Methadone Addiction
(And you thought Methadone was your friend...) |
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I had to include this section on Methadone. For more than
17 years I was an active Heroin Addict and at least %75 of the time I was on Methadone at
one clinic or another. I am not an advocate of Methadone for the simple fact that I
believe Methadone helped me to prolong my active addiction.
Long term Methadone
use kept me trapped as a prisoner of addiction, I was
tied to the clinic and used to drive 10 to 20 miles a day in a junk car just
hoping I would get there. On the few occasions
that I missed the met clinic I became very sick. Withdrawal from Methadone was
never any fun either. The road to recovery is a rough one. There were more than a few
times that I just wished I would die instead of going through any more withdrawal pain.
I get several
individuals writing in to me about the "benefits" of Methadone. The only
benefit I see from Methadone is to get off of the street and only stay on
the clinic for perhaps a 21 day detox. I received a letter the other
day that said "Methadone saved my life and I have been on it for 14 years!"
Trust me, If
you are on Methadone you do not have a "Life", you are rather a slave to
this drug and your every day existence depends on it. Before I stopped
Methadone I could not travel anywhere on vacations nor did I want to because
I was held as a captive by this drug.
Since I have
quit Methadone I have learned to Scuba Dive and I have went diving in the
most awesome oceans on the planet. Papua New Guinea, Palau Micronesia,
Honduras, Bonaire, St. Lucia, Bahamas, and several more. When I got off the
Methadone I started "Living" for the first time in my life.
My
advice to anyone who is on Methadone at the present time is to get off of it
immediately. Seek professional help at a local detoxification facility to
learn about your disease and the program of Narcotics Anonymous
Recovery is freedom!
The following is a an
overview of Methadone and its effects.
Methadone is a
synthetic narcotic analgesic that acts in a manner similar to morphine or heroin. It was
developed as a pain killer, but now its primary use is the sedation, maintenance, and
detoxification of narcotic addicts. It is given to addicts in sanctioned methadone
programs to reduce their opiate use. Methadone is sometimes used for severe pain
management, usually with cancer patients.
Methadone is produced in tablet, oral, and injectable forms. In the United States,
methadone clinics prescribe and dose in liquid form only, per federal regulations.
Methadone is classified as a Schedule II drug and is a federally controlled substance.
Methods of Use
Methadone is usually prescribed in oral doses as treatment for
narcotic addictions. Methadone treatment for narcotic addiction works best when used in
combination with a comprehensive counseling program.
In methadone treatment, doses of methadone are typically given to addicts once every 24
hours. Dosage depends on the patient's tolerance levels and must be carefully assessed to
avoid negative and adverse side effects.
In methadone maintenance, regular doses of methadone are given to addicts to keep them
from using other narcotics. Methadone can also be used to withdraw addicts from other
narcotics, usually over a 21-day period.
Tablet and injectable forms of methadone are obtained and used illegally.
Effects on the Central Nervous System
Methadone works primarily with the body's opiate receptors in the
central nervous system and in organs composed of smooth muscle tissue. Because methadone
is a synthetic narcotic, it has the potential to produce drug addiction with psychological
dependence, physical dependence, and tolerance. Major hazards include respiratory
depression, circulatory depression, respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac arrest.
Methadone must be used carefully when combined with central nervous system depressants
(such as general anesthetics), other narcotic analgesics, tranquilizers,
sedative-hypnotics, and tricyclic antidepressants.
Intoxication
When appropriately prescribed, methadone does not produce
intoxication. It is used as a medication to treat narcotic addictions and to aid patients
with chronic severe pain.
Adverse reactions and side effects may include dry mouth, lightheadedness, dizziness,
sedation, vomiting, nausea, sweating, euphoria, dysphoria, weakness, headache, insomnia,
agitation, disorientation, anorexia, constipation, faintness, urinary retention, and
reduced libido and potency.
Life Risks
The major hazards of methadone overdose are respiratory depression,
and to a lesser degree, circulatory depression, respiratory arrest, shock, and cardiac
arrest. Methadone can cause psychological dependence, physical dependence and tolerance.
Overdose and death can also occur.
Withdrawal
Methadone abstinence syndrome (withdrawal) is similar to withdrawal
from morphine and heroin, but the onset of withdrawal is slower, the course is prolonged,
and fewer severe symptoms occur. Symptoms may include restlessness, irritability,
weakness, anxiety, depression, goose flesh, fever, chilliness, excessive perspiration,
tachycardia, abdominal cramps, body aches, involuntary twitching and kicking movements,
anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal spasms.
If you are on
Methadone now do yourself a favor and get off. The sooner you do is the sooner that you
can be on your way to freedom in recovery.
I have gotten a
lot of feedback on Methadone so I am going to start posting comments from
the people that are on Methadone, Have Been On Methadone, or if you Dispense
Methadone.
(This section is brand new on 03/25/05
and will grow
with time please help by adding your comments)
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