methadone myths and facts

5 Methadone Myths We Still Believe to Be True

/1 Comment/in /by

As an opioid by definition, Methadone has quite a reputation. It is both prescribed by doctors and abused by addicts. Yet there are many myths circulating about this drug.

Similar to morphine, it comes in many forms, including powders, liquids, and tablets. Although it is considered to be safer than other narcotics on the market–legal and not–it can become addictive.

However, methadone diversion abuse and misuse of this drug have led to many misconceptions about its addictive qualities.

5 Major Methadone Myths Debunked

There are many myths surrounding this opioid. We’ve gathered 5 of the most common misconceptions to help clarify what this drug really is as well as its capabilities and limitations.

1. Methadone is a Legal Substitute for Heroin

False. Methadone is not a substitute, but a closely monitored form of treatment. This long-acting drug is very different from heroin’s short high. This opioid is generally given out in a single dose per day.

This process includes careful weaning off the drug once this phase of treatment is complete. Because of this and because the withdrawal symptoms are not a sudden onset, it is far less likely for patients who follow the correct procedure to have a problem coming off them.

Problems with methadone arise when the drug is improperly administered and abused.

2. Methadone Use Leads to Bone Rot and Weight Gain

Methadone is quite safe to use when done so properly and under medical supervision. Like any medication, it may have its share of side effects if coupled with other opioids.

However, these side effects are usually far milder than bone rot. Patients may report:

  • An increase in sweating
  • Constipation
  • Flushing of the skin
  • Drowsiness
  • Possible skin rashes or fevers due to an allergic reaction
  • Retaining water
  • Dizzy spells, particularly when lying down for an extended period
  • Erectile Dysfunction
  • Dry mouth

However, nothing detrimental. Methadone should not have any impact on oral health. While dry mouth may limit the production of saliva which protects your teeth, individuals with good oral hygiene should not see any negative impact.

Most patients on methadone note bone and teeth rot after coming off of their heroin use. This decay began before their treatment, but they may not have been aware of it because of their state of mind during their addiction.

Weight gain also commonly follows methadone treatment because the appetite that was once suppressed by drug use has now returned. It is not the drug itself, but rather your body’s craving for food and nourishment that leads to an increase in weight.

In many patients, this weight gain is a healthy sign during their recovery process.

3. Methadone is Harder to Quit Than Heroin

This assumption is also false. Many people believe methadone is more addictive simply because the withdrawal symptoms are longer. This isn’t due to its level of addiction, but rather the length of the opioids half-life.

Because methadone’s effects kick in slower and last longer, so do the withdrawal symptoms. This is why following the proper procedure is important. When a patient’s use is medically supervised, they are given a gradual decrease of the drug in order to minimize these symptoms.

Most patients who undergo methadone treatment experience very little pain and discomfort.

4. Methadone’s Brand Name Was Inspired by Adolf Hitler

It’s an odd myth, but one that obviously brings a sense of discomfort. Adolf Hitler is a historical villain, and the idea of taking a drug with his name attached to it can cause patients to feel uneasy.

However, the only thing methadone and Hitler have in common is Germany. Methadone was first invented in Germany before it was brought to the United States.

Its brand name, Dolophine, stems from one of the physicians who originally began marketing the drug to his patients. His name is Vincent Dole. Thus, the “dolph” sound within the name has nothing to do with Germany’s former Fuhrur during the era of Nazi Germany.

5. Methadone Shouldn’t Be Used By Pregnant Women

While there are multiple drugs that should be avoided by women while pregnant, methadone is not one of them. This opioid has never shown proof of causing abnormalities that influence their childhood or adult lives.

The only side effect shown is neonatal abstinence syndrome, but this is typically easy to treat. It happens if the mother is one methadone approximately a week before the child’s delivery. Simply put, the child experiences withdrawal symptoms, which are treated as the drug leaves his or her system.

The True Purpose and Effects of Methadone

In essence, methadone is a very strong pain reliever. By altering your brain’s reaction to pain, this releasing drug has a longer half-life than other opioids, meaning it lasts longer.

Methadone is often used to help wean addicts off of heroin. This treatment is closely monitored by medical professionals, from its prescription to weaning the patient’s off of it completely.

The short-term effects of this drug include relaxation of the body and pain relief, as well as euphoria and sleepiness.

This drug is not taken long-term unless it is considered entirely necessary, such as patients with conditions that lead to chronic pain. Patients who are on methadone to wean them off of heroin use it as a short-term method to help patients recover with the least amount of pain possible.

However, those who are prescribed methadone long-term are carefully monitored by their doctors. It is the responsibility of the patient to follow doctor’s orders for their prescriptions and not abuse the drug.

Abuse is where problems arise. Beyond physical dependence, those who abuse this drug for an extended period of time experience cardiovascular and respiratory issues, as well as impaired judgment, learning, and memory.

Methadone should never be taken without a prescription and without the proper regulation of licensed doctors and nurses.

Learn More About Methadone Treatment

There is a reason why methadone is only prescribed under the careful monitoring of a licensed medical professional. Unfortunately, even with methadone’s positive traits, there are still individuals who become addicted to opioids.

Visit our page to learn more on the drug as an option to opiate addiction, methadone treatment and recovery. Our breakdown includes an easy-to-read infographic that breaks down everything you need to know about the methadone treatment process and its effectiveness. For more information or how to get help reach out to us at (855) 976-2092.

Sources 

[1] Opioid Drugs: Dosage, Side Effects, and More. (2012, July 19). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/narcotic-pain-medications

[2] Neonatal abstinence syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (2019, January). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007313.htm

 

methadone clinic information

Methadone Clinics | 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Treatment

/104 Comments/in /by

If you or a loved one struggle with opioid addiction, methadone treatment may be the right option for you.

Methadone treatments have a very high success rate (60-90 percent). This is especially significant when compared to other, non-drug treatment modalities, which have only a 5-10 percent success rate.

Before you start looking for methadone clinics near you, it’s important to fully understand what it entails. Many people don’t do their research beforehand and have a harder time sticking to the program because they didn’t know what to expect going in.

To increase your chances of success, read on to learn about some of the most important (but under-shared) things you need to know about methadone clinics and methadone treatment.

What is Methadone Treatment?

Before getting into specifics about methadone treatment clinics, it’s important to understand exactly what methadone treatment is.

Methadone is a drug that has been used for years to help fight opioid addiction.

Methadone is a narcotic, but it has a different effect on the brain than other addictive drugs.

Methadone actually “unplugs” the opioid receptors. As a result, it stops symptoms of withdrawal and helps recovering addicts resist cravings.

This drug is highly effective when it is used under a licensed physician’s supervision. In fact, there are more than 100,000 Americans who use methadone to help them maintain their sobriety.

What You Need to Know About Methadone Treatment

There are a lot of things that people don’t understand about methadone and methadone treatment. Listed below are ten important facts to know before you seek out this type of treatment or recommend it to a loved one who’s struggling with addiction.

1. Clinics Offer Comprehensive Treatment

Many people don’t realize how comprehensive methadone clinics are. It’s not just about prescribing someone a drug and leaving them to their own devices.

Clinics offer a variety of additional rehabilitation treatments, including:

  • Counseling, both in individual and group settings
  • Vocational counseling
  • Resocialization opportunities
  • Medical treatment
  • Additional counseling for specific mental health disorders
  • Education and housing help
  • Aftercare transitional assistance
  • HIV care and prevention

Clinics offer a well-rounded approach to help addicts enter recovery and get on track to start improving their lives for good.

2. Methadone Treatment Does Not Cause Euphoria

Because it is a narcotic, some people believe that methadone is no different from other habit-forming drugs. This simply is not the case, though.

It’s important to note that methadone does not cause a feeling of euphoria when it’s taken in therapeutic doses.

Methadone is dispensed at a clinic in a very controlled amount at the beginning, so there’s virtually no risk of an individual receiving too much of it.

Methadone allows individuals to participate normally in society without any kind of “high” feeling.

3. Dosages are Individualized

It’s important to work with a clinic when using methadone to stop taking opioids. One reason for this is that, at most clinics, each person receives an individualized dosage that is right for their needs.

That dosage is calculated based on several factors, including how high their dose was when they were abusing drugs and the specific dosage that allows them to see the best results.

4. Methadone Treatment is Very Cost-Effective

The opioid addiction in the United States costs$1 trillion, and that cost is only expected to go up.

Methadone treatment is an economical solution — both for patients and the country as a whole — that will help reduce costs across the board.

5. Methadone Treatment is Long-Lasting

On average, a methadone dosage lasts between 24 and 36 hours. This helps individuals who are taking it maintain some semblance of normalcy since they’re able to go longer stretches without having to visit a clinic for their next dose.

6. Methadone is Safe for Pregnant Women

Methadone treatment has been deemed safe for pregnant women. It also improves pregnancy outcomes. Babies who are born dependent on the drug are usually able to grow without permanent side effects when they’re monitored by a qualified physician.

7. Methadone Has Been Used for Almost 70 Years

Methadone has been around for a long time. The drug was first introduced in the 1960s, and it has helped millions of people change their lives for the better.

8. Methadone Reduces the Risk of a Fatal Overdose

For many people, relapse is part of the recovery process. Methadone helps addicts who relapse avoid fatal overdoses. In fact, the risk of accidental overdose due to drug poisoning mortality goes down significantly in people who use methadone.

This is because methadone helps people maintain their tolerance to other opioids. This is helpful because, in the event that they do relapse, they receive less of a shock than they would if they had gone cold turkey.

9. Methadone Treatment is Not the Same as Addiction

Some people believe that methadone treatment isn’t an addiction treatment at all. This is because they see the use of methadone as simply trading one addiction for another.

This belief stems, in part, from the fact that some people have to stay on methadone for years or even the duration of their life.

In reality, though, methadone treatment is not the same as an addiction.

When methadone is taken in proper doses, it does not cause harmful consequences that are the same as those brought on by addiction. People who receive treatment are able to live their lives normally and contribute to society.

10. Methadone Clinics Can Improve Family Stability

Finally, working with a clinic and starting methadone treatment can be instrumental in helping families and friends reconnect.

Addiction can be incredibly isolating, but having the support of loved ones makes a major difference in a person’s chances of recovery.

Since clinics often offer family and group therapy options, addicts and their loved ones can make amends and develop new and healthier relationships.

Want to Learn More?

Do you want more information on methadone clinics and methadone treatment? Are you still on the fence about whether or not this is the right approach for you?

If so, check out our blog posts today or call us at (855) 976-2092 for more resources to help you make an informed decision about how to navigate the recovery process.

Sources

[1] Harvard Health Publishing. (2017, February 8). Treating opiate addiction, Part I: Detoxification and maintenance – Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/treating-opiate-addiction-part-i-detoxification-and-maintenance

[2] Cost Of U.S. Opioid Epidemic Since 2001 Is $1 Trillion And Climbing. (2018, February 13). Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/13/585199746/cost-of-u-s-opioid-epidemic-since-2001-is-1-trillion-and-climbing

[3]  Opioid Overdose | Medline Plus U.S. National Library of Medicine (n.d.). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/opioidoverdose.html

 

 

suboxone or methadone

Methadone vs Suboxone: Important Differences to Know

/4 Comments/in /by

Statistics report that 1.9 million Americans are addicted to opioid drugs. While the medical industry offers no magic cure, they do offer a variety of treatment options. The main treatments for opioid addiction include Methadone and Suboxone.

Addiction sufferers take Methadone and Suboxone to combat harmful opiates such as heroin and prescription opioids such as OxyContin.

Individuals take these two drugs to stop chemical dependency on these dangerous habit-forming drugs.

Methadone and Suboxone have helped people gain a better quality of life they may have once had before getting addicted to heroin and prescription opioids.

Methadone and Suboxone help fight withdrawal symptoms and can manage to avoid relapse.

But there sometimes lies a problem. Although Suboxone and Methadone have been successful when not taken as prescribed, some users who attempt to detox on their own have formed an addiction to these drugs as well and abused them.

In fact, many skeptics view the use of exchanging these drugs for opioids or heroin as a replacement for one addictive drug over another. That’s why it’s important to take these drugs under medical supervision.

When taken as directed, Methadone and Suboxone have helped people who battle opioid abuse.

But there lies a difference between the two drugs.

This article will discuss these differences.

Methadone Vs Suboxone: Essential Differences To Know

Here’s what you need to know.

1. The History: Old Vs. New

Methadone became available to the American market in the 1960s. However, it was used to treat addiction in Germany in the late 1930s. Methadone has been used in medical facilities to fight heroin addiction since this time.

On the other hand, Suboxone is a newer treatment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the drug the green light in the year 2002 for opioid dependency treatment.

2. How Does Methadone Work?

During detox, methadone minimizes and eliminates uncomfortable and painful withdrawal symptoms. The treatment actually alters the manner in which pain affects the nervous system and brain.

Methadone comes in three forms: by tablet, liquid or in Diskets.

Tablets are swallowed and taken with water. Methadone Diskets need to be dissolved in a liquid before people ingest them. Methadone comes in liquid form as well. Individuals can drink it or dissolve it in a glass of water or a beverage.

3. How Does Suboxone Work?

Suboxone comes in two forms: a tablet form or a film that’s placed beneath the tongue. dissolves in the mouth and enters the body. Suboxone is combined with two drugs: buprenorphine, a synthetic opioid and naloxone.

The drug does produce euphoric effects, however, they are not as strong as the euphoric effects of Methadone.

Similar to Methadone, Suboxone helps individuals by reducing, or possibly even eliminating withdrawal symptoms.

Another benefit occurs when using a buprenorphine-based drug (Suboxone) because the risk of overdosing is lower compared to using Methadone.

However, when injected, the naloxone contained in Suboxone can cause extremely unpleasant withdrawal effects. This makes people want to stop using Suboxone.

4. The Benefit of Medicated-Assisted Treatment

Although people believe Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is substituting one habit-forming drug for another, the treatment of Methadone and Suboxone has been successful.

When taken under the supervision of a doctor and with the combination of behavioral therapies.

Individuals can function in daily life and end criminal and sexually promiscuous behaviors. MAT also minimizes the risk of contracting HIV through the use of infected needles.

5. How To Access Methadone or Suboxone

Methadone can only be prescribed by a physician and must be taken under the physician’s care. Methadone is given at opioid treatment programs.

The programs must be certified by SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The facility needs to register with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The facility must also hold a license and meet the DEA methadone regulations. Since Methadone is a schedule II drug, the Methadone treatment needs to be held in a SAMHSA-certified clinic.

Unlike the distribution of Methadone, Suboxone can be prescribed in a doctors office. Physicians can also prescribe it to patients in hospitals, prisons, and health departments.

6. How Long Do People Need To Take Methadone Or Suboxone?

SAMHSA recommends individuals to take Methadone for at least one year. But some patients take the drug for years. This is decided between a doctor and a patient on a case-by-case basis.

When individuals wish to end treatment, they will gradually decrease the drug consumption. But this should be done under the supervision of a doctor.

Patients taking Suboxone may not need to take it for one year. The amount of time they take the drug depends on the decision between the treatment facility and the patient’s medical history.

7. Can Pregnant Women Take Methadone And Suboxone?

Expectant mothers have taken Methadone while pregnant. Although risks can be present, the advantages of Methadone can outweigh the disadvantages of heroin and opioids.

Methadone use and birth defects have not been severe, although some newborns may have brief withdrawal symptoms immediately following the birth.

Buprenorphine has not delivered severe effects during pregnancy according to SAMHSA. But there have not been many studies conducted.

8. Which Drug Is Safer: Methadone or Suboxone?

People can get addicted to Methadone. This occurs because when it is distributed on the black market. People also take Methadone for pain management and deaths have been reported.

To add, Methadone lasts longer and its effects can build up its effects in the body. The CDC reported that Methadone accounted for 30% of painkiller deaths. That’s double the number of overdoses caused by other painkillers.

Suboxone is not altogether safe from overdoses either, however they are smaller in number.

In a six-year study comparing Methadone to Buprenorphine overdoses with subjects in England and Wales, researchers concluded Suboxone was 6x safer than Methadone.

They reported 52 deaths caused by Buprenorphine and 2,366 as a result of Methadone.

Methadone vs Suboxone: The Conclusion

Now you know more information about the differences between Methadone and Suboxone. Both treatment drugs offer benefits to fight addiction and have their unique effects.

Whichever treatment you choose, the most important thing is to be treated under medical supervision.

Our website provides educational articles and referrals to Methadone treatment for addiction sufferers and their families. Visit our blog today or call us at  855-976-2092 and learn how you can begin the journey of recovery.

Sources

[1] Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs | SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019, 30). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/atod

[2] Drug Scheduling. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling

[3] The relative risk of fatal poisoning by methadone or buprenorphine within the wider population of England and Wales. (2015, May 1). Retrieved from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/5/e007629.full