addiction to methadone
(meh THAH dohn)
Dolophine, Methadose
What is the most important information I should know about methadone?
• When methadone is used as part of a treatment program for narcotic addictionmaintenance or detoxification, it must be dispensed by a specially approvedpharmacy addiction to methadone.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities addiction to methadone. Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness addiction to methadone. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities addiction to methadone.
What is methadone?
• Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever, similar to morphine addiction to methadone. Methadonealso reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcoticdrugs without causing the '"high" associated with the drug addiction addiction to methadone.
• Methadone is used as a pain reliever and as part of drug addiction detoxificationand maintenance programs addiction to methadone.
• Methadone may also be used for purposes other than those listed here addiction to methadone.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking methadone?
• Before taking methadone, talk to your doctor if you have
· kidney disease;
· liver disease;
· asthma, lung disease, or breathing problems;
· an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating;
· hypothyroidism;
· seizures or epilepsy;
· a head injury or brain tumor; or
· Addison's disease addiction to methadone.
• You may not be able to take methadone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment addiction to methadone.
• Do not take methadone without first talking to your doctor if you arepregnant or could become pregnant during treatment addiction to methadone.
• Do not take methadone without first talking to your doctor if you arebreast-feeding a baby addiction to methadone.
How should I take methadone?
• Take methadone exactly as directed by your doctor addiction to methadone. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you addiction to methadone.
• When methadone is used as part of a treatment program for narcotic addictionmaintenance or detoxification, it must be dispensed by a specially approvedpharmacy addiction to methadone.
• Methadone is available as tablets, liquid for oral administration, andas an injection addiction to methadone. Oral forms of methadone must never be injected addiction to methadone.
• Take the oral tablets with a full glass of water addiction to methadone.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid with a dose-measuringspoon, dropper, or cup, not a regular table spoon addiction to methadone. If you do not have a dose-measuringdevice, ask your pharmacist where you can get one addiction to methadone.
• Your healthcare provider may recommend that methadone be administeredby a family member, friend, or healthcare provider to ensure compliance withthe treatment addiction to methadone.
• Do not take more methadone than is prescribed addiction to methadone. If you symptoms are notbeing adequately treated, contact your healthcare provider addiction to methadone.
• It is important to take methadone regularly to get the most benefit addiction to methadone.
• Additional forms of counseling and/or monitoring may be recommended duringtreatment with methadone addiction to methadone.
• Methadone may be habit forming addiction to methadone. Physical and/or psychological dependencecan occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the medication is stoppedsuddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment addiction to methadone. Do not stop taking methadonesuddenly without first talking to your doctor if you have been taking it ona regular basis addiction to methadone. Your healthcare provider may want to gradually reduce the dose addiction to methadone.
• Store methadone at room temperature away from moisture and heat addiction to methadone.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember addiction to methadone. If it is almost time forthe next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose addiction to methadone. Do not take a double dose of the medication addiction to methadone.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose of methadone is suspected addiction to methadone.
• Symptoms of a methadone overdose may include shallow or decreased breathing,slow heart rate, small pupils, cold, clammy skin, coma, and death addiction to methadone.
What should I avoid while using methadone?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities addiction to methadone. Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness addiction to methadone. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities addiction to methadone.
• Do not take any prescription or over-the-counter medicine to treat acold, cough, or pain while taking methadone without first talking to your doctor addiction to methadone. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol addiction to methadone.
• Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking methadone addiction to methadone.
• Do not take more methadone than is prescribed addiction to methadone. If you symptoms are notbeing adequately treated, contact your healthcare provider addiction to methadone.
What are the possible side effects of methadone?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingmethadone and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· difficulty breathing;
· hallucinations or confusion;
· chest pain;
· fainting; or
· loss of consciousness addiction to methadone.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur addiction to methadone. Continueto take methadone and talk to your doctor if you experience
· anxiety, nervousness, or restlessness;
· dizziness or lightheadedness;
· nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
· drowsiness;
· decreased appetite;
· dry mouth;
· constipation;
· weakness; or
· sexual problems addiction to methadone.
• Methadone may be habit forming addiction to methadone. Physical and/or psychological dependencecan occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the medication is stoppedsuddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment addiction to methadone. Do not stop taking methadonesuddenly without first talking to your doctor if you have been taking it ona regular basis addiction to methadone. Your healthcare provider may want to gradually reduce the dose addiction to methadone.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur addiction to methadone. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome addiction to methadone.
What other drugs will affect methadone?
• Do not take methadone with any of the following drugs without first talkingto your doctor:
· a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate);
· rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane); or
· a narcotic pain reliever such as buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutrex),codeine (Tylenol with Codeine, others), hydrocodone (Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin,Vicoprofen, others), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran),meperidine (Demerol), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, MSIR, OMS, Roxanol, OramorphSR, others), oxycodone (M-Oxy, OxyContin, OxyIR, Roxicodone, Percocet, Percodan,others), oxymorphone (Numorphan), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet, others), andothers addiction to methadone.
• You may not be able to take methadone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment addiction to methadone.
• Methadone may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsinessor dizziness, including antidepressants, alcohol, sedatives (used to treat insomnia),pain relievers, anxiety medicines, muscle relaxants, and antihistamines addiction to methadone. Donot drink alcohol and do not take any medicine without first talking to yourdoctor while taking methadone addiction to methadone.
• Do not take any prescription or over-the-counter medicine to treat acold, cough, or pain while taking methadone without first talking to your doctor addiction to methadone. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol addiction to methadone.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methadone addiction to methadone. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any other prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products addiction to methadone.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about methadone written forhealth professionals that you may read addiction to methadone.
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