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