Methadone belongs to the opioid narcotic analgesics class of drugs and is a controlled substance that has a high risk for misuse and dependence. As such, most states require individuals to visit clinics to get their prescribed daily doses of methadone. Methadone works by changing how the brain and the nervous system react to pain to treat a variety of chronic pain.
When used as part of opioid addiction treatment, it works by interacting with opioid receptors in the brain to reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The interaction also blocks the euphoric high caused by other opioids such as heroin, codeine, and morphine to prevent relapses during recovery. The effects of methadone are slower than that of the other opioids. However, methadone gradually builds up and stays in the body for as long as days.
Methadone can cause side effects that can range from mild to severe. The milder, more common side effects of methadone tend to disappear within a few days or a couple of weeks and include symptoms such as:.
The more severe side effects of methadone can be life-threatening. Some of such side effects are:. Some of the severe side effects of methadone can indicate a medical emergency. Individuals are advised to stop taking the medication and contact a healthcare professional immediately if they experience severe side effects. While methadone, if used as prescribed doses, does not generate any euphoric highs as other opioids, it does generate a few sedative effects that can be euphoric when taken in large doses or as an IV.
The euphoric effects of methadone are limited. The misuse of methadone for its sedative effects can lead to an increased risk of addiction and dependence. The potential risk remains the same for all individuals who use this medication.
This is because methadone can cause tolerance when used for a prolonged period and cause people to take more of the drug to attain the same effect. As such, anyone allowed to take methadone at home rather than in a clinical setting should be vigilant of this risk. Methadone is a long-acting opioid drug used to replace the shorter-acting opioids that someone may be addicted to, such as heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl or hydromorphone.
Long-acting means that the drug acts more slowly in the body, for a longer period of time. The effects of methadone last for 24 to 36 hours. In contrast, a person who uses short-acting opioids to avoid withdrawal must use three to four times a day. When taken at the correct dose, methadone prevents withdrawal symptoms and reduces drug cravings without causing the person to feel high euphoric or sleepy.
This lowers the harms associated with opioid misuse and gives people who are addicted to opioids a chance to stabilize their lives. This treatment is known as methadone maintenance, which is a type of opioid agonist therap y. Methadone therapy for opioid addiction works similar to buprenorphine , another opioid agonist therapy. When combined with medical and supportive care, methadone and buprenorphine are equally effective treatments for opioid addiction, although one may work better than the other for some people.
Methadone maintenance is a long-term treatment. 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. Mixing methadone or buprenorphine with other drugs that depress the central nervous system can be very dangerous. Avoid other opioids, alcohol and benzodiazepines e.
Taking these is especially risky when you first start opioid agonist therapy. Using other drugs while taking opioid agonist treatment can also cause your dose of methadone to wear off more quickly, meaning you could experience withdrawal. All opioids have a risk of overdose. When withdrawal from an abused drug happens to a pregnant woman, it causes the uterus to contract and may bring on miscarriage or premature birth.
Undergoing methadone maintenance treatment while pregnant will not cause birth defects, but some babies may go through withdrawal after birth. This does not mean that the baby is addicted. Infant withdrawal usually begins a few days after birth but may begin two to four weeks after birth.
Mothers taking methadone can still breastfeed. Research has shown that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the effect of the small amount of methadone that enters the breast milk. A woman who is thinking of stopping methadone treatment due to breastfeeding or pregnancy concerns should speak with her doctor first.
What Is Methadone? What Is Naltrexone? What Is Vivitrol? Drugs and Addiction Opioid Use Disorder.
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