Precautions
What is the success rate of methadone?
Methadone maintenance is associated with success rates ranging from 60 – 90%. The longer the people are in this modality the greater their chances are of achieving stable long-term abstinence.”
How many years can you be on methadone?
The length of treatment varies from one or two years to 20 years or more. However, if the person taking methadone and their doctor agree to end treatment, the methadone dose is tapered down gradually over many weeks or months, easing the process of withdrawal.
What happens after you take methadone?
What Does Methadone Do? Methadone changes the way your brain and nervous system respond to pain so that you feel relief. Its effects are slower than those of other strong painkillers like morphine. Your doctor may prescribe methadone if you're in a lot of pain from an injury, surgery, or long-term illness.
Is methadone the best treatment?
Is methadone an effective treatment option? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), treatment that uses methadone for opioid addiction recovery is the safest and most effective form of treatment currently available.
What does it feel like to be on methadone?
Methadone is a man-made opioid, similar to morphine or heroin. Methadone will cause feelings of relaxation and reduce pain, but it will not give you the same high or euphoric feeling as heroin. It works in treating heroin addiction by reducing the withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
What should you not take with methadone?
Drugs that you should not use with methadone Pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol, and buprenorphine. These drugs may reduce methadone's pain-relieving effects. This can cause withdrawal symptoms.
What are the most common side effects of methadone?
Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, or sweating may occur. Some of these side effects may decrease after you have been using this medication for a while. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
What happens if you miss one day of methadone?
If you miss a dose. If you take methadone for an opioid addiction and forget to take a dose, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose the following day. If you take methadone for pain and forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, and take your next dose 8 or 12 hours later as prescribed.
Does methadone cause confusion?
Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or severe headache.
Can you work while on methadone?
“Methadone and buprenorphine won't impair your ability to work, drive, or parent. In fact, all of those functions, which may have been impaired by your addiction, will be restored by the medication.”
Why is methadone good?
Benefits of methadone therapy include: Reduction in infectious disease due to stopping opiate abuse, particularly injection drug abuse. Reduction in criminal activity due to stopping illicit drug use. Overall improvement in quality of life.
How It Works
This medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain.
May Treat: Opioid dependence · Opioid withdrawal symptoms · Severe chronic pain requiring long-term opioid treatment
Brand Names: Dolophine · Methadose · Methadone Intensol · Diskets
Drug Class: Analgesic Opioid Agonists
Availability: Prescription Required
Pregnancy: Consult a doctor before using
May Treat: Opioid dependence · Opioid withdrawal symptoms · Severe chronic pain requiring long-term opioid treatment
Brand Names: Dolophine · Methadose · Methadone Intensol · Diskets
Drug Class: Analgesic Opioid Agonists
Availability: Prescription Required
Pregnancy: Consult a doctor before using
Lactation: Consult a doctor before using
Alcohol: Limit intake while taking this medication
Driving: May cause drowsiness or dizziness. Use caution
Addiction: Risk of abuse and addiction. Use only as directed
- Tell doctor if fainting or faintness occurs.
- Taking a larger dose may cause breathing problems.
- May make you drowsy or dizzy. Drive with caution
- Tell doctor if fainting or faintness occurs.
- Taking a larger dose may cause breathing problems.
- May make you drowsy or dizzy. Drive with caution
- Avoid alcohol/other drugs that make you sleepy
- For concentrate, oral products : Measure dose using a dosing dropper.
- For solution, oral products : Before use, important to read the Medication Guide. Measure dose using a dosing spoon/cup/syringe.
- For syringe products : For oral use only. Do not inject. Measure dose accurately.
- For vial products : If available, read the patient package insert. Discuss risks/benefits if woman of childbearing age. MD may need to reduce the dose before you stop it. Review all drugs you are taking with your doctor.
Upsides
Downsides
Bottom Line
Tips
Response and Effectiveness
Interactions
- While short-term methadone maintenance treatment requires a considerably shorter treatment period, an unsuccessful treatment can place a person at considerable risk of resuming old drug use behaviors. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, people receiving methadone maintenance treatment for a minimum of 12 months have the best chance ...
Further Information