If you've got a co-occurring disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder, you'll likely be given psychotherapy and possibly medication assistance to help you through the process. For patients judged to be at risk, careful monitoring of cardiovascular status, including evaluation of QT prolongation and dysrhythmias should be performed. Although most cases involve patients being treated for pain with large, multiple daily doses of methadone, cases have been reported in patients receiving doses commonly used for maintenance treatment of opioid addiction. Clicking on one of them will bring you to the page for that specific clinic with the same information as stated above. Do not stop taking methadone abruptly, as severe withdrawal symptoms may occur. 3 doctors agreed: Safe together: Yes it is safe to take both.
Compared to other opioids, methadone has a lower cross-tolerance when switching to it from other opioids.[21] This means that methadone can start at a comparatively lower dose than other opiates, and the time for the next switch will be longer. Read More In other words, this is not the only place to get the conversion information.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking methadone: Incidence not known Black, tarry stools bleeding gums blood in the urine or stools blurred vision bulging soft spot on the head of an infant change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow changes in skin color chest discomfort or pain confusion convulsions cough coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum decreased urine output difficult or troubled breathing difficult, fast, noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing difficulty with swallowing dilated neck veins dizziness dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position dry mouth extreme fatigue fainting fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat headache hives, itching, or skin rash increased sweating increased thirst irregular heartbeat irregular, fast or slow, or shallow breathing loss of appetite muscle pain or cramps nausea or vomiting numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips pain pale or blue lips, fingernails, or skin pinpoint red spots on the skin puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue seizures sweating swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs tenderness trouble sleeping trouble urinating unusual bleeding or bruising unusual tiredness or weakness weight gain Some side effects of methadone may occur that usually do not need medical attention. While generally considered successful as a treatment method, the use of this maintenance treatment is often viewed as controversial. Hope Without Commitment Find the best treatment options. The goal in using opioid replacement therapy is to remove the uncomfortable daily withdrawal that interferes with a person’s ability to function normally. These side effects occur more often in people who are not hospitalized and who are not experiencing severe pain.
This allows your pharmacist to keep a complete record of all your prescription drugs and to advise you about drug interactions and side effects. The findings from a study at the University of Maine suggest that prenatal exposure to methadone is not always harmful to the baby if the therapy is well-managed. Some people experience mild side effects, and a very small percentage of people in methadone maintenance treatment experience intolerable side effects. We will not respond to all of the misconceptions. Methadone can cause slow or shallow breathing and dangerous changes in heartbeat that may not be felt by the patient." The advisory urged that physicians use caution when prescribing methadone to people who are not used to the drug and that people take the drug exactly as directed.[23] Adverse effects of methadone include:[citation needed] Sedation Diarrhea[24] or constipation[24][25] Flushing[25] Perspiration[25] and sweating[25] Heat intolerance Dizziness[24][26][27] or fainting[24][26][27] Weakness[25] Chronic fatigue, sleepiness[25] and exhaustion Sleep problems such as drowsiness,[24] trouble falling asleep (Insomnia),[25][26] and trouble staying asleep[25] Constricted pupils Dry mouth[24][25] Nausea[24][25] and vomiting[24][25] Low blood pressure Hallucinations[24][26] or confusion[24][26] Headache[25] Heart problems such as chest pain[24][26] or fast/pounding heartbeat[24][26][27] Abnormal heart rhythms[27][28] Respiratory problems such as trouble breathing,[24][26] slow or shallow breathing (hypoventilation),[24][26] light-headedness,[24][26][27] or fainting[24][26] Loss of appetite,[24][25] and in extreme cases anorexia Weight gain[25] Memory loss Stomach pains[25] Itching Difficulty urinating[25] Swelling of the hands, arms, feet, and legs[25] Feeling restless[24] or agitated Mood changes,[25] euphoria, disorientation Nervousness[24] or anxiety[24][26] Blurred vision[25] Decreased libido,[24][25] missed menstrual periods,[25] difficulty in reaching orgasm,[24] or impotence[24][25] Skin rash Seizures Central sleep apnea Withdrawal symptoms[edit] Physical symptoms[citation needed] Lightheadedness[29] Tearing of the eyes[29][30] Mydriasis (dilated pupils)[29] Photophobia (sensitivity to light) Hyperventilation syndrome (breathing that is too fast/deep) Runny nose[30] Yawning Sneezing[30] Nausea,[29][30] vomiting,[29][30] and diarrhea[29] Fever[30] Sweating[29] Chills[30] Tremors[29][30] Akathisia (restlessness) Tachycardia (fast heartbeat)[30] Aches[29] and pains, often in the joints or legs Elevated pain sensitivity Blood pressure that is too high (hypertension, may cause stroke) Cognitive symptoms[citation needed] Suicidal ideation Susceptibility to cravings[29] Depression[29] Spontaneous orgasm Prolonged insomnia Delirium Auditory hallucinations Visual hallucinations Increased perception of odors (olfaction), real or imagined Marked decrease or increase in sex drive Agitation Anxiety[29] Panic disorder Nervousness[29] Paranoia Delusions Apathy Anorexia (symptom) Methadone withdrawal symptoms are reported as being significantly more protracted than withdrawal from opioids with shorter half-lives.
It's half life is much longer so it takes a while to get out of your system. SOBA College Recovery 104 Bayard Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Gateway Foundation— Lake Villa 25480 W. When I was taking the tablets I stayed at a total of 40mg in a day comfortably for six months, until I found a place in town that would keep me on methadone because I was traveling out of town just to pick up that prescription. Methadone has been implicated in contributing to significant tooth decay. Pregnant women involved in methadone maintenance programs have been reported to have significantly improved prenatal care leading to significantly reduced incidence of obstetric and fetal complications and neonatal morbidity and mortality when compared to women using illicit drugs. Some patients will be on methadone for the rest of their lives, which generates criticism regarding the effectiveness of the clinics.
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