What is methadone?
methadone for dogs is a long-acting opioid medication that is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin or other narcotic drugs, and it can also be used as a pain reliever.
Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings without causing the “high” associated with drug addiction. Methadone is a highly regulated medication (Schedule 2 Controlled Substances Act) and, when used for OUD, it is only available through approved opioid treatment programs (OTP) that involve regular monitoring, counseling, and drug testing to make sure that patients are making progress in their recovery.
Methadone is used for severe and persistent pain that can not be treated effectively with other pain medications, including immediate-release opioids.
Important information
- Get emergency help or call 911 right away if you take too many methadone hydrochloride tablets (overdose). When you first start taking methadone hydrochloride tablets, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur. Ask your healthcare provider about medicines like naloxone or nalmefene that can be used in an emergency to reverse an opioid overdose, a medicine for the emergency treatment of an opioid overdose.
- Taking methadone hydrochloride tablets with other opioid medicines, benzodiazepines, gabapentinoids (gabapentin or pregabalin), alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, coma, and death.
- Methadone-associated hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) has been reported in patients using this medicine, some resulting in hospitalization. In many cases, patients had predisposing risk factors such as diabetes.
How should I use methadone?methadone for dogs
Use this medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Never use this medicine in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed. Tell your doctor if you feel an increased urge to use more of this medicine.
Never share opioid medicine with another person, especially someone with a history of drug addiction. MISUSE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH. Keep the medicine where others cannot get to it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
Methadone instructions:
- Methadone oral is taken by mouth. The injection is given as an intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection.
- Measure liquid medicine with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
- Dissolve the dispersible tablet in water, orange juice, or other citrus-flavored non-alcoholic beverage. Stir and drink this mixture right away.
- Take this medicine regularly with or without food
- Never crush a pill to inhale the powder or inject it into your vein. This could result in death.
