Suffering from Methadone addiction or know a loved one who is? Here we go into detail about methadone addiction, various treatments available for you and how you can benefit from going to treatment for your addiction.
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Methadone the substance was created all the way back during the Second World War by the Germans and is now mostly known to be an effective pain treatment or to help those struggling with narcotic addiction. Methadone works by alternating how the brain functions and its nervous system reacts to pain so that the user taking the substance will feel relief.
There are a few available forms that you can find Methadone in such as liquid, tablet or powder. With a single dose lasting from 24 hours to 36 hours and no one should exceed 80mg to 100mg on a daily basis.
What Is The Medical Use Of Methadone?
Methadone is mostly used an opioid treatment that ‘tricks’ the brain into feeling something that is more pleasurable and is used to help people experiencing pain so they can manage the pain as it directly affects the brain and nervous system.
It is used to help to treat patients during withdrawal symptoms in rehabilitation as methadone helps block the ‘euphoric’ feeling that addicts get from misusing substances while still treating the pain from withdrawal symptoms. It’s a very effective way of helping a patient wean themselves off their drug addiction because it achieves the same goal but in an easier fashion.
Once a client starts to be in a stable position with their health from withdrawal, they can begin to start their rehabilitation programme set by their clinic. All the doses given to patients will be medically supervised and done by professionals who are trained so they won’t build up a physical dependence on the drug.
It is used to help fight against those suffering from heroin addiction as heroin causes the user a feeling of ‘pleasure’ and ‘joy’ when using it, the more they start to use the drug, the more they will start having to up the dosage in order for them to get the effects they felt the first time around which will build up a dependency on the drug and when a person who has a dependency on a drug removes it from their life, they will experience withdrawal symptoms.
One of the withdrawal symptoms of heroin is serious craving which can be very uncomfortable for the user, methadone will be used to help them fight against it by giving similar ‘feelings’ but to a very lesser extent. The user has a better chance against cravings then and can fight the cravings to get them off the drug completely
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How Does A Methadone Addiction Addiction Happen?
Like any opioid, there is always a risk that the person using it will build up a dependency if they are using it frequently. Once someone who is addicted to methadone tries to remove the drug from their life, they will suffer from withdrawal symptoms which means they will take the drug again in order to feel ‘normal.’
When a full-blown addiction is in effect, people will go to any lengths to source Methadone such as stealing, lying and more very risky behaviour. Even though it is a very helpful drug when aiding those struggling with other addictions such as heroin, there is still a chance that you can get a Methadone addiction.
Due to the feeling of euphoria the drug gives off and how it can treat pain, it can cause users to crave Methadone and over time they will build up a tolerance & dependency on the drug. Methadone has a lower risk of addiction than most drugs and addiction to this drug can be avoided with medical supervision.
Signs Of Methadone Addiction
- Dizziness.
- Laboured breathing.
- Sexual problems e.g. erectile dysfunction.
- Blue-tinted like lips.
- Fainting.
- Confusion.
- Pain.
- Blurry vision.
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Methadone Addiction Treatment
If you are starting to suspect that you are suffering from a Methadone addiction to the point where it is starting to affect your everyday life in a negative way or know a loved one who is battling against their methadone addiction, it should be your priority now to help seek out support in order to get on the road to recovery.
With a methadone addiction, you will have to undergo detox treatment in order to flush the drugs out of your system and rehabilitation centres will have specialists on hand who can help medically supervise you through the withdrawal symptoms with support around the clock.
Once you have finished your detox treatment which could take anywhere between 7 – 14 days, you will begin your rehabilitation programme where you will be able to do therapy sessions tailored to you such as one-on-one therapy where you can talk through your problem and find the root of your addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Methadone works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, which reduces cravings for opioids and prevents withdrawal symptoms. However, methadone also binds to these receptors long-term, meaning that patients on Methadone will still feel normal levels of pain relief even when not taking the drug. This means that they are at risk of becoming addicted to the drug because they need more and more just to get “high” again.