What exactly is methadon?

Question

is it some sort of drug substitute?

Answer 1

What is methadone?

Methadone is a long-acting synthetic painkiller that mimics the effects of heroin, but is less addictive.

It is widely used as a substitute for patients who are attempting to combat addiction to heroin.

Like heroin, it produces feelings of euphoria and sedation, but to a lesser degree.

The drug is usually provided to addicts under the supervision of a pharmacist.

It comes in the form of a green liquid, like cough mixture, poured into a plastic cup.

Can it be dangerous?

When methadone is taken in large amounts it produces side effects similar to heroin.

These include drowsiness, apathy, confusion, nausea, vomiting, suppression of breathing reflexes and constricted pupils.

In excessive quantities it will lead to coma and eventually to death.

How do methadone substitute programmes work?

Doctors must first issue a prescription for the dose, specifying the amount, the days on which it can be administered, and restricting the person who can collect the methadone to the addict him or herself.

Initially, a drug abuser is prescribed slowly increasing amounts of methadone to increase tolerance to the drug.

Then the amount is slowly decreased until they are cured of the need for the drug altogether.

However, some addicts are controversially kept on a steady dose of the drug to avoid a return to heroin once the dosage drops.

Do methadone programmes go wrong?

Some addicts become as reliant on methadone as they were on heroin.

Department of Health figures show that methadone was responsible for the deaths of 421 people in 1997.

Heroin addicts have created a vast methadone black market by selling on their doses for as little as £2.

What is being done to combat this problem?

Department of Health guidelines are being drawn up to control the availability of methadone, chiefly by ensuring that the dose is taken under medical supervision.

Answer 2

I am on methadone, It is a synthetic drug that either treats pain or heroin addiction. I was a heroin addict, and have been clean for a year and a half. Methadone is an opiate, but is also an opiate blocker, meaning that if I wanted to use heroin, it will block that high feeling. I would probably have to double up on the amount i used to get the same effect one dose would do. It does not create a feeling of euphoria or anything like that, even though the withdrawls are less intense but they last a lot longer than heroin. I felt the detox for almost a month i could not sleep,eat, my skin was crawling,anxiety was so intense, weak,and i sweat like crazy.Also it is a craving blocker, I have not had a craving since i got on the clinic. People call it a substitute because it has the same basic ingredients, but I do not get high, hang out with the same crowd, or have any of the same behaviors.Also it is prescribed by a doctor. The quality of my life has changed considerably. I do not speak for everyone but the ones that want a better clean life, bite the bullet and get clean. Methadone at my clinic comes in a red cherry liquid, but it also comes in pill form. Being on the clinic comes with rules, strict rules, we have to go to counseling, groups and frequent drug tests. But I'd rather stand in line at the clinic then trying to call the dealer. Some are addicts that cannot help themselves, its not that they are bad people. I luckily came out if this with no health problems, thank god.I'm doing great, I hope and pray others do to.

Answer 3

Medication for chronic pain, methadone is a narcotic pain reliever for medium to severe pain. It is also used in the treatment of heroin addiction, Oral methadone is very different than the IV methadone. Oral methadone is partially stored in the liver for later use. IV methadone acts more like heroin.

One of the positive effects of oral methadone is that unlike taking morphine where the morphine user is very uninterested in life and very passive, just basically waiting for their next dose. Methadone users are more engaged in living their life. Without the waiting or craving.

More often than not it is now prescribed by either a pain speciality clinic or a doctor that has trained specially in Heroin/Meth abuse....

Answer 4

It's an opiate-like drug, but does not exhibit the same addiction potential that other drugs do.

It is used as a "come down" drug for heroin users.

(The withdrawal from heroin and other opiates is extremely unpleasant and in some cases can be fatal. Methadone helps them get through this phase of withdrawal.)

Answer 5

I've known cases where it was proscribed in oral tablet form as a substitute for h####n, for addicts. They'd crush the pill, dissolve it in hot water, and inject it. The solid powder aspect of the drug could accumulate in the capillaries, and cause problems to blood flow. I heard of cases where amputation was necessary. Uurggh!


Luke.

Answer 6

It a substitute for morphine and is addictive.