Drugs are made to provide the human body health benefits. In such a way, doctors prescribe these drugs and patients take these drugs to alleviate their pain and make their conditions better. These drugs do not however provide only benefits. These drugs may, for example, help an addict in the detoxification and withdrawal process but these may also in turn become another substance of abuse in the long run. These substances should be prescribed with close and careful guidance by the physician.
A synthetic opioid used to cure individuals suffering from pain is known as methadone. It is a thoroughly well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. Heroin gives off an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to call for an opiate continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupies this receptor and is the stabilizing factor that permits addicts on methadone to change their behavior and to stop using heroin. Methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for about 24 to 36 hours. However, this is only successful in cases of addiction to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs. Methadone blocks the high from heroin but it does not provide the euphoric rush.
Methadone has been a vital factor in terms of reducing crime, death, disease, and drug use. For one, methadone is acknowledge to be the most efficient cure for heroin addiction. It also prevents HIV/AIDS. It may be trivial, but methadone maintenance treatment reduces the occurrence of injecting and needle sharing. Moreover, methadone treatment reduces criminal behavior and almost eliminates heroin use.
Then like any other opioid drugs, extended exploiting of methadone and without appropriate guidance could possibly lead to tolerance and eventually cause drug dependency. When taken under medical prescription and under a physician’s care, research suggest that long-term methadone maintenance treatment use is medically safe.
Deaths occur more frequently at the beginning of treatment in methadone programs; they are usually a cause of excessive doses (i.e. erroneously estimated tolerance) and they are affected by concomitant diseases (hepatitis, pneumonia). Methadone generally entails the complete spectrum of opioid side effects, including the development of tolerance and physical and psychological dependence. Respiratory depressions are dangerous. The released histamines can cause bronchospasms.
Methadone dependency occurs when the body tolerates the substance thus, asking for higher dosage in the long run. And, once the practice is discontinued, withdrawal would occur. The physical changes due to the drug are the same to other opiates; suppressed cough reflex, contracted pupils, drowsiness and constipation. Some methadone users experience sickness when they first use the drug. If you are a woman using methadone you may not have regular periods – but you are still able to conceive. Methadone is a long-acting opioid; it has an effect for up to 36 hours and can stay in your body for several days.
According to an article by two doctors addressing the question, “is methadone more likely to kill you than heroin?”, stated that methadone is not an innocent substance. One’s methadone continuation is another’s poison. Actually, it depends mainly on the lenience of the person. A tolerant person could take in methadone without feeling any ill effects, but not a non-tolerant person. Moreover, as a precaution, it is wise to begin with small dosage and slowly increasing it, if the necessity to use methadone really arise. Also, experts have found out that methadone has been used unlawfully in the streets as a substitute for heroin. Thus, causing more death than heroin.
Methadone is a drug used to counterpart substance addiction yet tolerance may occur leading to addiction. There is irony in this substance. You think it’s safe but you suddenly becoming dependent to it.
