativa) to help sleep. If you're having any constipation issues with methadone, be aware that gummies might make that a bit worse - seems to slow down the digestive system. I found vaping to be better in that regard.

[Merny5 in reply to 707twitcher]

As Twitcher mentioned, it is very important to get the indica strain!!

[Rayme in reply to 707twitcher]

thank you for the reply twitcher, I'm feeling a little more positive now knowing there are a few people using THC with the opioids. It's always a bit of a leap to change things and it takes me ages to convince myself to go ahead!

[Mongolia2020]

hi Rayme, cannabis tTHC lol never worked for me, but I did not take it with methadone. I am on 11.25 mg methadone, having increased from 10 mg and my breakthrough symptoms have reduced with corresponding increase in sleep. My understanding is that the usual dose of methadone for rls is 5-20 mg, so 7.5 is still quite low.

I was initially reluctant to increase but have found side effects have improved over time, apart from constipation which I take laxol for as well as natural laxatives but still have to “ manage”.

Best wishes, whatever you decide.

[Rayme in reply to Mongolia2020]

hi Mongolia, I've been thinking of you, wondered how you'ryou're getting on with the increase. I'm so very pleased it's working out ok and helped reduce the RL. I am so super cautious that I'm not doing myself any favors atm by staying on 7.5, I think. So, yes, it is time to look at a small increase up to 10mg. And I'll try a bit of the THC cannabis as it did help till I developed tolerance. That was over 18mths ago so I may get some benefit again for a while now. I was just concerned about the combination of methadone plus a small amount of cannabis but I can see quite a few people do this. Luckily constipation is not too much of a problem for me. Thanks for your message!

[Mongolia2020 in reply to Rayme]

I think respiratory depression would be something to be aware of if you are taking both, in case there is a combination effect.

[Rayme in reply to Mongolia2020]

yes, definitely that would be my main concern. I used to have cannabis edibles. This time, due to being on methadone, I'll go through a medical cannabis doctor online and explain my situation. My own doctor will not prescribe cannabis.

[Rayme in reply to Mongolia2020]

I increased to 10mg last night. Was awake till 3am without RL then slept solidly till 10am. Is very much about falling asleep atm for me, but the full 7 hrs after 3am was blissful relief.

[Mongolia2020]

that’s a mixed result by the sound of it. It is usually the second or third night on my increased dose that I see full benefit. I hope tonight is better.

[Rayme in reply to Mongolia2020]

Oh, good point, that would take a night or two, three to build up. I'd forgotten that!

[Mongolia2020]

post again - I’m keen to know how you go over the next couple of nights.