However, as an opioid itself, methadone can also be very addictive. It’s common for people to become dependent on methadone after long-term use, and when someone with methadone dependency stops taking the drug, they can experience withdrawal symptoms. The best way to reduce the severity of methadone withdrawal symptoms is through a gradual reduction in dosage, also known as a taper. Methadone is a long-acting opioid medication often prescribed to help individuals manage pain or to aid in opioid addiction treatment. While it’s an effective tool for these purposes, long-term use can lead to dependence.
- Your current insurance benefits could reduce your upfront costs.
- Detoxing is an important first step for anyone struggling with substance abuse and mental health challenges.
- This prescription is not refillable.If you continue to experience pain after you finish taking methadone, call your doctor.
- On evaluation, the patient was hypervigilant, looking all around the room, and suspicious.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?
It works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the same intense high. Stopping methadone, especially abruptly or without medical guidance, triggers significant withdrawal symptoms. Many people use methadone when recovering from another kind of drug addiction. As 82,000 people died methadone withdrawal timeline from opioid overdoses in 2022, it’s very important to come off street drugs like heroin, but many people find that methadone poses its own problems. Let’s take a look at why methadone withdrawal symptoms occur and how you can manage them to successfully recover. Methadone belongs to the class of medications known as opioids.
Methadone (injection route)
- Detoxing from methadone can be challenging, but it’s a necessary step for anyone looking to break free from dependence on this powerful opioid.
- Methadone withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant at best and dangerous at worst.
- In a medical detox setting, you will be monitored by healthcare professionals who can provide medications and supportive care to manage symptoms and ensure your safety.
Do not use this medicine if you are using or have used an MAO inhibitor within the past 14 days. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of methadone injection in the pediatric population. Methadone was introduced in the United States in 1947 under the brand name Dolophine. Dolophine is an analgesic, used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain. A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider ().
Mental Health Resources
Whether it’s through friends, Oxford House family, or a formal treatment program, knowing you’re not going through the process alone can make a big difference. Many people also benefit from attending support groups like Narcotics Anonymous or seeking professional counseling. Methadone, potent synthetic narcotic drug, among the most effective agents used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Methadone is used in the form of its hydrochloride salt, which is a white, crystalline powder with a bitter taste.
- The first is if methadone is underdosed (meaning that a person does not take enough of it) and does not counteract withdrawal from other opioids.
- These approaches also illustrate why it is important to work with medical professionals when detoxing from methadone.
- Not only that—ANR is also tailored to each patient individually, which means that even those with complex medical issues can undergo it safely.
- She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.
Talk to your care team if you are concerned about your fertility. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill.