neonatal use of methadone in children

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 neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities neonatal use of methadone in children. Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness neonatal use of methadone in children. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities neonatal use of methadone in children.

What is methadone?
• Methadone is a narcotic pain reliever, similar to morphine neonatal use of methadone in children. Methadonealso reduces withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcoticdrugs without causing the '"high" associated with the drug addiction neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Methadone is used as a pain reliever and as part of drug addiction detoxificationand maintenance programs neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Methadone may also be used for purposes other than those listed here neonatal use of methadone in children.

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 neonatal use of methadone in children.
• You may not be able to take methadone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Do not take methadone without first talking to your doctor if you arepregnant or could become pregnant during treatment neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Do not take methadone without first talking to your doctor if you arebreast-feeding a baby neonatal use of methadone in children.

How should I take methadone?
• Take methadone exactly as directed by your doctor neonatal use of methadone in children. If you do not understandthese directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you neonatal use of methadone in children.
• When methadone is used as part of a treatment program for narcotic addictionmaintenance or detoxification, it must be dispensed by a specially approvedpharmacy neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Methadone is available as tablets, liquid for oral administration, andas an injection neonatal use of methadone in children. Oral forms of methadone must never be injected neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Take the oral tablets with a full glass of water neonatal use of methadone in children.
• To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid with a dose-measuringspoon, dropper, or cup, not a regular table spoon neonatal use of methadone in children. If you do not have a dose-measuringdevice, ask your pharmacist where you can get one neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Your healthcare provider may recommend that methadone be administeredby a family member, friend, or healthcare provider to ensure compliance withthe treatment neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Do not take more methadone than is prescribed neonatal use of methadone in children. If you symptoms are notbeing adequately treated, contact your healthcare provider neonatal use of methadone in children.
• It is important to take methadone regularly to get the most benefit neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Additional forms of counseling and/or monitoring may be recommended duringtreatment with methadone neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Methadone may be habit forming neonatal use of methadone in children. Physical and/or psychological dependencecan occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the medication is stoppedsuddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment neonatal use of methadone in children. Do not stop taking methadonesuddenly without first talking to your doctor if you have been taking it ona regular basis neonatal use of methadone in children. Your healthcare provider may want to gradually reduce the dose neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Store methadone at room temperature away from moisture and heat neonatal use of methadone in children.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember neonatal use of methadone in children. If it is almost time forthe next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduleddose neonatal use of methadone in children. Do not take a double dose of the medication neonatal use of methadone in children.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose of methadone is suspected neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Symptoms of a methadone overdose may include shallow or decreased breathing,slow heart rate, small pupils, cold, clammy skin, coma, and death neonatal use of methadone in children.

What should I avoid while using methadone?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities neonatal use of methadone in children. Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness neonatal use of methadone in children. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities neonatal use of methadone in children.
• 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 neonatal use of methadone in children. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Do not use narcotic drugs or alcohol while taking methadone neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Do not take more methadone than is prescribed neonatal use of methadone in children. If you symptoms are notbeing adequately treated, contact your healthcare provider neonatal use of methadone in children.

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 neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur neonatal use of methadone in children. 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 neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Methadone may be habit forming neonatal use of methadone in children. Physical and/or psychological dependencecan occur, and withdrawal effects are possible if the medication is stoppedsuddenly after prolonged or high-dose treatment neonatal use of methadone in children. Do not stop taking methadonesuddenly without first talking to your doctor if you have been taking it ona regular basis neonatal use of methadone in children. Your healthcare provider may want to gradually reduce the dose neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur neonatal use of methadone in children. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome neonatal use of methadone in children.

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 neonatal use of methadone in children.
• You may not be able to take methadone, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment neonatal use of methadone in children.
• 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 neonatal use of methadone in children. Donot drink alcohol and do not take any medicine without first talking to yourdoctor while taking methadone neonatal use of methadone in children.
• 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 neonatal use of methadone in children. These medicines may contain narcotics or alcohol neonatal use of methadone in children.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with methadone neonatal use of methadone in children. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any other prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products neonatal use of methadone in children.

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about methadone written forhealth professionals that you may read neonatal use of methadone in children.

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