Methadone Side Effects

For more than five decades, methadone has provided a reliable treatment for opiate addiction treatment. It helps chronic opiate users move beyond addiction. Those looking for an opiate addiction rehab center in Jacksonville, FL recovering addicts trust should explore methadone as a possible treatment during detox and long-term maintenance. However, it’s important to understand methadone side effects before committing to a course of treatment.

What is Methadone and How Does it Work?

The University of Maryland describes methadone as a synthetic opiate. It creates the same effects as opiate narcotics. However, it doesn’t produce the euphoric high that causes addiction. This makes it ideal to ease the symptoms of withdrawal without creating new problems.

Methadone Maintenance Therapy

During your long-term maintenance treatment, you may use methadone for several months. Some people need medically assisted recovery for years after their traditional treatment plan. That’s why it’s important to understand the side effects of using methadone.

Chronic opiate addiction leaves the brain in a state of chemical imbalance long after you stop using the drug. This makes it difficult to abstain from using opioids again. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, methadone maintenance therapy may last several years. This increases your chances of developing the long-term effects discussed below.

Long-Term Methadone Side Effects

The long-term effects impact your health and can lead to a dependence on methadone.

Health Effects

Methadone depresses chemical activities in your brain and central nervous system. While everyone’s chemical make-up is unique, some of the long-term methadone side effects include:

• Breathing issues
• Lung problems
• Constipation
• Reduced testosterone
• Sexual dysfunction
• Irregular periods

Long-term impacts of methadone are similar to those of long-term addiction.

Other physical symptoms of methadone abuse include nausea and vomiting. constricted pupils. slowed breathing, sweating. constipation. and increased pain.

Tolerance

There’s a risk of building a tolerance to the drug. Therefore, your dosage may be adjusted during your maintenance therapy. That’s because your brain gets used to it and needs more to produce the same effect. As a result, it takes longer to ween off the drug, and rising tolerance increases the chances of having adverse effects over time.

Physical Dependence

Methadone is used in replacement therapy, which weans your body off of opiates. In effect, your brain becomes dependent on methadone instead. You may experience withdrawal effects if you miss a dose or the dose is too low. Tapering off the drug takes from three to twelve months or longer. For best results, stick to your schedule. Don’t miss doses.

Addiction Risk

Addiction risk stems from the drug’s opiate-based ingredients. So, the chances of methadone addiction rise the longer you stay on the drug. In fact, some people require therapy to get off of methadone.

Drug Interactions

For many people, opiate addiction leads to other mental and physical issues. If you’re on medications for another condition, it’s important to understand how they interact with methadone maintenance therapy. The National Drug Intelligence Center states that methadone interacts with many other drugs. This includes central nervous system stimulants. Over time, these interactions can slow down your recovery.

Long Term Effects of Methadone During Pregnancy

Methadone is a standard treatment during pregnancy. However, there are many impacts on the mother and fetus. Long term side effects of methadone for pregnant mothers include:

• Anemia
• Premature delivery
• Postpartum hemorrhaging
• Malnourishment for the mother
• Spontaneous abortion

Beaches Recovery

Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville, Florida, offers substance abuse treatment programs for those struggling to overcome drug and alcohol abuse. Contact us at 866.605.0532 today to learn how methadone is used in our medically assisted therapies and how we safeguard our clients from the risk of methadone side effects.