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