In recovery, a doctor may recommend certain medications to help curb drug or alcohol cravings. These medications aren’t for using on their own; rather, they are often a part of a well-rounded recovery program. For those with opioid use disorder, methadone is a common medication-assisted treatment, or MAT.
It’s important to understand that methadone, like heroin, is classified as an opioid. However, it is used as a step-down treatment because methadone dependence is significantly safer than dependence on heroin and similar substances. It’s safer for a few reasons:
Methadone is a medication that aims to treat opioid use disorder. The first formal report on methadone and its properties that was published in the United States appeared in 1947, and shortly after, it began to be used as a therapy for those suffering with opioid dependence. In that sense, methadone is the original MAT.
Methadone continues to be an effective treatment when used short-term and long-term. One study indicated that treatment with methadone or buprenorphine, another MAT, leads to a 76% reduction in overdoses in the first three months of treatment and a 59% reduction in the first year.
Methadone is a medication that is usually taken orally, but individuals can inject it in certain situations. Most prescribers offer it in the form of a liquid, a powder or a wafer.
Methadone is a drug that binds to opiate receptors in the brain. In doing this, it accomplishes two key things: it reduces symptoms of opiate withdrawal, and it also blocks the high-producing effects of both opiates and semi-synthetic opiates. If someone taking methadone as prescribed uses heroin, codeine, morphine, hydrocodone or oxycodone, they won’t feel a high.
In some cases, methadone can be used as part of a detox program. Your doctor can help you gradually transition from the opioids you are currently using to methadone.
The length of time that you will need to take methadone also depends on your individual needs. In most cases, medical professionals recommend treatment for at least a year. Depending on the degree of your prior opioid dependence, your risk for relapse and other factors, your doctor may recommend longer-term maintenance treatment. If you are working toward stopping methadone entirely, your doctor will gradually taper your dose down until you no longer need the medication.
Because taking methadone incorrectly can be dangerous, it should only be dispensed by a treatment program approved by SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA).
Methadone is different from most other MATs in that program clients, at least at first, need to go to a clinic in order to receive doses. In some cases, clinic practitioners may decide that a client can take some methadone doses at home and come to the clinic less often.
There is no standard dosage for methadone treatment, and medical professionals determine proper dosage on an individual basis. Initial daily doses are typically around 20 milligrams, but that amount may be increased if you have an unusually high opioid tolerance. Once you’ve had some time to adjust to the medication, your doctor will adjust dosages until you reach one that works well for you.
Like most medications, methadone is completely safe when you take it as prescribed. But there are certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of complications. Be sure to take the following precautions before or during treatment to ensure maximum safety and effectiveness:
Methadone and other recovery-assisting medications are designed to be used alongside other therapies. You and your doctor may decide that it’s a good option to use after you complete residential treatment, or you may prefer to use it while attending an outpatient or partial hospitalization program. When used as intended, methadone works alongside a few other elements of recovery.
Methadone and other MATs must be prescribed by a knowledgeable physician with experience treating opioid use disorder. Finding the right dosage is critical, and one must take great care when tapering off of methadone.
Social support is one of the most important parts of recovery. Usually, when you’re undergoing treatment with methadone or another MAT, your physician will suggest finding support groups for people with similar struggles. Sober living environments, 12-step programs and other support groups can be helpful.
Seeking therapy from a professional is often a critical part of recovery. Counselors can help people in recovery manage cravings and handle other pitfalls of the recovery process. They also can help explore underlying issues that may have contributed to opioid dependence.
Less severe side effects are more common with methadone treatment. Here’s what to look for:
If these side effects are especially bothersome or don’t lessen as your body adjusts to the medication, be sure to talk to your doctor. They may be able to help you better manage your symptoms.
Like any medication, methadone does have side effects. Serious side effects are rare, but if you experience any of them, stop taking methadone immediately and call 911 or speak to your doctor. Here are some of the main serious side effects that can occur:
If you take methadone, be sure to always take it exactly as prescribed. This can reduce your risk of serious side effects, but it is still possible to experience these side effects while taking the medication as prescribed.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and have an opioid use disorder, treatment is essential for both your health and the health of your child. But is methadone safe to use if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding?
The answer is yes. Methadone reduces symptoms of opioid withdrawal, and undergoing withdrawal while pregnant can lead to miscarriage and premature labor. MAT treatment during pregnancy is not shown to cause birth defects.
If you are breastfeeding and taking methadone, know that it does enter breast milk. However, it’s a very small amount, and it should not cause any harm to the baby.
If you’ve looked into different MATs, you may have already learned that Suboxone is also sometimes used to treat opioid use disorder. These two medications work similarly, but Suboxone is actually a compound of two different medications. The first, buprenorphine, is a partial opioid agonist. Since methadone is a full opioid agonist, the opiate-like effects of Suboxone are less powerful than those of methadone.
The second component of Suboxone is naloxone. Somewhat confusingly, naloxone is an opioid antagonist. It blocks many of the effects of opioids, and it largely prevents users from feeling high. It also blocks the pain-relieving effects of opioids. This feature helps to deter users from injecting it, but it also means that Suboxone is a weaker medication than methadone. However, people prescribed Suboxone do not need to go to a clinic to receive it.
Both Suboxone and methadone are FDA approved to treat opioid use disorder. It’s up to you and your doctor to decide which is best for detox, maintenance, or both.
Sometimes, you may need to switch from methadone to another MAT or vice versa. Make sure you talk to your prescriber if you want to switch. Switching is a process that must be done very carefully.
If you think you may have an opioid use disorder, it’s often up to you to make the first steps toward recovery. However, if you don’t know the symptoms of opioid dependence or an opioid use disorder, it can be difficult to know if you need to make a change.
Here are some of the key signs of opioid dependence:
Of course, methadone may not be right for everyone with an opioid use disorder or opioid dependence. Once you make the decision to seek help, your doctor will be able to tell you whether methadone or another MAT is a good option for you.
When you’re struggling with a substance use disorder, it can be easy to feel as though maintaining sobriety long-term is impossible, but there’s hope. At Granite Recovery Centers, we meet you wherever you are and help you work toward a better life. Give us a call today!
If you want to visit one of our New England drug rehab centers, please contact us at Granite Recovery Centers. Our experts will work with you to find a high-quality treatment option that meets your needs. We strive to provide a holistic level of treatment with evidence-based care, giving you the help necessary to regain your sobriety for good.
