Methadone Explained

Methadone is a man-made opioid used as medication to treat people who are addicted to heroin and narcotic pain medicines. It is safe and effective when taken as prescribed. Methadone is part of a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combined with counseling and social support programs.

Essentially, methadone alters how the brain and nervous system react to pain. Methadone helps in reducing the painful withdrawal symptoms of opiates and blocks the euphoric effects of heroin, morphine, and codeine. It also works on semi-synthetic opioids – oxycodone and hydrocodone. Methadone comes in pill, liquid, and water forms taken once a day under supervision.

A steady increase in the use of methadone as a go-to treatment for opioid addiction has been observed. In 2015, 356,843 patients under Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) were registered to receive methadone, up from 227,003 patients in 2003, as reported in SAMHSA National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities (N-SSATS), 2003 to 2015.

Methadone Use and Addiction

Methadone addiction is a sensitive topic. It is so because methadone is necessary to treat heroin and other opioid addiction to help curb it. As mentioned, methadone will block the craving for opioid even if the patient attempts to get high again while under treatment. However, it does have sedative effects that can also result to euphoria, though limited.

A person in methadone is discouraged from driving due to its drowsy effect. We all know too well that sometimes, too much of a good thing can be bad. In the case of methadone addiction, tolerance has been built to ease the pain of heroin and other opiate withdrawal and so sometimes, a patient tends to want more.

Effects of Methadone

Methadone is a long-acting drug and remains in the body longer than other opiates and opioids. Withdrawal from methadone after the last dose may also take longer and symptoms may last up to 20 days.

Some of the side effects of methadone include:

• Chills
• Headache
• Weight gain
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Energy loss
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Sweating

Should a person feel the following side effects, immediate help is necessary:

• Difficulty in breathing or shallow breathing
• Lightheadedness or faint
• Experience hives or a rash; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Chest pain
• Fast or pounding heartbeat
• Hallucinations or confusion

Methadone can be fatal when taken with alcohol or other drugs. For example, methadone and alcohol combined can result to a low blood pressure and respiratory depression and may lead to death.

Methadone Addiction Treatment

Just like any addiction, intervention is key in saving lives. You or your loved one A person can overcome methadone addiction through a structured and individualized addiction treatment program. Stonegate Center promotes faith-based principles and family support.

Call for Help

It’s better to seek early intervention than wait until it’s too late. Substance abuse ruins lives, relationships, families, careers and causes serious health problems. Help is only a call away, so don’t hesitate to ask for help. It’s better to address addiction early on before it spirals out of control. We urge you to visit our contact page or call our 24/7 helpline at (817) 993-9733 as your first step towards recovery.

Get Treatment in 4 Easy Steps

Stonegate Center accepts many major insurance carriers. We strongly believe that the cost of drug and alcohol addiction treatment should not prevent you from getting the rehab care you need. Our admissions team will work directly with your insurance company to ensure you maximize your benefits.