Warnings
You should not use methadone if you have severe asthma or breathing problems, or a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
MISUSE OF METHADONE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription.
Keep the medication in a place where others cannot get to it.
Taking opioid medicine during pregnancy may cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the newborn.
Fatal side effects can occur if you use opioid medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing.
Methadone may cause a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.
Call your doctor at once if you have a headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, and fast or pounding heartbeats.
Your heart function may need to be checked during treatment.
Before taking Methadone
You should not use methadone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- severe asthma or breathing problems; or
- a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
Methadone may cause a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.
Your heart function may need to be checked during treatment.
To make sure methadone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart problems, long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
- breathing problems, sleep apnea;
- a head injury, brain tumor, or seizures;
- drug or alcohol addiction, or mental illness;
- liver or kidney disease;
- urination problems; or
- problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, or thyroid.
How is it used?
In Australia, two formulations are available for methadone maintenance treatment:
- Methadone Syrup®: This formulation contains 5 mg/ml methadone hydrochloride, sorbitol, glycerol, ethanol (4.75%), caramel, flavouring, and sodium benzoate..
- Biodone Forte®: This formulation contains 5mg/ml methadone hydrochloride and permicol-red colouring.
Generally, there are two types of methadone programs:
- Maintenance (long-term programs): May last for months or years, and aims to reduce the harms associated with drug use and improve quality of life.
Withdrawal (short-term detoxification programs): Runs for approximately 5-14 days and aims to ease the discomfort of stopping heroin use.
For pain relief, methadone is administered through an injection or tablets.
How effective is methadone?
Methadone treatment is more likely to be successful if it’s part of a comprehensive treatment program,
which addresses the body, mind and environment in which heroin has been used.
For example, treatment may include a combination of methadone, counselling, alternative therapies, a positive support network of peers and friends and a support group.
Methadone maintenance may not work for everyone, so it’s important to consult a doctor or drug counsellor to find the best approach.
Advantages of methadone maintenance over heroin use
- Using methadone on its own is unlikely to result in an overdose.
- Methadone maintenance keeps the person stable while they make positive changes in their life.
- Health problems are reduced or avoided, especially those related to injecting, such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, skin infections and vein problems.
- Doses are required only once a day, sometimes even less often, because methadone’s effects are long lasting.
- Methadone is much cheaper than heroin.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use methadone if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- severe asthma or breathing problems; or
- a blockage in your stomach or intestines.
Methadone may cause a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder. Your heart function may need to be checked during treatment.
To make sure methadone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
If you use opioid medicine during pregnancy, your baby could be born with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, and may need medical treatment for several weeks.
Do not breastfeed. Methadone can pass into breast milk and cause drowsiness, breathing problems, or death in a nursing baby.
How should I use methadone?
Use methadone exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Never use methadone in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. T
ell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.
Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction.
MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH.
Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it.
Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Methadone oral is taken by mouth. The injection is given directly into a vein.
Measure liquid medicine with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
Dissolve the dispersible tablet in water, orange juice, or other citrus-flavored non-alcoholic beverage. Stir and drink this mixture right away.
Never crush a pill to inhale the powder or inject it into your vein. This could result in death.
You should not stop using methadone suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.
Store at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep your medicine in a place where no one can use it improperly.
Do not keep leftover medicine. Just one dose can cause death in someone using it accidentally or improperly.
Ask your pharmacist about a drug take-back program, or flush the unused medicine down the toilet.
What happens if I miss a dose?
If you take methadone for pain: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then take your next dose 8 to 12 hours later.
Foe people who take methadone for drug addiction: Take your missed dose the next day at the regular time.
Once you miss your doses for longer than 3 days in a row, call your doctor for instructions. You may need to restart your dosing schedule at a lower dose.
Do not take two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
An overdose can be fatal, especially in a child or person using opioid medicine without a prescription.
Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, pinpoint pupils, slow breathing, or no breathing.
Your doctor may recommend you get naloxone (a medicine to reverse an opioid overdose) and keep it with you at all times.
A person caring for you can give the naloxone if you stop breathing or don’t wake up.
Your caregiver must still get emergency medical help and may need to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on you while waiting for help to arrive.
Anyone can buy naloxone from a pharmacy or local health department.
Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep naloxone and how to use it.
What should I avoid while using methadone?
Do not drink alcohol. Dangerous side effects or death could occur.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how methadone will affect you.
Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.
Grapefruit may interact with methadone and cause side effects.
Avoid consuming grapefruit products.
Methadone side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to methadone: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur.
A person caring for you should give naloxone and/or seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- weak or shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;
- severe constipation;
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath;
- low cortisol levels–nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; or
- serotonin syndrome – agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, diarrhea.
Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and people who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.
Common methadone side effects may include:
- dizziness, drowsiness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- increased sweating; or
- pain, redness, or swelling where the medicine was injected.
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