What is Methadone?
Methadone is very effective in mitigating opiate withdrawal symptoms in individuals recovering from abuse of heroin, opioid pain pills, morphine, or fentanyl. It was originally developed as a pain-relieving drug that was used to alleviate acute bone and muscle pain. It is administered orally or as an injection. Methadone treatment in New Jersey is not hard to find and treatm,ent centers are located in almost every part of the state: Middlesex county, Essex county, Bergen county, Monmouth county, Somerset county, Ocean County, Hunterdon county, Union county, Hudson county, Mercer county, Passaic county, Morris county, Sussex county, Warren county, etc.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist that effectively mitigates withdrawal symptoms and relieves drug cravings by acting on opioid receptors in the brain, similar to other opioids such as heroin, morphine, and opioid pain medications. However, it does so more slowly than the above-mentioned opioids. Consequently, an individual addicted to opioids, methadone treatment doses not produce euphoria. It has been used successfully for six decades to treat opioid use disorder. It is available through specialized opioid treatment programs.
While methadone maintenance treatment should continue for at least 12 months, people on Methadone maintenance should be aware of the longer-term consequences of staying on methadone and explore pathways to come off of the medication when they feel that their recovery has been firmly established. The primary risk with prolonged use of methadone is becoming dependent on the medication and being unable to quit taking it, or increasing use as tolerance builds.
Long-Term Methadone Use May Result In:
- Trouble concentrating
- Negative impact on the liver, nerves and brain
- Cardiovascular problems
- Sexual/Menstrual dysfunction
Methadone is a full opioid agonist and it metabolized slowly. Methadone poses a greater risk of overdose than buprenorphine. Methadone is abused by consuming or injecting higher than prescribed quantities, snorting it or smoking it. In 2010, abuse of methadone caused 65,945 Emergency Room visits. However, due to established controls, the methadone dispensed for substance use disorders was not the source of this diversion. It came from methadone that was dispensed for use as a pain reliever.
Like other opiates, methadone is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Overuse or unprescribed use of methadone hydrochloride tablets (the form most preferred for pain control) can lead to life-threatening respiratory depression, especially when co-abused with other opiates such as heroin or opiate pain pills, benzos or alcohol. Misuse of methadone could lead to severe addiction, overdose, and even death. Methadone should never be combined with other medications that could lead to slowed breathing.
This medicine should also not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding. New-born who are under the effect of this medication may need medical treatment for several weeks after birth. This medicine transferred from a mother to the baby through breastmilk can cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death.
- Outpatient Methadone Detox in New Jersey
- Understanding Methadone Withdrawal
- MAT for Methadone Withdrawal
Outpatient Methadone Detox
While Methadone is an effective medication to treat addiction to opiates, coming off of Methadone is not easy due to Methadone withdrawal symptoms, accentuated by anxiety associated with potential for relapse when Methadone use is stopped. Methadone withdrawal can be severe and potentially lead to relapse on the original substance of choice due driven by the intense need to obtain relief from withdrawal symptoms. When the individual being treated with Methadone is confident of his/her recovery and wishes to come off of Methadone, a formal detox is highly advisable in order to minimize withdrawal symptoms. A buprenorphine/Suboxone taper can be instituted and psychological side effects addressed.
Understanding Methadone Withdrawal
Methadone withdrawal occurs when a person stops or reduces their use of methadone, a long-acting opioid medication. Symptoms typically begin 24-36 hours after the last dose and can last for 2-3 weeks up to 6 months.
Common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Muscle aches and pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Intense drug cravings
- Sweating and chills
- Runny nose and watery eyes
The first 7-10 days are often the most intense, with flu-like physical symptoms and psychological distress. Withdrawal can be severe due to methadone’s long-acting nature, making it crucial to seek medical supervision when discontinuing use
MAT for Methadone
Tapering off methadone under medical supervision is recommended over quitting “cold turkey” to reduce symptom severity. A gradual taper can take several weeks to months. Medical detox in a treatment facility provides the safest and most comfortable environment for managing withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone detox is the process of safely discontinuing methadone use under medical supervision. It’s crucial to undergo this process in a controlled environment due to the potential severity of withdrawal symptoms and the risk of relapse.
Methadone Detox Process
Methadone detox typically involves a gradual tapering of the drug over several weeks or months, rather than abruptly stopping use. This approach helps reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and improves the chances of successful recovery.
Methadone detox is usually performed utilizing buprenorphine or Suboxone. Outpatient detox is available for methadone and it is as effective as inpatient treatment
