How Does Methadone Work?
Question by wiseone: How does methadone work?
Best answer:
Answer by LL’s Mommy
Methadone is a narcotic drug used to treat chronic pain and opiate addiction. Originally developed in Germany, during World War II, the drug was first introduced to the United States in 1947. Methadone was first used as a long-acting painkiller in both surgical and cancer patients. It wasn’t until after 1950 that methadone found use as a withdrawal treatment for heroin and morphine.
Unlike heroin and morphine, methadone is not made from opium poppies, but is synthesized in a lab. It has pain-killing properties, similar to opiates but is much longer-lasting–natural opiates last two to four hours, versus 24 hours for methadone.
Methadone fits into the same receptors as opiates and can relieve many of the symptoms of opiate withdrawal. The difference between methadone and opiates is that methadone does not cause that euphoric high. Additionally, methadone can actually block the effects of opiate drugs–preventing someone from getting high if they do relapse. Methadone is not a cure for opiate addiction and is actually addictive, in and of itself. What methadone does is prevent the addict from going into opiate withdrawal so he can avoid using the opiate drugs and start the road to recovery
Methadone is administered orally in either pill or liquid form and the addict may either go to a clinic to receive each dose, or take home a prescription. How it is administered depends on the facility, the level of addiction and the addict’s history. The most effective methadone treatment program is one that combines the drug with some form of counseling.
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Answer by Nicole
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