methadone

What is methadone?
Methadone is in a class of drugs known as opioids and is an addiction treatment. This drug was produced by Germany during World War II and was initially used in the United States as a strong pain reliever for very severe pain. Today, in addition to pain relief, this drug is often used as part of the treatment of addiction to heroin or narcotics.
Methadone is available in the form of oral tablets, injectable products, powder and oral solution in the pharmaceutical market of Iran.

How does methadone work?
Methadone works by binding to a type of opioid receptor and activating it. With this function, methadone produces its analgesic and sedative effects. Some other effects such as constipation, respiratory depression, nausea or miosis may also occur due to the binding of this drug to opioid receptors.
In fact, methadone changes the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain in such a way that the patient feels relieved. Its effects are slower than those of painkillers such as morphine.
This drug is used in the treatment of addiction to drugs or substances because it has slow effects and prevents the symptoms of deprivation or withdrawal syndrome. This type of drug addiction treatment is called Replacement Therapy. Alternative therapy can only be implemented with the opinion of a doctor and under the care of specialists because a person suffering from addiction may substitute methadone for his drugs and become dependent on this drug. If methadone is prescribed in order to facilitate the addiction process, we should know that this drug is not used instead of the substance consumed by the individual, but is considered as part of the drug addiction treatment program along with other mental and physical care. .

How to use methadone?
First of all, we must know that methadone can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription, and it is illegal to obtain it in any other way. Illegal use of methadone leads to addiction, high-risk behaviors and symptoms of poisoning or severe side effects.
The dosage of each drug is determined by the doctor. The dose of methadone is determined only based on the doctor’s diagnosis and according to the patient’s condition. If methadone is prescribed as an addiction treatment, long-term use of the drug may be required. After the treatment period, the doctor gradually reduces the amount of the drug so that the drug is stopped slowly and withdrawal symptoms do not appear.

What are the side effects of methadone?
Any drug along with desirable therapeutic effects may also cause unwanted side effects. Although not all complications are seen in one person. Consult your doctor if the following symptoms occur.
Dizziness, drowsiness, restlessness, euphoria, seizures, palpitations, blurred vision, double vision, shock, respiratory depression, urinary retention, muscle cramps.
If any of the following symptoms occur, there is a possibility of drug poisoning, so contact your doctor quickly and go to the medical center:

Shallow and shallow breathing
Severe drowsiness and confusion
slow heartbeat
Very narrow pupils
a coma
What should we discuss with our doctor before taking methadone?
Methadone is not recommended for some people. For this reason, inform the pharmacist of the following before taking this drug.

Heart disease
Electrolyte disorders
Respiratory problems and lung diseases
History of brain tumor, head injury or seizure
Biliary, pancreatic or thyroid problems
Taking sedatives or central nervous system drugs such as antidepressants and anxiolytics
Drinking alcohol or sleeping pills
Tell your doctor about all the medicines, herbal products or dietary supplements you are taking
What are the symptoms of methadone overdose?
Arbitrarily changing the dose of the drug or illegal use of methadone may cause overdose or drug poisoning. Symptoms of methadone overdose are as follows. If you see these symptoms, go to the poisoning treatment center immediately:

slow breathing
slow heartbeat
Severe drowsiness
muscle weakness
Cold and moist skin
Shrinking pupils
Anesthesia and coma
Is it possible to use methadone during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you must discuss this issue with your doctor and pharmacist. Although methadone crosses the placenta and is also excreted in milk, it may be prescribed in certain cases to patients during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Especially in cases where the mother is addicted to drugs such as heroin or other narcotics, the doctor may replace these drugs with methadone because the symptoms of deprivation syndrome in babies born to mothers with addiction are less in methadone users than in heroin. It is more controllable. These babies should continue to be under the supervision of a doctor for a long time after birth in order to go through the process of drug withdrawal gradually and safely.

Important recommendations about methadone use
Methadone drug seriously interacts with the following drugs:

Antifungals such as itraconazole and ketoconazole
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors such as rasagiline, selegiline
Alcohol and sedatives
Avoid driving and doing tasks that require concentration while taking methadone.
If you are taking this medicine for a long time, avoid stopping it suddenly
How long does methadone stay in the body?
How long methadone stays in the body depends on many factors. Among these factors, we can mention the age, weight of the patient, metabolism of the patient, liver and kidney function, underlying diseases, duration, amount and intervals of methadone consumption, as well as simultaneous consumption of other drugs or narcotics. For this reason, experts consider a period of 2 to 13 days to remove methadone from the body.

How are methadone tests performed?
There are different methods for measuring methadone consumption and detecting the consumption of this drug by people, which have different costs based on different laboratory methods.
Urine test: The most common type of test to detect methadone use is diagnostic use within one hour to two weeks after the last use. Since the urine test is simple and inexpensive and covers a suitable range, it is usually preferred over other methods.
Saliva test: This method is also non-invasive and simple. It covers from 30 minutes after the last consumption to several days after that
Hair test: This type of test, which is performed on a person’s hair sample, can show the use of methadone long after the last use. But for people who have just started using methadone, it takes a few weeks for the effects of methadone to appear in the hair. Therefore, this test is used for people who have used methadone for a long time, and it can be performed months after the last use of these people.
Blood test: Methadone can be detected in the blood 30 minutes after consumption and can be found in the blood for several days after the last consumption. Blood test is very accurate, but due to high cost and average time coverage, it is not common to diagnose methadone use.