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