Methadone Prescription Abuse, Methadone Detox, Methadone Addiction, Methadone Deaths
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Methadone Addiction, Detox, Treatment and Withdrawal
Methadone is a synthetic opioid with potent analgesic effects. Although it is associated commonly with the treatment of opioid addiction, it may be prescribed by for analgesia for various pain syndromes. It may be an appropriate replacement for morphine, when side effects limit dosage increases. Methadone toxicity is not always apparent in the first few days after initiating therapy and so careful follow up of all patients is mandatory. Any other medications that the individual is taking may interfere with methadone and hence careful dosing is required. Methadone treatment for pain is a lot cheaper than other long acting morphine formulations
With methadone maintenance, the opioid addicts take regular doses of methadone to decrease the withdrawal and cravings that are associated with opioids. It is one of the most successful treatments for heroin addiction. The treatment is also highly cost effective, costing about $5000 per patient, compared to nearly 25,000$ to look after a patient with AIDs.
Methadone Classification
Methadone is classified as a schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. Initially, its use was limited to “detoxification treatment” or “maintenance treatment” within U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved narcotic addiction programs.
Because of its potency as a pain killer, the DEA has allowed physicians to prescribe it for pain control. However, most states require that a physician document in the chart that methadone is being prescribed for pain control and not treatment of drug addiction. Many hospitals, however, do not have methadone supplies in their pharmacies. All physicians with appropriate Drug Enforcement Agency registration may prescribe methadone for analgesia.
Methadone Prescription Difficulties
Methadone prescriptions for the treatment of drug addiction are not easily available. The prescriptive authority by physicians is highly controlled and monitored. Only a few 
selected registered physicians have the ability to prescribe the drug and physicians have to make a special application to the FDA and the Drug Enforcement Agency. The Department of Health & Human Services and the FDA also decide dosage regimens and how, and under what circumstances, methadone maintenance may be used to treat opiate addiction. Most methadone clinics must obtain an extra license and comply with extra set of both federal and state regulations.
All this has made it difficult for opioid addicts to get methadone. Although there are over 700 active methadone clinics in the Nation, many states don’t allow methadone clinics, forcing some patients to drive hundreds of miles each day to get their required daily dosage. Clinics in states that do allow methadone often have strict morning hours that make it difficult for patients to stick to the regimen.
Indications
Methadone has been studied as a therapy for cancer pain and other chronic pain states. It is an appropriate replacement opioid when pain remains poorly controlled or when side effects of other opioids limit dosage escalation. Available data suggest that methadone is effective in relieving cancer pain and has a similar analgesic efficacy and side effect profile to morphine.
Methadone Dosing
Methadone can be administered both orally and via injection. When administered for pain control, the onset of analgesia is approximately three to six hours when methadone therapy is initiated, and this duration typically extends to eight to 12 hours with repeated dosing.
When methadone is administered for drug addiction, its slower onset of action and long half life helps in decreasing the incidence of withdrawal symptoms. In the outpatient setting, methadone dose is slowly increased over 5-7 days, depending on the patient’s response. In some opioid tolerant patients, higher doses of methadone may be required over a shorter time.
During the titration phase, daily telephone progress reports by the patient, family members, home health nurses, or hospice personnel are recommended. Patients should be informed that several titrations might be necessary to reach optimal pain control.
In all patients continuous monitoring is required to ensure that withdrawal to opioids is not occurring. The dose can be safely increased in small increments while the patient is in hospital. Transition from high-dosage opioids may have to be completed in an inpatient setting with assistance from a pain specialist.
Side Effects
Side effects associated with methadone include pruritus, nausea, constipation, confusion, sedation, and respiratory depression. Excess sweating and flushing are common with oral methadone dosing. Caution should be taken with initiation of therapy and dosage increases because severe toxicities may not become apparent for two to five days. Side effects such as sedation and respiratory depression are increased when methadone is combined with alcohol or other drugs.
Cost
Methadone offers a cost savings over standard morphine preparations when used to treat pain. Legislation is being 
considered to reduce or even eliminate some regulations on methadone providers to make treatment more widely available.
Future
The recent availability of buprenorphine for opioid addiction treatment has brought more optimism to the field of drug addiction. Like methadone, buprenorphine is a replacement therapy. It is easier to withdraw from than methadone, however. And the risk of it being diverted illegally is even lower than for methadone; if it is injected by a would-be abuser (rather than being taken by the mouth, as it is intended to be used therapeutically); it causes withdrawal symptoms and not a “high.”
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Tags: addicted to Methadone addiction rehab, Methadone Prescription abuse, Methadone Prescription iowa
[..YouTube..] I know an addict who was saved by checking into a methadone program. Perhaps the worst part of the story is when the time came to stop taking methadone. The withdrawal symptoms lasted for months complete with insomnia, depression, seizures, and lassitude. It took about a year for that person to begin to feel somewhat normal again. I suppose it was worth the hurt because if it was not for the methadone in time of need, that person would have probably been dead all things considered.
[..YouTube..] does that say quantity 462?
[..YouTube..] fuck methadone, meth clinics are drug dealers
[..YouTube..] Hmm… Strange this video said nothing about terrible additions to methadone (contrary to what the user who posted it has in their video clip description). The video actually said the drug is quite effective but simply people need to take care with it since it is a powerful medication. Just like all drugs you need to take it as a doctor prescribes it….(no mixing with other drugs, double-dosing, etc)
[..YouTube..] the govenment just wants people to pay them instead of drug dealers they dont care methadone is a horrible drug to withdrawal from
[..YouTube..] methadone SAVED MY LIFE!!
[..YouTube..] in the uk methadone prescriptions are dispensed under supervision at the pharmacy. only when trust is built with your doctor and opiate free screens are regularly given will they consider trusting the patient with their precriptions.
take it as you should and it can change your life. cant believe its dipsensed as pills in the us for prescription painkiller withdrawal. only for heroin withdrawal here. its also free here so no needto commit crime to pay for your heroin habit saving your life.
[..YouTube..] Damn straight. Going off methadone cold turkey was absolute hell. I quit 63 days ago and still do not feel normal yet.
[..YouTube..] people need to take these medications are prescribed. period.
[..YouTube..] hows that fun?
[..YouTube..] The problem with the way methadone is prescribed is the fact that no support services are enlisted to help the patient deal with the mental triggers and behaviours that led to addiction in the first place. No wonder so many abuse what could be a helpful component to treatment.
[..YouTube..] Juice saved my life.
[..YouTube..] i have to take methadone for severe pain due to several surgeries i’ve had on my cervical spine. methadone is a safe drug when used properly. doctor’s prescribe it because it is long acting and u don’t have to take a lot of it. i had no problems weaning off it when i became pregnant. it was easier than any other narcotic to wean off of. it’s not the doctor’s fault that patients abuse the drug! should we ban fast food restaurants because people abuse food and get fat and die from obesity?
[..YouTube..] my m8 died frm Methadone lst nyt n he waz onli 20
[..YouTube..] i my self should say that yes messing with methadone and other pills are very dangerous. i found out the hard way taking 2 methadones, 4 oxy, and 2 neurotin from my granny. i am glad to be alive!!!
[..YouTube..] im prescribed 110mg of methadone a day and still crave more, i feel so low im planning on ending it all
[..YouTube..] I am on methadone over 9 year’s I pop my roto cup and both surgeys botch up painmangerment doc. thay’s as time goes by the dosage is no longer help with the pain I take me med’s right when the doc. got me hooked on pain pills I tell all my Doc. I am a refrom drug@bozzie I have been clean 25 years I moved at of state. The pain Doc. I had was greaty he got greed and now in trouble and I am stick on 120 MG a day and my new Doc hope I can get off of it
[..YouTube..] Im on methadone for being a “minor” heroin addict back in 2005,im loaded on methadone right now,i remember getting loaded as a kid on it back when it used to be pink,now its clear.
[..YouTube..] It sucks a big,fat,warm,juicy,moist,lucsious,succulent and throbbing C**k when you are addicted to a drug.
[..YouTube..] just Propaganda !!
[..YouTube..] you still on the done?
[..YouTube..] mikeandcooper:
Nope, been off for 4 months now.
[..YouTube..] ive been on it for about 5to 6 years and starting to fell realy bad out of reality
[..YouTube..] and my name pinhead. and i don’t use complete sentence and no one can understnd what i saying cuz i misspell word and dont make no sence. hahahahahahaha
[..YouTube..] Need my info. I take methadone, 120 mgs a day, with hyrocodone and lyrica for pain management…..So I’m stacking doses several times a day….makes you wonder if you can go years normally doing this and be fine, why another day it could kill you. Doctors give you very little info or my Neuro did 7 years ago. She says I’ll be fine taking it as prescribed.
[..YouTube..] @armi555mw It’s because tolerance builds up, so as your body gets used to the drug it will require more for the desired effect, whether that be painkilling or recreational.
[..YouTube..] i’m on 100mls never ever coming off it !
don’t even wanna tslk about comin off it i’m out to get my drink later dayzz
[..YouTube..] I was on 140mgs for 8 years after that long my moods were getting so messsed up I had to get off of it , trust me Im glad to back in the land of the living.
The pain I was in was just withdrawl pain, you ache all over when you dont get it . I dont use anything for pain now.
[..YouTube..] No… I went from 140mgs to 60 the only diff was I didnt sleep as much .
[..YouTube..] I WENT TO 20mm to 5mm
I just cut back and saved all the extras,i JUST SLOWLY TOOK LESS AND LESS-
By 30 days, I will take all the rest of my METHADONE AND POOR GAS ON IT AND BURN IT.
[..YouTube..] im on 35 mgs for 3 years almost anyone know how long cold turkey withdrawls will last . im on day 1 now and went through diarea and hot cold sweats
[..YouTube..] @musicjunkie0606 . its hard to go anywheres in life, on methadone for the rest of your life
[..YouTube..] This can be a good or bad drug… I was on MMTP for 20 years the only problem is if you have to live your life around the clinics…in1978 it saved my life due to the AIDS all my other heroin buddies got…but it also cost me jobs and then my pickups were reduced NYC has more meth clinics than anywhere in the world but the rules they have can be so ridicules wish i never got off but had no choice i am just to old now to travel to clinic.