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