Description of the drug
Methadone is a type of an opioid medication, sometimes called a narcotic. This drug reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcotic drugs without causing the high associated with the drug addiction.
It is maintenance programs and is only available from certified pharmacies used as a pain reliever and as part of drug addiction detoxification.
It is a synthetic opiate manufactured that serve as a painkiller and substitute for heroin in the treatment of addiction.
They slow down body functioning and reduce physical and psychological pain. Opiates are kind of sedative drugs that depress our nervous system.
History of the drug
Methadone was first synthesized in Germany in large pharmaceutical company laboratories of IG Farben. In 1939, commercial manufacture began to grow. When the war was over, German patents and other assets were distributed to the allies. The US Department of Commerce Intelligence Division confiscated the company’s important developments. There are leaked reports that the said drug was not broadly used because of side effects that may not have been completely accurate. They rapidly developed a tolerance to the drug. Despite this, the manufacturer’s advertisements stated that the drug had “little risk for addiction.”The drug was said to be too likely to cause nausea and overdoses.
Methadone was then used in order to treat heroin addicts during withdrawal but addicts routinely returned to their heroin habits when the withdrawal period was over. The drug’s properties may not have been well understood until it was studied for use as a maintenance treatment for opiate addicts. Here and there, people began to become addicted to the drug. This is also one of the reasons why we see a lot of addiction marketing agencies now.
Signs and Symptoms
Methadone Abuse
Once an individual started using methadone for pain reliever treatment, they carefully monitored the dose and adjusted to the right level. The drug is said to be quite dangerous to give a person ‘too-high’ of a dose and ineffective in handling pain if they are given too little.
However, when the individual misuses methadone, they have no such protection. Methadone is used preferably not only as a treatment for opiate addiction but also as a pain reliever as well.
The drug appears as a small pill that is preferred to be swallowed or dissolved in a liquid to be drunk, diluted or injected. This drug is not expected to cause the same initial euphoric rush, but if the individual tries to abuse methadone he or she is probably still going to feel high when they first start abusing it.
Lacking euphoria, an individual that is new to abusing methadone may take more dose of it in order to achieve the rush. This drug is a very long-lasting medication that is why it is preferably used for the relief of severe pain.
It is prohibited to share this medicine with another person, with a history of drug abuse or addiction.
Effects of the Drug
Reminders before using methadone
If you are allergic, or if you have one of the followings a person should not use methadone:
- a bowel obstruction called paralytic ileus
- severe asthma or breathing problems
Your doctor knows if you also take medicine for:
- depression
- migraine
- headaches
- serious infections
- prevention of nausea and vomiting
- mental illness
- Parkinson’s disease
Ask your physician before you take your medications.
Tell your doctor if you have one of the following illness or make sure this medicine is safe for you:
- heart disease, a heart rhythm disorder, or a personal or family history of long QT syndrome
- liver or kidney disease
- urination problems
- problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid
- an electrolyte imbalance such as low levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood
- any type of breathing problem or lung disease
- a history of drug abuse, alcohol addiction, or mental illness
- a history of head injury, brain tumor, or seizures
NARCOTIC MEDICATION MISUSE CAN CAUSE THE FOLLOWING:
- OVERDOSE
- ADDICTION
- DEATH
Other common symptoms of methadone abuse include:
- Lethargy
- Sweating
- Slowed breathing
- Constipation
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Nausea
- Constricted pupils
Other serious health risks associated with methadone abuse include:
- Respiratory failure
- Seizures
- Impaired cognitive functions
- Dependence
- Addiction
- Cardiac issues
- Overdose
- Death
What should a person avoid?
- Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Grapefruit juice may interact with methadone and lead to unwanted side effects.
- Methadone may impair your thinking or reactions. Dizziness or severe drowsiness can cause falls or other accidents.
- Do not drink alcohol. Always check your food and medicine labels to make sure that these products do not contain any alcohol base ingredients.