buying 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 buying methadone.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities buying methadone. Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness buying methadone. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities buying methadone.
What is methadone?
• Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever, similar to morphine buying methadone. Methadonealso reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcoticdrugs without causing the '"high" associated with the drug addiction buying methadone.
• Methadone is used as a pain reliever and as part of drug addiction detoxificationand maintenance programs buying methadone.
• Methadone may also be used for purposes other than those listed here buying 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 buying methadone.
• You may not be able to take methadone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment buying methadone.
• Do not take methadone without first talking to your doctor if you arepregnant or could become pregnant during treatment buying methadone.
• Do not take methadone without first talking to your doctor if you arebreast-feeding a baby buying methadone.
How should I take methadone?
• Take methadone exactly as directed by your doctor buying methadone. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you buying methadone.
• When methadone is used as part of a treatment program for narcotic addictionmaintenance or detoxification, it must be dispensed by a specially approvedpharmacy buying methadone.
• Methadone is available as tablets, liquid for oral administration, andas an injection buying methadone. Oral forms of methadone must never be injected buying methadone.
• Take the oral tablets with a full glass of water buying methadone.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid with a dose-measuringspoon, dropper, or cup, not a regular table spoon buying methadone. If you do not have a dose-measuringdevice, ask your pharmacist where you can get one buying methadone.
• Your healthcare provider may recommend that methadone be administeredby a family member, friend, or healthcare provider to ensure compliance withthe treatment buying methadone.
• Do not take more methadone than is prescribed buying methadone. If you symptoms are notbeing adequately treated, contact your healthcare provider buying methadone.
• It is important to take methadone regularly to get the most benefit buying methadone.
• Additional forms of counseling and/or monitoring may be recommended duringtreatment with methadone buying methadone.
• Methadone may be habit forming buying methadone. Physical and/or psychological dependencecan occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the medication is stoppedsuddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment buying methadone. Do not stop taking methadonesuddenly without first talking to your doctor if you have been taking it ona regular basis buying methadone. Your healthcare provider may want to gradually reduce the dose buying methadone.
• Store methadone at room temperature away from moisture and heat buying methadone.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember buying methadone. If it is almost time forthe next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose buying methadone. Do not take a double dose of the medication buying methadone.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose of methadone is suspected buying methadone.
• Symptoms of a methadone overdose may include shallow or decreased breathing,slow heart rate, small pupils, cold, clammy skin, coma, and death buying methadone.
What should I avoid while using methadone?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities buying methadone. Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness buying methadone. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities buying 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 buying methadone. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol buying methadone.
• Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking methadone buying methadone.
• Do not take more methadone than is prescribed buying methadone. If you symptoms are notbeing adequately treated, contact your healthcare provider buying 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 buying methadone.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur buying 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 buying methadone.
• Methadone may be habit forming buying methadone. Physical and/or psychological dependencecan occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the medication is stoppedsuddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment buying methadone. Do not stop taking methadonesuddenly without first talking to your doctor if you have been taking it ona regular basis buying methadone. Your healthcare provider may want to gradually reduce the dose buying methadone.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur buying methadone. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome buying 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 buying methadone.
• You may not be able to take methadone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment buying 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 buying methadone. Donot drink alcohol and do not take any medicine without first talking to yourdoctor while taking methadone buying 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 buying methadone. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol buying methadone.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methadone buying methadone. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any other prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products buying methadone.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about methadone written forhealth professionals that you may read buying methadone.
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