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