Methadone Dependency
Posted by National Crystal Meth Help | Filed under National Crystal Meth Hotline
Drugs authorized to be legally distributed are present for the purpose of providing health benefits to one’s body. In such a way, doctors prescribe these drugs and patients take these drugs to alleviate their pain and make their conditions better. These drugs do not however provide only benefits. These drugs may, for example, help an addict in the detoxification and withdrawal process but these may also in turn become another substance of abuse in the long run. Drugs like these should be prescribed with close and careful guidance by the physician.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid used as an analgesic to treat patients suffering in severe pain and a maintenance anti-addictive. It is a thoroughly well-tested medication that is harmless and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence. Heroin releases an excess of dopamine in the body and causes users to call for an opiate continuously occupying the opioid receptor in the brain. Methadone occupies this receptor and is the stabilizing factor that makes addicts on methadone to modify their behavior and to discontinue heroin use. Methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for about 24 to 36 hours. However, it is only effective in cases of dependency to heroin, morphine, and other opioid drugs. Methadone stops the high from heroin but it does not give the euphoric rush.
Methadone has been a vital factor in terms of reducing crime, death, disease, and drug use. This substance is known to be the most effective treatment for heroin dependency. It also prevents HIV/AIDS. It may be trivial, but methadone maintenance treatment the frequency of injecting and needle sharing. Moreover, methadone treatment reduces unlawful behavior and almost eliminates heroin use.
Then like any other opioid drugs, absolute use of methadone and without proper guidance could possibly lead to tolerance and eventually cause drug dependency. When taken under medical prescription and under a physician’s care, research suggest that long-term methadone maintenance treatment use is medically safe.
Deaths occur more frequently at the beginning of treatment in methadone programs; they are commonly a cause of excessive doses (i.e. erroneously estimated tolerance) and they are affected by related diseases (hepatitis, pneumonia). Methadone generally entails the whole spectrum of opioid side effects, including the development of tolerance and physical and psychological dependence. Respiratory depressions are quite harmful. The released histamines can cause bronchospasms.
Methadone dependency occurs when the body tolerates the substance thus, asking for higher dosage in the long run. And, once the habit is discontinued, withdrawal can happen. The physical changes brought by the drug are the same to other opiates; suppressed cough reflex, contracted pupils, drowsiness and constipation. Some methadone users experience sickness when they first use the drug. A woman using methadone cannot have regular periods but there is still a possibility of conceiving. Methadone is a long-acting opioid; it has an effect for up to 36 hours and can stay in your body for several days.
According to an article by two doctors addressing the question, “is methadone more likely to kill you than heroin?”, stated that methadone is not an innocent substance. One’s methadone maintenance is another’s poison. Actually, it depends mainly on the lenience of the person. A tolerant person could take in methadone without feeling any ill effects, but not a non-tolerant person. For precaution it is sensible to start with small dosage and gradually increasing it, if the need to use methadone really arise. Also, experts have found out that methadone has been used unlawfully in the streets as a substitute for heroinwhich causes more fatal cases than heroin.
The methadone substance is used to correspond to addiction but tolerance can occur which can lead to one’s dependency upon the substance. There is irony in this substance. You think it’s safe but you suddenly becoming dependent to it.
