Methadone is a prescription drug used to treat pain and opioid withdrawal symptoms. It replaces the need for an opiate in the brain, stabilizing dopamine production and allowing for safe detox. It is safe and effective when used correctly, but can cause serious side effects if overused or combined with alcohol. Pregnant or breastfeeding women and those with certain medical conditions should not take methadone.
Methadone is a prescription drug most commonly used to relieve pain and treat withdrawal symptoms from opioid drugs such as heroin. It is similar to morphine, but less addictive for the patient. This drug has been extensively studied and is used in many drug rehabilitation programs.
The reason methadone works is that it replaces the need for an opiate in the brain. When an individual is addicted to heroin or a similar narcotic, excess dopamine is released into the body. Addiction is caused by the user’s need for continued occupation of the opioid receptor by an opioid. Methadone occupies this receptor and stabilizes dopamine production, allowing the user to safely detox from heroin or other opioids while keeping withdrawal symptoms at bay.
Eventually, the patient will become addicted to this drug instead of heroin. This is viewed by the medical community as beneficial, however, as the individual is free from the compulsive and harmful behavior of a heroin addict. Many addicts will require a long-term ongoing treatment plan, often taking several years, to be free of any type of opioid addiction. Methadone is simply the first step on that path.
According to the American Office of National Drug Control Policy, methadone is a safe and effective drug for the treatment of drug addiction. It must be used under the supervision of a doctor, as overuse can cause serious side effects. When used correctly, this treatment will not interfere with cognitive function, mental structures or normal daily activities. It is not a sedative or intoxicant, but instead relieves the cravings experienced by opioid addicts without causing a “high.”
Minor side effects of this drug include constipation, excessive sweating, drowsiness, and water retention. Once a tolerance is established, these symptoms usually subside. If the drug is overused, however, it can cause slowed breathing which can lead to death. It also shouldn’t be combined with alcohol, as this can cause dangerous side effects or death. Dosing instructions given by a healthcare professional should never be exceeded, and individuals should never suddenly stop taking the drug.
Some individuals may not be able to take methadone safely, including pregnant or breastfeeding women. It can cause harm to the unborn child, including addiction or withdrawal symptoms after birth, and can be passed through breast milk from mother to child. People with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory disorders should not take this drug, nor should people with liver or kidney disease, intestinal obstruction, epilepsy or other seizure disorders, low blood pressure, or gallbladder disease take this drug.
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