Methadone is a medication that is commonly used to help to prevent withdrawal symptoms from other drugs like morphine, heroin, and fentanyl. It’s also used for the relief of severe pain. While this medicine has a number of wonderful uses and benefits, it can also be problematic in some ways. While originally designed to treat addiction to opiates and opioids it has caused problems due to its own addictive nature. Therefore, what is methadone and how can you overcome addiction in your life?
Unfortunately, there is potential for difficult symptoms with methadone withdrawal or abuse. These can be scary if you or a loved one experience them. Here at Crest View Recovery Center, we want to help put your mind at ease by providing you with some basic information, such as what is methadone, along with problems to watch out for. Keep reading for these answers and more.
Specifically What Is Methadone?
Methadone is a medicine that falls under the opioid category. Its initial purpose is to treat pain and now aids in the treatment of addiction to substances like heroin, morphine, or narcotic pain meds. You must have a doctors prescription and it comes in pill, liquid, or powder form. In fact, methadone can be injected.
Though this opioid is safer than many others, it still can come with problems like overdose or withdrawal. It can be abused itself but typically causes fewer issues than an addiction to stronger drugs. It’s important to have medical supervision when taking the drug.
About Methadone Abuse
Methadone is often a replacement therapy to harder opioid drugs. It can provide a safer high and help to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay. It can come with some risky side effects and the possibility of overdose.
Dangerous side effects of methadone can include trouble breathing, along with swollen lips, tongue or face. Feeling faint or lightheaded is also possible, as well as chest pain or rapid heartbeat. Confusion, hallucinations are also side effects to be aware of. Symptoms such as slow breathing and heart rate, muscle weakness, unusual drowsiness, dilated pupils and clammy skin could indicate a methadone overdose.
How CVRC Can Help
Now that you know what is methadone, it’s important to understand there is help for withdrawal or dependency. Crest View Recovery Center has a top-notch staff and the resources to assist in overcome methadone addiction. No matter how your addiction started or where it is now, we can help you find a recovery plan that works for your needs. Our center is ideally equipped with anything you could need.
For example, highlights of our facility include:
Specifically, methadone dependence isn’t something you have to manage on your own. Having a professional support network can make the recovery process much less daunting and far more successful. In addition, knowing what is methadone will keep you from going too far into addiction. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or someone you love needs help. You can call us today at 866.327.2505.