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Methadone is classified under a group of drugs named opiates. While it was once used to treat pain, it is now commonly used as a part of addiction treatment, especially for heroin and narcotic painkillers. However, treatment with methadone requires extra attention and care, or it could prove counterproductive and incur the risk of addiction.
Methadone is often used to taper off dependency on heroin. It can alleviate withdrawal symptoms of heroin, including shivering, muscle spasms and shaking, and the need to take the drug. If you’re a heroin addict, just a few hours of withdrawal can also manifest as physical symptoms. You would require proper treatment at one of the nearby methadone clinics.
Treatment with methadone uses the drug’s ability to obstruct the ‘high’ that you get from drugs like heroin and codeine. It provides a similar effect, making up for the craving you feel. This ‘replacement therapy’ is an important part of addiction treatment.
Methadone is often used as a substitute for the substance you’re addicted to, especially heroin. It is essential for heroin addiction treatment during maintenance therapy and detoxification. In maintenance therapy, your physician might switch you to a heroin substitute like methadone. During detoxification, you temporarily switch to methadone to shift dependency from heroin. Then you will be gradually tapered off methadone to achieve complete withdrawal.
The length of Methadone treatment differs for every person. Subcutaneous or oral delivery of methadone produces results in just 30 minutes to 1 hour. These effects last up to 48 hours.
While your doctor will take all the necessary measures to ensure you qualify for treatment, there are certain side-effects that a patient can expect when availing treatment with methadone.
These include:
The cost of opiate treatment differs, depending on several factors, including the type of drug used in treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the cost of methadone treatment that includes medication and support services would be a weekly sum of $126 approximately and a yearly sum of $6,552.
Doctors have to adhere to strict guidelines when using methadone. This is why it is not available for purchase without a proper prescription. Using methadone entails certain protocols, including slowly tapering off use. Methadone clinics have stringent eligibility criteria. This section describes how to get in a methadone clinic.
After a doctor has examined these, they might base their decision on the following and other federal regulations:
After substance abuse counseling, medical examinations, psychological assessment, and at least 8 random drug tests in a year, you can wait to be admitted into one of the nearby methadone clinics. You may receive immediate admission or have to wait a few weeks, depending on the extent and severity of your condition.
If you think you qualify, you should consider the nearby methadone clinics. How do you decide which one is right for you? When searching, make sure you look for ‘closest methadone clinic to me’ as proximity to home and your loved ones is important. Make sure it is a reliable facility with significant experience in delivering treatment with methadone.