Methadone is a long-lasting synthetic opioid that purposely lacks the chemicals to produce the euphoric high associated with other narcotic drugs like heroin, hydrocodone and oxycodone.1
By utilizing methadone, recovering heroin addicts can begin to heal from dependence while learning to live without the opiate high, and in time, the recovering addict gradually stops taking methadone.2 In recent years, treatment centers expanded the drug’s use to help opioid painkiller addicts, especially those with a history of relapse. The drug was primarily used for addiction treatment through the late 1990s, but methadone is now increasingly used to manage chronic pain again.
Methadone vs. Opioid Painkillers
Hydrocodone is the active ingredient in brand name painkillers like Vicodin, Lortab, Zohydro and Norco, while oxycodone is used in OxyContin and Percocet. Along with morphine, various formulations of these three compounds make up the majority of opioid painkillers.
Each of these drugs is a semi-synthetic opioid that pharmaceutical companies formulate using different alkaloids from opium poppy plants. Methadone, however, is entirely synthetic, and a lack of access to opium poppy is what originally motivated the Germans to develop the drug. Though the drug acts on the same opiate receptors in the brain, methadone is not a poppy-derived semi-synthetic like most other painkillers.
- Stays in the system for up to 59 hours compared to six hours for normal-release opioids
- Can be used for addiction treatment while painkillers are exclusively for treating pain
- Dosage is often given in a medical clinic whereas painkillers are often for at-home use
Some of the differences also involve risk levels. For example, the lack of opiate high and the extended release of morphine can lead to overdosing. Likewise, taking the drug with alcohol, sedatives, amphetamines, antidepressants or other opioids can also lead to an overdose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2012, methadone was involved in nearly one in three prescription painkiller deaths in 2009, contributing to more than 30 percent of painkiller fatalities despite making up only two percent of the prescriptions.3
Methadone Dependence and Addiction
Methadone does share a few key similarities with standard opioid painkillers. By tampering with methadone tablets, some people can access the opioid euphoria typically associated with other painkillers. Likewise, despite its use in addiction treatment, methadone joins other painkillers in its potential for causing addiction and dependence.
If taking methadone properly and for legitimate reasons, the medical staff will monitor dosage level and help safeguard against addiction. People who take methadone independently and/or recreationally lack these safeguards and have a much higher risk of developing an addiction. In either case, professional rehabilitation is the most effective way to deal with any addiction, including methadone.
- Physical discomforts like dry mouth, vomiting, nausea and itchy skin
- Feelings of drowsiness, lightheadedness, weakness and problems concentrating
- Unexplained heart rate changes, tremors, seizures and gastrointestinal pain
- Issues with insomnia, paranoia and increased symptoms of mental health disorders
- Cravings and racing thoughts that occur during gaps in methadone use
Opioid Addiction Treatment
Methadone is often used as a replacement drug in opioid addiction treatment. It has great value because patients can stay on methadone for many years without ill effects. However, it is best used in conjunction with other therapies to treat the underlying cause of the addiction as well as the physical addiction.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to improve coping strategies and reduce negative thought patterns
- Motivational interviewing (MI) that helps patients find personal motivation and catalysts for change
- Integrated screenings and treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders
- Life skills tools like anger management, conflict resolution and chronic stress reduction
- Holistic and non-narcotic therapies that help patients manage chronic pain issues
If you have questions about methadone therapies or addiction treatment, our admissions coordinators can help. We are available 24 hours a day to take your call, answer questions, provide information and even check health insurance policies for rehab benefits.
Our helpline is toll-free, at 760.548.4032. At Michael’s House, we have specialized treatment programs for people of all walks of life and want to help you begin your journey to freedom from addiction. Please call now.
Sources
1 "Methadone." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, September 28, 2015.
2 "Opiate and opioid withdrawal." MedlinePlus.gov, April 20, 2016.
3 "Prescription Painkiller Overdoses." US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2012.
