Warnings & Recalls for Methadone
Methodone has a black box warning indicating that taking this drug has the potential for severe
adverse reactions that may lead to death. The chief problem with
methadone lies in its risk of depressing respiratory function. If you are living with a respiratory condition, it is advised that you do not take
methadone.
Methadone is not recommended for the following:
- respiratory problems
- hypercarbia (high carbon dioxide levels in the blood)
- obstructions in the bowel (paralytic ileus)
- heart problems
Methadone is an extremely powerful medication that may result in serious complications which may include death. In 2006, the
FDA released a
public health advisory entitled “Methadone Use for Pain Control May Result In Death.”A New York Times article in 2011 cited studies from federal statisticians which indicated that between 1999 and 2005 alone, there were 4,462 instances of death that listed
methadone as a contributor.
Methadone Treatment and Use
Methadone is a pain medication and detoxification agent that was introduced to the market in 1947 by Eli Lilly and Company. It is part of a class of drugs known as synthetic opioids, indicated in the treatment of the following conditions:
- moderate to severe pain that is unresponsive to non-narcotic pain medications
- detoxification from opioid drugs (like morphine or heroin)
- to keep people who have stopped taking opioid drugs off of them (maintenance treatment)
How does methadone work?
Methodone is useful in the treatment of moderate to severe pain because of its long lasting quality. It is also an extremely powerful analgesic (pain medication) that is relatively low in cost when compared to other pain medicines.
Methadone for heroin addiction and morphine dependence works by acting on the same opioid receptors that these drugs interact with. This helps to lessen the symptoms of withdrawal that addicts can feel in just a few hours after the last dose of an opioid.
When given at higher doses, methadone for heroin addiction can keep the individual from feeling the euphoria that is described by users of the heroin. The powerful effects of this drug, when properly administered to the opiate addicted individual, can result in total detoxification within 10 days.
It is important to note that addiction is considered a chronic condition. Maintenance treatment is necessary and includes appropriate social and sometimes medical support.
If you are suffering from an addiction to opiates or any other substance, seek help from a counselor or loved one. You can also call the National Addiction Hotline at 1-866-301-0367. If you have any questions about methadone for pain or detoxification from opiates like heroin, be sure to ask your physician.
