Medications are often prescribed as part of addiction treatment programs to help patients reduce their drug cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms while in early recovery. One particularly successful medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) is methadone.
Highly regarded among addiction treatment medications for its safety and effectiveness, methadone provides a controlled approach to managing opioid cravings without producing the same euphoric effects that can lead to opioid misuse. This approach allows patients to focus on their recovery without the constant pull of addiction. Under medical supervision, patients receive methadone daily in a clinical setting—alongside counseling and other recovery support services—to ensure a comprehensive, individualized approach to OUD treatment.
What Is Methadone?
Methadone is a Schedule II controlled medication that is used to treat OUD.1 It is in a class of medications called opiate analgesics.2
A synthetic, long-acting opioid agonist, methadone is prescribed for people looking to sustain their long-term recovery from an addiction to opioids.1 It has been used successfully for more than 40 years to treat OUD,3 and is included on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.4 Opioid dependent patients take a daily dose of methadone, under medical supervision, in either liquid, pill, or diskette form. This reduces their withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids.1
Under Federal law, patients receiving treatment in opioid treatment programs must be able to receive counseling through the treatment program, along with medical, vocational, educational, and other assessment and treatment services.1
How Does Methadone Work?
Methadone eliminates opioid withdrawal symptoms and relieves drug cravings by acting on the same opioid receptors in the brain that are activated by other opioids, such as oxycodone and heroin.
While it occupies and activates these opioid receptors, it does so more slowly than most other opioids. In someone who has developed an opioid dependence or addiction, a typical methadone treatment dose does not produce the kind of “rush” of euphoria that other opioids produce.3
Side Effects of Methadone
Effects of methadone occur about 30 minutes after taking the drug, with peak effects felt roughly three hours after ingestion. Initially, the half-life of methadone—or length of time for which effects of the drug are felt—is approximately 15 hours. With repeated dosing, however, that half-life can extend to approximately 24 hours.
While people beginning methadone treatment experience few side effects, there do exist some side effects of methadone, including:4
- Sleep disturbances
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Increased perspiration
- Sexual dysfunction
- Menstrual irregularities
- Weight gain
Is Methadone Safe?
Yes, when taken as prescribed, methadone is safe and effective, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) having approved the drug for medical use.1
Methadone is also safe for women to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding to manage withdrawal symptoms. In fact, methadone’s ability to prevent withdrawal symptoms helps pregnant women better manage their OUD while avoiding health risks to their babies and themselves. Pregnant woman who experience drug withdrawal may be at risk of miscarriage or premature birth, as withdrawal can cause the uterus to contract. In any event, using methadone is certainly safer for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding than using opioids.1
The only real risk of methadone is overdose, which can occur when someone is not using the medication as prescribed, such as taking a higher dosage than what they are supposed to take, or combining it with other substances that depress the central nervous system, like alcohol or benzodiazepines.4
How Long Is Methadone Prescribed for?
To reduce the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, a low dose of methadone may be prescribed during opioid detox, which takes place for three to five days after the patient first stops using opioids. The first dose of methadone should be between 10 and 30mg, with later doses being gradually increased until reaching a “maintenance dose,” which is the amount of methadone the patient requires to prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms but does not induce euphoria.5
From there, the medically supervised process of Methadone Maintenance Treatment, or MMT, may be recommended. MMT is a long-term treatment. While in MMT, the patient will need to receive their dose of methadone in a clinic or other medical setting. Some people receive methadone for months or even years.4 When both patient and doctor agree to end treatment, the dose of methadone is slowly tapered off. Patients may experience mild opioid withdrawal symptoms for a week or so after MMT is stopped.5
Does Insurance Cover Methadone?
Yes, insurance should cover some or all the cost of addiction treatment medications, including methadone. As required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, behavioral health treatments—including addiction treatment, counseling, and therapy—are covered as an essential health benefit.
Before seeking rehab services, you should contact your insurance plan to ask about coverage of specific addiction treatment services, such as prescription methadone for opioid use disorder. Also, the admissions team at Empowered Recovery Center can answer any questions you might have about using insurance to pay for rehab and even verify your benefits.
Opioid Addiction Treatment in Atlanta, GA
Our rehab center in Atlanta knows that living in recovery is about having the courage to embrace an entirely new way of living. Our opioid addiction treatment programs in Atlanta are designed to empower you to say “yes” to a life of productivity, health, and wellness.
We offer a variety of rehab programs tailored to fit your needs, including outpatient (OP) treatment, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment. In addition, we offer one full year of recovery coaching to help you keep building toward the life you’ve always wanted for yourself. Concerned about how you will pay for rehab? The Empowered Recovery Center admissions team can answer any questions you might have.
If you’d like to learn more about our comprehensive and individualized opioid treatment programs, contact us today and take that first step toward a healthier, happier life.
References
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.) What is Methadone? Effects, Risks & Addiction. SAMHSA. Retrieved October 28, 2024 from https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/methadone
- MedLine Plus. (n.d.) Methadone. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved October 29, 2024, from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682134.html
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (2021). Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder Research Report: How do medications to treat opioid use disorder work? National Institutes of Health. Retrieved October 29, 2024 from https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/how-do-medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction-work
- U.S. National Library of Medicine (2009). Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings: Methadone Maintenance Treatment. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved October 28, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310658/
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2009). Guidelines for the Psychosocially Assisted Pharmacological Treatment of Opioid Dependence: Prescribing Guidelines. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved October 30, 2024, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143167/
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