Methadone is a drug often used to treat addiction to another drug in a process known as methadone maintenance treatment. But methadone is a strong enough drug on its own that if it’s abused, it can force methadone addiction treatment. Methadone treatment is best delivered by a methadone rehab clinic. Turn to Suboxone Treatment Clinic, an accomplished methadone treatment center.
Methadone was originally developed in 1939 and marketed as a pain reliever in the United States in 1947. Suboxone Doctors prescribed it to help those in extreme pain to find relief and be able function. These days, doctors often prescribe methadone to reduce the pain and discomfort resulting from withdrawal or detox, especially from heroin or other opiates.
By attaching to the opioid receptors of your brain, methadone changes the way your brain and nervous system responds to pain. This physiological effect provides relief from bone and muscle aches, especially those associated with withdrawal and addiction. Physicians also prescribe methadone for the pain that occurs after surgeries. The drug may be useful during long-term or chronic illnesses, although its long-term use is now discouraged because of its addictive tendencies.
To Use or Not to Use
Methadone is used to help with symptoms during addiction recovery. This type of usage — called replacement therapy or methadone maintenance treatment — occurs with prescriptions through a methadone treatment center. Methadone is an opiate that works similarly to morphine, so you may not want to proceed with this kind of treatment for heroin detox.
Methadone takes a longer time to act than other pain meds such as morphine, effectively blocking the high from other drugs that include:
The Length of Methadone Treatment and Its Side Effects
You need to realize that methadone treatment isn’t necessarily a cure for addiction. It’s merely a tool that can help some people. It works because methadone mimics other opiates. Methadone, however, can also cause dependency and end up being abused.
Some of the side effects experienced with methadone maintenance treatment include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Itchy skin
- Constipation
- Restlessness
- Slowed breathing and reduced ability to cough
- Heavy sweating
- Sexual issues
Methadone use can lead to a host of severe consequences, ranging from trouble breathing, chest pain, and confusion to hallucinations and rapid heartbeat. In case of methadone cardiotoxicity, we might change methadone with another drug and refer the patient to a local New York cardiologist, Dr. Reisman of New York Cardiac Diagnostic Center, for evaluation.
Methadone Addiction Treatment
Because methadone can cause dependency and addiction, overdoses also can occur. Just like those of other addictive drugs, methadone overdoses can be fatal. Abuse also leads to impaired judgment, breathing problems, sexual dysfunction and blood-borne diseases. Methadone should only be used under a doctor’s care, as a prescription, and as a part of a methadone maintenance treatment program.
Methadone addiction is serious. If you notice any of the following symptoms, find a methadone addiction treatment center:
- Doctor-shopping, or searching for multiple sources for methadone prescriptions
- Skipping doses to stockpile your supply
- Using more or more often than prescribed
- Buying methadone from other sources other than a methadone treatment center
- Combining methadone with alcohol, other opioids, narcotics or benzodiazepines
Methadone Rehab
Methadone addiction treatment methods combine many of the accepted addiction therapies into an effective methadone rehab program. After an assessment to determine the role methadone has played in your life — including the frequency and intensity of your dependency — your Suboxone Clinic methadone rehab specialist tailors a custom treatment plan for your health and lifestyle.
Detoxing from the drug, which is usually the first step in the treatment plan, reduces the level of the drug in your system. Medication substitutions can help with cravings and withdrawal symptoms but may lead to additional addiction issues. After you’ve passed through the detox phase, your pain specialist supports your methadone addiction treatment with constant monitoring. As needed, you receive referrals to cognitive-based therapies to address the underlying issues regarding your drug use.
Benefits of Intensive Outpatient Methadone Rehab
Though not for everyone, outpatient drug rehab provide an alternative for those whose condition is fairly stable and who wish to continue working or going to school. Multiple types of settings provide outpatient treatment, such as community free clinics and established addiction treatment centers.
Your outpatient treatment team works with varied schedules when necessary. With this structure, you can honor work, school and family commitments. A thorough examination, assessments and treatment for accompanying physical and mental concerns precede the appropriate treatment. If you’re properly and genuinely motivated — and if you have a good support system and a healthy work or school situation — Suboxone Treatment Clinic can help you on your methadone addiction treatment journey.
Successful methadone rehab includes a reduction or elimination of the drug from your system. Such success leads to a return to productivity and health — both physically and mentally, in work or school settings — and a return or beginning to healthy interpersonal relationships.