Methadone |
Information on
Methadone
Drug Facts:Methadone is a synthetic substance with
pharmacological properties similar to morphine and heroin. Methadone is
prescribed for patients with severe pain, such as those with serious injuries
or those who have undergone major surgery. Methadone works in the brain to
decrease the sensation of pain and to mute the emotional response to pain.
Street Names and Mode of Use:Amidone, Chocolate chip
cookies (methadone or heroin combined with MDMA), Fizzies, Street methadone and
Wafer. It comes as tablets, dispersible tablets, liquid, and liquid
concentrate. Patients take it every 3-4 hours for severe pain and every 6-8
hours for chronic pain. Since methadone can be as addictive as morphine and
heroin, care must be taken to follow the doctor's instructions. Do not take a
larger dose, take it more frequently, or take it for longer than the doctor has
prescribed. Methadone is one of the most difficult drugs to detox from since
its effects are long-lasting and it is readily stored in the body's tissue.
Methadone is also used as a replacement-opiate therapy for opiate dependency. A
legal dependency (methadone) is substituted for an illegal dependency (heroin).
Methadone is available in government-approved drug treatment clinics and by
prescription in some areas. What most methadone clinics do not tell you is that
methadone can be even more harmful to your health than opiates. An addict is
able to totally be drug free, without the use of methadone if he goes through a
successful long term program.
History and
Effects: German scientists synthesized methadone during World War II
because of a shortage of morphine. Although chemically unlike morphine or
heroin, methadone produces many of the same effects. Introduced into the United
States in 1947 as an analgesic (Dolophinel), it is primarily used today for the
treatment of narcotic addiction. It is available in oral solutions, tablets,
and injectable Schedule II formulations, and is almost as effective when
administered orally as it is by injection. Methadone's effects can last up to
24 hours, thereby permitting once-a-day oral administration in heroin
detoxification and maintenance programs. High-dose methadone can block the
effects of heroin, thereby discouraging the continued use of heroin by addicts
under treatment with methadone. Chronic administration of methadone results in
the development of tolerance and dependence. The withdrawal syndrome develops
more slowly and is less severe but more prolonged than that associated with
heroin withdrawal. Ironically, methadone used to control narcotic addiction is
frequently encountered on the illicit market and has been associated with a
number of overdose deaths.
Methadone abuse among high school students is a concern.
Nearly 1% of high school seniors in the United States abused the drug at least
once in their lifetime, according to the University of Michigan’s
Monitoring the Future Survey. In case of overdose, call your local poison
control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not
breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may
include:
-small, pinpoint pupils (black circles in the
center of the eyes)
- slow or
shallow breathing
-drowsiness cool, clammy, or blue
skin
- loss of
consciousness; coma
- limp
muscles
Effects: Methadone may cause side effects.
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go
away:
-
drowsiness
-weakness
- headache
- nausea
-vomiting
-constipation
- loss of appetite
-weight gain
-stomach pain
- dry mouth
- sweating
- flushing
-difficulty urinating
-swelling of the hands, arms, feet, and
legs
- mood
changes
- vision
problems
-difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
-decreased sexual desire or
ability
-missed
menstrual periods
Some side
effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms or
those mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor
immediately:
-
seizures
-
itching
-
hives
- rash
IMPORTANT WARNING:
Methadone may cause slowed breathing and irregular
heartbeat which may be life-threatening. If you experience any of the following
symptoms, call your doctor immediately: difficulty breathing; extreme
drowsiness; slow, shallow breathing; fast, slow, pounding or irregular
heartbeat; faintness; severe dizziness; or confusion.
The risk that you will experience serious or
life-threatening side effects of methadone is greatest when you first start
taking methadone, when you switch from another narcotic medication to methadone
and when your doctor increases your dose of methadone. Your doctor may start
you on a low dose of methadone and gradually increase your dose. Your doctor
will monitor you closely during this time. Follow the directions on your
prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any
part you do not understand. Take methadone exactly as directed. Do not take
more methadone or take methadone more often than prescribed by your doctor. If
you are taking methadone to control pain, your pain may return before it is
time for your next dose of methadone. If this happens, do not take an extra
dose of methadone. You will still have methadone in your body after the pain
relieving effect of the medication wears off. If you take extra doses, you may
have too much methadone in your body and you may experience life-threatening
side effects. Be aware that the pain relieving effects of methadone will last
longer as your treatment continues for a longer time. Talk to your doctor if
your pain is not controlled during your treatment with methadone.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking methadone
for your condition.
Use of
methadone to treat opiate addiction:
If you have been addicted to an opiate (narcotic drug such as
heroin), and you are taking methadone to help you stop taking or continue not
taking the drug, you must enroll in a treatment program. The treatment program
must be approved by the state and federal governments and must treat patients
according to specific federal laws. You may have to take your medication at the
treatment program facility under the supervision of the program staff. Ask your
doctor or the treatment program staff if you have any questions about enrolling
in the program or taking or getting your medication.
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Rehabilitation: Addicted patients need to undergo
medically supervised detoxification because the treatment dose must be
gradually tapered. Followed by a calm, stress free environment, plenty of
liquids, and replenishing of vitamins that have been burned out of the body.
After feeling physically better, proper rehabilitation therapy can commence
that deals with relapse prevention, dealing with the reasons the addict turned
to drugs in the first place, and any personal failings that need strengthening.
It is highly recommended that a daily routine of proper exercise, nutrition,
and rest be followed as effective relapse and craving prevention. Ideally a
cleansing program would be also administered to help rid the body of the
residual toxins that can impair health in the future and cause
cravings.
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