2007-08-18 09:00:02 · 3 answers · asked by Robert G 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
strong narcotic that lasts in the human body alot longer than most other narcotics, it is slowly excreted.
The advantage of its being slowly excreted is that narcotic withdrawal is less painful than with other narcotics, therefore they switch the addict to methadone, and then gradually lower the dose.
Also, the dosing can be once a day.
Problems with methadone is that it poses a poisoning risk for children , but this is true with other narcotics as well.
When treating for methadone overdose, as with other narcotic overdoses, a narcotic antagonist like naloxone is used. But, because methadone lasts so long in the body, if the medical personnel fail to monitor the patient after initial recovery, the patient can still die of overdose. In these cases additional doses of naloxone should have been given.
Besides treating narcotic addition, is also used for pain due to terminal conditions.
2007-08-18 09:46:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
heroin substitute,and used in terminal cancer
2007-08-18 09:05:25 · answer #2 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methadone
what about it
2007-08-18 09:08:45 · answer #3 · answered by mete 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋