Get Informed: Methadone

306

Patient Comments About
Methadone

Active Ingredient(s)

Methadone

What does it do?

Methadone

This product is used for the treatment of severe pain. It is also used in the treatment of opioid addiction. It works by binding to opiod receptors which causes sedation without the 'high' associated with opioids.

Last Text Update:
 2010-Jul-31 12:54 AM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Jul-30 9:04 PM

Other Names

  • Methadone
  • Methadose
  • Dolophine
  • Physeptone
  • Eptadone
  • Metharose
  • Synastone

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
2:
Pregnancy Category
C

Black Box Warning

This product has a black box warning relating to the increased risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression or cardiac arrhythmias.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
15 Dec 1947
Est US Patients*
947,100
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

4

< 21

23

21-39

56

40-59

17

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Methadone or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Methadone

There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Methadone during the past year.

Methadone Safety Report

2:

The iGuard risk rating for Methadone is orange. This rating takes into account the fact that Methadone may cause excessive sedation and dependence, and should be managed carefully. It means that should normally be used cautiously to minimize the risk of serious side effects.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Methadone interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Methadone used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 7,000 patients that use Methadone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Back/Neck Pain 59% mild 8 severe
Pain-Generalized 44% mild 8 severe
Neuropathic Pain 22% mild 8 severe
Opiate Addiction 19% mild 7 severe
Fibromyalgia 7% mild 8 severe

How well does Methadone work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 7,000 users taking Methadone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

70 69
74%
of patients are confident that the good things about Methadone outweigh the bad things.
11%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Methadone.

Common Side Effects of Methadone

iGuard regularly polls our more than 7,000 users taking Methadone (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

67%

67% of patients experience side-effects on Methadone

14%

14% of patients experience significant side-effects on Methadone


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 25% Drowsiness
  • 20% Constipation
  • 10% Grogginess/Confusion
  • 10% Fatigue
  • 5% Itch/Rash
  • 5% Sweating
  • 5% Low Testosterone
  • 5% Dizziness
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: , Dental Problems, Hair Loss, Loss of Libido, Memory/Speech Problems, Nausea/Vomiting, Weight Gain, Withdrawal Problems


Global Patient Feedback for Methadone ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first
English comments | Global comments

Question/Comment:

I have been on methadone way to long cut down from 180 to 60 a day and no sleep.I stay awake just like speed.I have been awake for 4 nights and sleep 1 hr in day.I gage all the time but pot has fixed that.Pot works great for gageing and throwing up.Makes your blood feel good.No high but change of blood is great for nausia.Works for a little neck and back pain.Just a little relaxation.I hate methadone and side effects have been total hell for me for 5 years and I would rather be on oxys then methadone.but quit

57 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-07-13 14:13:46

Question/Comment:

I have been taking Methadone for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue since the year 2000.I have severe pain. I tryed Oxycontin and many other things. Methadone was the only drug I could tolerate along with Cymbalta-Trazadone plus Nuvigil for energy.I wouldn't change to anything else.I take 10 mg 4 times per day.At least I can get through a day.

59 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-05-10 15:31:53

Question/Comment:

I used heroin and just about every other drug you can name,for over 25 yrs.I finally got serious about getting clean and got on a Methadone maintence program almost 7yrs. ago.I have not touched ANYTHING since then.And that is saying alot.I started using at 14 and finally stopped at 41.Methadone saved my life,I was dying from abcesses and infections.I am not ready to get off yet.I am on 110mg. daily and I am allowed to take my weekly dosages home every week,because I have stayed clean.

48 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-05-05 22:23:31

Answer/Reply:

How do you go about getting into a Methadone clinic? I want to try it but do not know where to go. I live in Bellingham WA but do not know where there is a place to get methadone. I do not have insurance so do not go to any doctors, but I want to get off heroin. Anyone know what I could do?

41 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-06-05 02:02:23

Answer/Reply:

I can understand your pain and frustration at not being able to find help. But you can go online and google methadone clinics in Washington State. There you will find all methadone clinics in your state. Most will have some kind of a sliding scale for payment. I don't know if any are near your area, but you could find out what resources are available to you by calling the one that is closest. I checked and there are about 12 methadone clinics in your state. Good luck to you.

54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-07-25 09:35:35

Question/Comment:

I was an IV user of Dilaudid and heroin for many years. I decided to try Methadone for treatment of my drug abuse and have now been on it for over 3 years. Since then, I have not touched 1 drug, drink, or even cigarette. I think I'm ready to taper off methadone and plan to do so by going down 5mg every few weeks or so. I know it will be slow going and am fine with that. I wondered if anyone with a similar situation or experience has been able to remain drug free once completely off methadone?

29 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-04-15 17:56:24

iGuard Answer/Reply:

It is possible to taper off the methadone. Make sure you work with your physicians on a tapering schedule and support so that you can be successful in becoming and remaining drug free.

Posted: 2010-05-16 10:51:46

Question/Comment:

Ive been going to the Methadone clinic now for 3 years. I was addicted to pain pills like Percocet,Vicodin,Oxycontin,pretty much anything I could find. The Methadone has really helped me. I am on 100mg a day. As far as coming off it Im not ready yet. My boyfriend weaned himself off and had bad withdraws but then Ive seen people have mild withdraws. I think it really depends on your mindset.

32 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-03-10 15:48:32

Answer/Reply:

How do you go about getting into a methadone clinic? How much does it cost? I dont have insurance and wanted to know about the clinic so that I can get off drugs also. Thank you!

41 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-06-05 02:06:00

Answer/Reply:

No not your mindset. You just need to go down slowly on your methadone. I have went from 140 to 35mg. in a years time. I still remain on 35mgs. I am doing just as good with 35 as I was 140mgs. Actually 140 mgs. was really too much. It kept me really sleepy all day because I had to take it in the morning before going to work. 35 mgs. is much better for not making me drowsy.

45 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2010-07-21 03:19:10

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