Methadone can be a life saver (literally!) but although it works very well for opiate addicts, it can cause some unpleasant side effects.

One of the most commonly experienced side effects is excessive sweating, particularly at night. Although an incorrect (too low or too high) daily dosage can trigger sweating, most people who deal with methadone sweats perspire as a direct consequence of an appropriate dosage. Methadone won’t make everyone sweat, but those that do experience excessive sweat even when appropriately dosed will likely experience the side effect for as long as the methadone is used.

And although getting a "little sweaty" doesn’t sound so bad, those of us who have lived through methadone sweat filled days and even wetter nights can attest to the real discomfort of the side effect.

Here are some tips for reducing sweat…and for living more comfortably with the perspiration we do have.

Sweat Be Gone

in no particular order...

1. Wear loose fitting clothing, light in weight and of natural materials. Your methadone sweats may seem independent of room temperature, but staying cool can limit the frequency of sweating – after all, if you sweat in the cold you'll sweat worse in the heat!
2. Lose excessive weight! Extra fat heats us up and carrying that weight around requires greater exertion.
3. Get fit. A finely tuned cardiovascular system will deal more easily with stair climbing and other daily activities that can sometimes get us sweating. (Also – if you’re going to be sweaty anyway, you might as well look normal for a change and sweat at the gym with all the other sweaty bodies!)
4. Avoid spicy food. Chili pepper fools the body into a sweat response. You don’t need any help with that one…
5. Wear antiperspirant. (OK – this is probably a no brainer – but there is a difference between antiperspirant and deodorant. Look from a brand that has a high percentage of aluminum chloride as an active ingredient)
6. Upgrade to prescription strength antiperspirant. Your doctor can prescribe a roll-on stick that is stronger and more effective than over the counter brands. (Drysol is on common name brand).
7. If you really can't stand the sweat, you can talk with your doctor about Botox injections at the sweat glands. These injections can greatly limit perspiration. There are other surgical procedures that target the sweat glands, but these are quite serious and risky operations.
8. Take cool showers. OK, another no brainer, but sweat smells, and cool showers can help you to live more comfortably.
9. Talcum powder. People from tropical climates swear by talcum powder as a way to stay dry-feeling in the heat.
10. Try to stay calm. Stress can trigger sweat.
11. Drink plenty of water. Dehydration will only worsen methadone induced constipation.