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