Precautions
How exactly does methadone work?
Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist that eliminates withdrawal symptoms and relieves drug cravings by acting on opioid receptors in the brain—the same receptors that other opioids such as heroin, morphine, and opioid pain medications activate.
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 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.
How long can you stay on methadone?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse publication Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition), the length of methadone treatment should be a minimum of 12 months. Some patients may require long-term maintenance.
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 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
- Methadone is a man-made substance that may be used to reduce withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcotic drugs as part of a drug addiction detoxification and maintenance prog...
- Methadone acts on muopioid receptors in a similar way to morphine to provide pain relief. It inhibits ascending pain pathways, altering the perception of and response to pain. It has also been show...
- Methadone belongs to the class of medicines known as narcotic analgesics. It may also be called an opioid a…
- Methadone is a man-made substance that may be used to reduce withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcotic drugs as part of a drug addiction detoxification and maintenance prog...
- Methadone acts on muopioid receptors in a similar way to morphine to provide pain relief. It inhibits ascending pain pathways, altering the perception of and response to pain. It has also been show...
- Methadone belongs to the class of medicines known as narcotic analgesics. It may also be called an opioid analgesic. An analgesic is a drug that is used to relieve pain. However, methadone is more...
- Methadone is a schedule II controlled substance.
Response and Effectiveness
- Used for the treatment of pain severe enough to require continuous, round-the-clock treatment in patients unresponsive or intolerant of other opioid and nonopioid analgesics.
- May be used under strict conditions for the treatment of opioid addiction disorders.
- Withdrawal symptoms associated with methadone generally are less severe than with morphine and have a slower onset.
- Used for the treatment of pain severe enough to require continuous, round-the-clock treatment in patients unresponsive or intolerant of other opioid and nonopioid analgesics.
- May be used under strict conditions for the treatment of opioid addiction disorders.
- Withdrawal symptoms associated with methadone generally are less severe than with morphine and have a slower onset.
- Generic methadone is available.
Interactions
- If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include: 1. Sedation, drowsiness, or dizziness that may affect a person's ability to drive or operate machinery. Alcohol should be avoided as it can contribute to the sedative effect of methadone. 2. Methadone tablets may cause serious, life-threatening respiratory depression (unusually shallow …
Further Information
- Methadone is a potent opioid analgesic that may be used to relieve severe pain unresponsive to other strong pain relievers; however, it is more commonly used to treat opioid addiction. There is a w...