Methadone Facts
Important Methadone Facts
People must be educated with as many methadone facts as possible before using it or pushing a loved one to use it. Methadone is a synthetic opioid used to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms of opiates (heroin, oxycontin, etc.). Methadone binds to the same receptors in the brain that opiates bind to, which prevents a person from experiencing the high/rush they would usually feel from opiates. When taken correctly, Methadone is supposed to help with cravings for these opiates. Methadone is considered a maintenance treatment for opiate addiction, which means it is often used for long periods. Some people will use it briefly in an attempt to stay off of other opiates, like heroin and oxycontin.
So, What's The Problem With Methadone?
While it is true that Methadone can and often does relieve withdrawal symptoms, the user will eventually have to withdraw from Methadone as well. Some people stay on Methadone for years, or perhaps their entire lives. Many people take it correctly and feel as though its benefits outweigh its negatives. Methadone is legal, and it is much cheaper and safer than buying illicit opiates on the streets.
The people who don’t want to be on Methadone forever will inevitably have to deal with the withdrawal symptoms. When someone stops taking Methadone, it is often longer and more painful than coming off of other opiates. Methadone is used to alleviate symptoms, but it also just postpones and cause more withdrawal symptoms. It is important to know these Methadone facts before deciding to take the drug or not.
Methadone can also be used to relieve chronic pain. It can be used long term without the user developing much of a tolerance to it. Everyone is different, but many people can be on the same dose of Methadone for years or decades.
Many people consider Methadone to be a wonder drug: it stops many people from abusing illicit drugs and can be extremely helpful for pain management. Methadone pain management is an excellent thing for many people, but there are also many adverse side effects that accompany Methadone.
Methadone Side Effects
Some of the most important Methadone facts are its side effects. It is essential to realize that Methadone can cause a user to have many adverse reactions. Some of the common side effects of Methadone are:
- Excessive perspiration
- Constipation
- Feeling tired
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Feeling depressed
- Insomnia
- Muscles aches/pains
- Nausea
If these side effects don’t subside within the first couple of weeks, consult a doctor. If a Methadone user experiences seizures or breathing problems, a doctor should be contacted immediately. A user needs to know these Methadone facts so they can receive medical help if required.
Methadone Withdrawal
Withdrawing from Methadone is often very painful. This is a major reason that many people can’t justify taking Methadone to help with opiate addiction. Most people think that eventually, the user should stop taking Methadone. Some people may find it counterproductive to use Methadone, a drug with severe withdrawal symptoms, to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms of other opiates. Methadone withdrawal symptoms are generally considered to be more painful than such symptoms from other opiates. When the user stops taking Methadone, symptoms may include:
- Muscle aches/pains
- Diarrhea
- Irritability/anger
- Excessive sweating
- Anxiety/nervousness
- Severe nausea
- Increased blood pressure
- Fever/chills and other flu-like symptoms
- Cramps
- Depression
Withdrawing from opiates is painful, but the symptoms usually subside in about a week. When a user stops taking Methadone, the withdrawal symptoms can last weeks, and the user can experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms for months after.
So why are so many people switching from other opiates to Methadone? This is a topic that is often debated. Are Methadone users just switching from one addiction to another? Is it not counterproductive to take Methadone to avoid withdrawal symptoms when all it does is postpone them and cause worse withdrawal symptoms? A lot of Methadone users face judgment from people who attend 12 step meetings. Many of them don’t consider someone on Methadone to be clean.
I don’t think there is one right answer. For a lot of people, methadone does work. For some people, it allows them to have their lives back and live and function normally. Some of these people take Methadone for years, or decades, or perhaps forever. Other people abuse Methadone, in which case it is no different than abusing heroin or other opiates. And then some people take Methadone as directed to stay off of other opiates but don’t want to use it long-term.
For this group, what is the point of taking Methadone? Would it not be easier to withdrawal from the other opiates instead of switching to Methadone? A huge benefit is that it stops a person from buying drugs on the street, which is illegal and dangerous. Methadone is regulated and legal, and the hope is that people will use it properly. It also allows a person to stop using heroin and hopefully have less intense cravings.
Whatever decision you make regarding Methadone, I urge you to learn all of the Methadone facts so you can make an informed decision when deciding to quit using opiates.
What's your opinion now that you've read these methadone facts?
What do you think? Should Methadone be used to treat opiate addiction? Should it be used for chronic pain? Or should it not be used at all? If you are on a methadone maintenance program, are you “clean?”