Methadone Pain Management

By: Mack LeMouse

Methadone (also know as *deep breath in* symoron, dolphine, amidone, methadose, heptadon, phy, maethadose and others) is a synthetic – meaning processed – opioid. This is used as an analgesic, antiussive or as an ‘anti-addictive’ (the only one with an understandable name) for patients struggling to give up addictions to other opioids such as morphine and heroin which work on the same receptors.

For this reason it has many of the same effects and can similarly be used for managing chronic pain and has a very long duration of action and low cost. Methadone can also be used alongside other drugs and for therapeutic effect for example cancelling out the euphoric effects of heroine.

Methadone pain management then is an excellent alternative to using dangerous more powerful drugs with worse side effects. However this doesn’t mean that methadone is not without its own short comings and in fact is highly addictive itself as well as carrying various side effects. You should therefore be careful when considering the pros and cons of methadone pain management. It is currently not available over the counter though like many prescription drugs it is often dealt illegally.

Methadone is often taken as a liquid known as linctus which is then swallowed, though it is also available as tablets or injections with the method depending on the condition of the individual. The first thing to be aware of with methadone pain management is that overdose can have serious consequences and lead to death even in the case of overdose or complication through concomitant disease such as hepatitis or pneumonia. In the case of overdose patients will experience prior difficulty breathing, muscle spasms, small pupils, bluish hued skin and finernails, constipation, slowed heart rate, lower blood pressure, drowsiness and eventually coma. Should any of these symptoms become apparent then immediate medical attention is needed. As you can see, methadone is serious business and should be treated as any other hard drug.

Methadone has all of the side effects expected of other opioids such as heroin or morphine including potential physical and psychological dependence. Other side effects also include hypotension, bronchospasms, constipation, vomiting, vertigo, lethargy and edema. Women may also notice a loss of their regular period.

If addiction occurs then ‘coming off’ of methadone will prove difficult and may result in a variety of withdrawal symptoms. These may include pain, weakness, powerful craving, trembling, sweating and more. For all these reasons, some individuals have concluded that methadone is actually just as dangerous as heroin if not more so. Any and all opioids should be considered the last line of defence against pain management and methadone pain management is no different.

Source: healthguidance.org