Precautions
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 was methadone used for originally?
Methadone was developed in Germany during the Second World War and was first used to provide pain relief. Methadone maintenance treatment, which prevents opioid withdrawal and reduces or eliminates drug cravings, was first developed in the 1960s.
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.
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not use methadone if you are allergic to it, or if you have: 1. severe asthma or breathing problems; or 2. a blockage in your stomach or...
How Should I Use Methadone?
Methadone may be habit-forming, even at regular doses. Never share this medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug abu...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
If you take methadone for pain: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then take your next dose 8 to 12 hours later.If you take methadone fo...
What Happens If I Overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of this medicine can be fatal, especially in a child o...
What Should I Avoid While Using Methadone?
Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.Methadone may impair your thinking or reactions. Avoid driving or operating machi...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Methadone?
Narcotic (opioid) medication can interact with many other drugs and cause dangerous side effects or death. Be sure your doctor knows if you also us...
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 …
- 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 cau…
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...
Overview
- Take strictly as directed by your doctor. Do not use on an "as needed" basis or increase or decrease the dosage without your doctor's advice. There is a fine line between an effective dose of metha...
- If you are taking methadone for severe pain, tell your doctor if you begin to have breakthrough pain.
- Take strictly as directed by your doctor. Do not use on an "as needed" basis or increase or decrease the dosage without your doctor's advice. There is a fine line between an effective dose of metha...
- If you are taking methadone for severe pain, tell your doctor if you begin to have breakthrough pain.
- When used to treat drug addiction, it is important that you take advantage of any social support and counseling services offered to you as withdrawal from opioids is a long and often difficult proc...
- All other around-the-clock opioid drugs should be discontinued when starting methadone. Deaths have occurred in people who continue to take these.
Medical uses
- The analgesic effect of methadone lasts between four and eight hours; however, it takes anywhere from eight to 59 hours for a dose to be eliminated from the body. With prolonged dosing, methadone i...
- The peak respiratory depressant effect of methadone occurs later and persists for longer than its peak analgesic effect.
Adverse effects
- Medicines that interact with methadone may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works for, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with methadone. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions sh…
Pharmacology
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use methadone only for the indication prescribed. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Copyright 1996-2022 Drugs.com. Revision date: February 14, 2022. Medical Disc…
Chemistry
Methadone, sold under the brand names Dolophine and Methadose among others, is a synthetic opioid agonist used for opioid maintenance therapy in opioid dependence and for chronic pain management. It is most commonly used to treat addiction to heroin or other opioids, and to reduce risk of fatal overdose from street drugs. Prescribed for daily use, the medicine relieves cravings and remo…
History
Methadone is used for the treatment of opioid use disorder. It may be used as maintenance therapy or in shorter periods for detoxification to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. Its use for the treatment of addiction is usually strictly regulated. In the US, outpatient treatment programs must be certified by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in order to prescribe m…
Society and culture
Adverse effects of methadone include:
• Sedation
• Constipation
• Flushing
• Perspiration
Regulation
Methadone acts by binding to the µ-opioid receptor, but also has some affinity for the NMDA receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor. Methadone is metabolized by CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2D6, and is a substrate, or in this case target, for the P-glycoprotein efflux protein, a protein which helps pump foreign substances out of cells, in the intestines and brain. The bioavailability and elimination half-life of methadone are subject to substantial interindividual variability. Its main route of admin…