Methadone - Are There Any Medical Reasons for Taking This Substance?

Are There Any Medical Reasons for Taking This Substance?

Methadone is an effective means of taking control of an opiate habit. It lessens the withdrawal symptoms of opiate abuse and helps control—but does not eliminate—cravings for opiates. People driven to desperation in their search for illegal heroin or painkillers can resume a normal lifestyle if they follow a methadone treatment plan. Studies have shown that long-term use of methadone in the absence of other drugs and alcohol has no adverse effects on the heart or other internal organs.

Someone who stops using methadone suddenly will suffer the withdrawal symptoms typical of all opiates, including diarrhea, nausea, chills, muscle pains, anxiety, insomnia, sweating, and frequent yawning or sneezing. In order to quit using the drug without these symptoms, it is necessary to lower the dose slowly over a period of months. This allows the body to adjust its brain chemistry gradually. Again, patients must be highly motivated to stay with the program, as even small reductions in dosage can bring a mild onset of withdrawal symptoms.

An epidemic of illegal OxyContin abuse since 2000 has led more doctors to prescribe methadone for chronic pain. Methadone is very effective in this role, but patients must be aware that the full effects of the pain relief may take as much as a week to achieve. During that time, they must be careful to monitor sleep patterns and to be aware of how the drowsiness might affect them while driving or operating machinery. If the painful condition improves, patients must taper their use of methadone gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

In 2004 a group of Russian doctors visited the University Health Center methadone clinic in Vermont to learn more about how to treat heroin addiction with methadone. Heroin use has increased dramatically in Russia in recent years. AP/Wide World
In 2004 a group of Russian doctors visited the University Health Center methadone clinic in Vermont to learn more about how to treat heroin addiction with methadone. Heroin use has increased dramatically in Russia in recent years. AP/Wide World Photos.

Drugs like methadone are not prescribed on an "as needed" basis. The kind of pain for which methadone is used is a crippling, ongoing, day-and-night pain that may never improve. For extremely sick cancer patients, methadone allows a quality of life that might be impossible otherwise. The drug does not cure the cancer or even slow its progress, but it can help patients manage the pain. The same holds true for other conditions such as chronic back pain and osteoarthritis.