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.
Last published: November 10, What is methadone? Methadone is a prescription opioid drug. How is it used? How effective is it? Advantages of methadone maintenance over heroin use Using methadone on its own is unlikely to result in an overdose.
Methadone maintenance keeps the person stable while they make positive changes in their life. Health problems are reduced or avoided, especially those related to injecting, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, skin infections and vein problems.
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of methadone in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of methadone in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart, kidney, liver, or lung problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving methadone.
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended.
Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases.
If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases.
If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:.
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. This is especially important for elderly patients, who may be more sensitive to the effects of pain medicines. If too much of this medicine is taken for a long time, it may become habit-forming causing mental or physical dependence. This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. If you are taking this medicine for opioid addiction and miss a dose, take your next dose the following day as scheduled. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep from freezing. Methadone can cause serious unwanted effects if taken by adults who are not used to strong narcotic pain medicines, children, or pets. Methadone is also available as the brand-name drug Methadose , which comes in an oral soluble tablet. Methadone oral tablet is used to manage moderate to severe pain.
Methadone is also used to manage drug addiction. If you have an addiction to another opioid, your doctor may give you methadone to prevent you from having severe withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone belongs to a class of drugs called opioids narcotics. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.
These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Methadone can also replace another opioid drug that you have an addiction to. This will keep you from experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. This drug can make you very drowsy. Methadone can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking methadone. For more information on the possible side effects of methadone, or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If these side effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.
Your kidneys may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.
The standard dosage ranges between 80— mg per day. Do not crush, dissolve, snort, or inject methadone oral tablets because this may cause you to overdose. This can be fatal. Methadone oral tablet is used for short-term treatment. Symptoms of withdrawal include:. You may also experience withdrawal symptoms. If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body.
Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away. If you take this drug for pain and miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Then take your next dose 8—12 hours later as directed by your doctor. Taking more than the prescribed dose may cause you to overdose because this drug builds up in your body over time. How to tell if the drug is working: You should have decreased pain, or your withdrawal symptoms should go away.
Taking it again could be fatal cause death. The use of drinks that contain alcohol can increase your risk of sedation, slowed breathing, coma being unconscious for a long time , and death from methadone. If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor.
You may need to be monitored for low blood pressure, breathing problems, and sedation. For people with kidney problems: If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear this drug from your body well.
This may increase the levels of methadone in your body and cause more side effects. Your doctor should watch you closely if you take this drug. For people with liver problems: If you have liver problems or a history of liver disease, you may not be able to process this drug well.
0コメント