Methadone is a synthetic opioid medication used primarily to help people clean from heroin, Fentanyl, and prescription painkillers. Methadone is available as a pill, capsule, and liquid solution. In terms of its effects, it resembles most other opioids. It will cause euphoria, and someone may appear high when taking Methadone.
Methadone is a prescription drug, but there is also an underground market for it. Because, unlike Suboxone, which is also an opioid addiction medication, Methadone does not block the effects of opioids, but Suboxone does. Methadone keeps withdrawal symptoms at bay and still lets the addict continue to use their opioid drug of choice.
Methadone Can Be Addictive?
A person can become physically dependent and addicted to Methadone since it is a synthetic opioid. When a person consumes any type of opioid, natural or synthetic, in time, they will develop a tolerance to the effects and need to use more of it. Even though Methadone is used to help addicts quit opioid drugs, it alone causes addiction due to its opioid properties. Although Methadone is not as intense as other fast-acting opioid drugs, it still gets people high. Many addicts attend methadone maintenance clinics sporadically, attempting to free themselves from the addiction but often return to their drug use.
AMONG PEOPLE AGED 12 OR OLDER IN 2020, 3.3 PERCENT (OR 9.3 MILLION PEOPLE) MISUSED PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS, IN THE PAST YEAR, THAT INCLUDES METHADONE (SAMHSA)
What Do Medical Experts Say About Methadone Addiction?
The science and health experts at the National Center for Biotechnology Information explain how serious opioids like Methadone affect the brain and behaviors and why addiction to Methadone is as complex as other opioids.
“BRAIN ABNORMALITIES RESULTING FROM CHRONIC USE OF HEROIN, OXYCODONE, [METHADONE] AND OTHER MORPHINE-DERIVED DRUGS ARE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF OPIOID DEPENDENCE (THE NEED TO KEEP TAKING DRUGS TO AVOID A WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME) AND ADDICTION (INTENSE DRUG CRAVING AND COMPULSIVE USE). THE ABNORMALITIES THAT PRODUCE DEPENDENCE IS WELL UNDERSTOOD BY SCIENCE, APPEAR TO RESOLVE AFTER DETOXIFICATION, WITHIN DAYS OR WEEKS AFTER OPIOID USE STOPS. THE ABNORMALITIES THAT PRODUCE ADDICTION, HOWEVER, ARE MORE WIDE-RANGING, COMPLEX, AND LONG-LASTING. (NCBI)
How To Quit Methadone?
Since Methadone is often prescribed to patients with opioid dependence, doctors who prescribe it for addiction will encourage outpatient treatment. To stop using Methadone, even if the person relies on it to remain drug-free of other opioids, the person cannot quit cold turkey. Methadone addiction will need the assistance of a methadone clinic or a prescribing physician at a professional opioid addiction treatment facility for the person to stop using it. The process to taper down from Methadone is slow and requires minimal dose changes over several months and even years.
Can You Detox At Home?
People reducing or quitting their methadone intake are likely to suffer extreme withdrawal symptoms. Stopping Methadone at home, even with limited amounts of Methadone, quitting is complicated. It should not be done alone or without medical supervision. During the first week following the last use of Methadone, the detox symptoms will be excruciating. The withdrawal symptoms can last for up to two weeks since the drug remains in the body for that long. Methadone withdrawal includes:
- Watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing.
- Fever and cold sweats or chills
- Muscle aches, headaches, bone pains
- Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Anxiety and depression
- Irritability and restlessness
- Severe insomnia
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Cravings and desperation for Methadone
What Is A Detox Program?
To safely stop taking Methadone, a person must be admitted to a professional methadone detox program. Methadone maintenance clinics have improved in counseling and therapy, but they most often do not provide comprehensive treatment. A methadone detox center will help the person slowly taper their dose and enroll them in therapy groups and opioid addiction treatment. The taper schedule is necessary to prevent cravings and relapse, but the treatment will keep the person emotionally stable and ready to stay clean.
Fast Help For Methadone Detox At Aria Florida
Call now to begin now. Our Florida Methadone detox program allows people who suffer from an addiction to opioids the proper support and medications to help them overcome their addiction for good. At Aria Florida, our treatment begins while a person is in detox. Once detoxification clears the mind, most people are ready to accept help so they can finally be free of their addiction to Methadone or other drugs. We provide fast admission. So call today to start. We are here to help you!