washington state methadone clinics

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 washington state methadone clinics.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities washington state methadone clinics. Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness washington state methadone clinics. If you experience dizzinessor drowsiness, avoid these activities washington state methadone clinics.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about methadone written forhealth professionals that you may read washington state methadone clinics.

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