Methadone is what type of drug

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Patients taking methadone to treat opioid addiction must receive the medication under the supervision of a physician. After a period of stability based on progress and proven, consistent compliance with the medication dosage , patients may be allowed to take methadone at home between program visits.

The length of time in methadone treatment varies from person to person. Some patients may require treatment for years. Even if a patient feels that they are ready to stop methadone treatment, it must be stopped gradually to prevent withdrawal. Such a decision should be supervised by a doctor. Methadone can be addictive, so it must be used exactly as prescribed. Methadone medication is specifically tailored for the individual patient as doses are often adjusted and readjusted and is never to be shared with or given to others.

For example, treatment may include a combination of methadone, counselling, alternative therapies, a positive support network of peers and friends and a support group. Advantages of methadone maintenance over heroin use.

There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk — even medications can produce unwanted side effects. The effects of methadone last much longer than the effects of heroin.

A single dose lasts about 24 hours, whereas a dose of heroin may only last a couple of hours. People with pre-existing impaired liver function due to conditions such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or prolonged alcohol use may require careful monitoring while receiving methadone treatment. Some people on methadone programs will experience unwanted symptoms during treatment, particularly at the beginning due to their dosage not being right for them.

If the dose is too high , the following symptoms may be experienced. Methadone withdrawal develops more slowly and is less intense than withdrawal from heroin. Most of these effects will begin within one to three days after the last dose and will peak around the sixth day, but can last longer.

Not sure what you are looking for? Try our intuitive Path2Help tool and be matched with support information and services tailored to you. Methadone was the most commonly prescribed pharmacotherapy type across most age groups. All FDA black box warnings are at the end of this fact sheet. Please review before taking this medication.

Medication assisted treatment MAT is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies for the treatment of substance use disorders. A combination of medication and behavioral therapies is effective in the treatment of substance use disorders and can help some people to sustain recovery.

Methadone is a prescription medication that works in the brain to treat pain and opioid use disorder. Opioids include heroin and prescription pain relievers such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, and methadone.

Though methadone is in the same family as opioids, its long activity in the body makes it suitable for reducing cravings for other opioids and easier to taper a person off of these drugs.

It is important to combine methadone treatment with counseling and other support. Your physician will usually transition you gradually between the opioid drug you are using to methadone. This detoxification process using methadone first starts in a controlled in-patient hospital setting, then transitions to a controlled clinic setting in conjunction with counseling at the same site. For opioid use disorder, methadone is highly regulated and cannot be prescribed or picked up at an out-patient pharmacy.

You may be prescribed other medications with methadone to help reduce withdrawal side effects. Methadone is also used for the management of painful conditions that have been difficult to manage with other treatments. It may be available on an out-patient basis if prescribed by a pain doctor. Do not stop taking methadone unless directed to by your physician. Your methadone will need to be taken exactly as directed by your physician. Do not stop taking methadone, even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine.

If methadone is stopped abruptly, you may have withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, shaking, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, anxiety, irritability, or runny nose. Respiratory depression slowed breathing and death can rarely happen when methadone is taken as prescribed.

This risk is increased when methadone is injected into the body or when it is mixed with other depressants including benzodiazepine medications and alcohol. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms including respiratory depression slowed breathing or death.

Methadone is sometimes used as a pain reliever. There have been deaths reported in people who have never used opioids before after using methadone. Methadone is not recommended in people with severe liver disease. Liver injury is rare and this can be monitored through blood tests. Tell all of your providers and pharmacists that you are on methadone.

You should not take other medications with methadone without talking to your provider. Store methadone out of the reach of children.

Methadone can cause serious respiratory depression slowed breathing and death in children. If you are taking this opioid medication with other medications called benzodiazepines alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, etc. Caregivers must get medical help right away if a patient does not respond and does not wake up.

If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your healthcare provider to best manage your medications. People living with substance use disorders that wish to become pregnant face important decisions and challenges.

Active substance use disorders during pregnancy put the fetus at great risk.