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+1-530-334-8684Methadone, available as Methadose and Dolophine, is an opioid medication (sometimes narcotic). It is a synthetic opioid agonist drug that helps opioid maintenance therapy during opioid dependence and chronic pain management. It is helpful as an analgesic in chronic pain, frequently in rotation with other opioids.
One can achieve detoxification using Methadone within a month, or one can gradually get it done as long as six months. The pain-relieving effect lasts for six hours after a single Methadone dose. For the treatment of opioid use disorder, doctors recommend using it as maintenance therapy or, in a short period, detoxification to manage opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Do not share opioid medication with someone else, especially someone with a past of drug abuse. Misuse of Methadone can cause addiction, death. It is an illegal act to sell or give away this opioid drug.
Do not suddenly stop taking this drug. Before taking the dose, talk to your doctor. Methadone works on pain receptors in the body and reduces the pain you feel. It may replace other habit-forming opioid drugs.
A single dose of this medication has a rapid effect; it can take five days of use to get the maximum impact. Dispose of the remaining drug carefully. If someone is using this drug improperly or accidentally, just one dose can cause death.
To ensure Methadone is safe for you, tell each of your healthcare providers if you ever had:
Older adults, malnourished or debilitated, are more likely to have severe side effects. In addition, using opioid medicine for the longer term may affect the ability to have children (fertility) in men or women. However, it is still a question whether opioid effects on fertility are temporary or permanent. You should avoid using Methadone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
Avoid breastfeeding because Methadone can pass into the breast milk and cause breathing problems, drowsiness, or death in a nursing baby. If you are using an opioid medicine during pregnancy, your baby could become drug-dependent. It can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn baby. An opioid-dependent baby may need treatment for several weeks.
The initial adult dosage for pain is 2.5 mg to 10 mg IV within every 8 to 12 hours for an opioid non-tolerant patient.
In case of overdose, take medical help or call the Poison helpline at 1-800-222-1222. A Methadone overdose can be fatal. Overdose symptoms may include cold and clammy skin, severe drowsiness, muscle weakness, slow heart rate, prolonged breathing, or coma.
Avoid alcohol consumption because it causes dangerous side effects, and death could occur. Likewise, the interaction of grapefruit with Methadone can lead to unwanted side effects. Therefore, avoid using grapefruit products while taking this medicine. Avoid operating any machinery or driving vehicles until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness (severe) can cause accidental falls or severe injuries.
Call your doctor instantly if you have:
Common side effects of Methadone include:
It is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Follow your doctor’s medical advice regarding side effects. Report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Various drugs may interact with Methadone and cause withdrawal symptoms or breathing problems. Tell your medical healthcare provider if you also use any medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C, an antibiotic, antifungal medication, seizure medications, or heart or blood pressure medicines.