Methadone can be used for two purposes - pain control and addiction control for chronic opioid addicts. This makes it easier to manage the addiction and helps to get the person off narcotics. As you learned in this article, methadone comes with its own set of side effects and challenges. Precautions US REMS: The US FDA requires a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for EXTENDED-RELEASE (ER) AND LONG-ACTING (LA) OPIOID ANALGESICS including DOLOPHINE and methadone hydrochloride tablets. Considering the Costs Beyond the travel distance, methadone clinic fees for services and medication costs will vary.
Many have serious side effects, especially if taken incorrectly. Usually when doing opioid rotation, one cannot go down to a completely naive dose, because there is cross-tolerance carried over to the new opioid. Interactions With Other CNS Depressants Patients receiving other opioid analgesics, general anesthetics, phenothiazines or other tranquilizers, sedatives, hypnotics, or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) concomitantly with methadone may experience respiratory depression, hypotension, profound sedation, or coma (see PRECAUTIONS). Others advocate for other, safer drugs like buprenorphine, an opioid antagonist that will bind to receptors in the brain (providing pain relief) without activating them (eliminating any potential for a high).
Comments: -May be administered IV, IM or subcutaneously, although the absorption of IM or subcutaneous injections has not been well studied and appears to be unpredictable; local tissue reactions may occur. -Oral methadone is not indicated as an as-needed analgesic; due to increased risk of overdose and death with this long-acting opioid, its use is limited to chronic pain management. Liver Dose Adjustments Hepatic impairment: Start at the low end of the dosing range and titrate slowly; closely monitor for signs of respiratory and CNS depression.
However, if you are thinking about using this narcotic to try to cure your heroin or severe opioid addiction, then you should get help from an addiction specialist, or an addiction treatment center. Uses: For detoxification and maintenance treatment of opioid addiction in conjunction with appropriate social and medical services.
It is essential not to make the first dosage too strong to prevent the Methadone overdose. My clinic even warned me about certain things, cold remedies being one of them. Food and Drug Administration issued a caution about methadone, titled “Methadone Use for Pain Control May Result in Death.” The FDA also revised the drug's package insert. Eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a healthy way to put on weight. This allows your pharmacist to keep a complete record of all your prescription drugs and to advise you about drug interactions and side effects. So, it's important to talk to your doctor and health care providers about your treatment and your goals.
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