subject: Methadone Withdrawal [print this page] Methadone withdrawal can be a debilitating, painful and lengthy experience, likened to ten times the worst case of the flu one has ever had. Most methadone users continue taking the drug because they dont want to experience these withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid used for opiate replacement or substitution therapy. Methadone is used to help wean patients off other opiates such as OxyContin and heroin by preventing the onset of withdrawal. The problem is that methadone is also an opioid and can cause its own dependency. People who take methadone to treat their opiate addiction may need a second detox if they become physically and psychologically dependent on methadone.
There is a trend in opiate addiction treatment towards the reduction of a patients methadone dosage to a point at which they can be switched to buprenorphine for example, which has an easier withdrawal profile.
Physical symptoms of methadone withdrawal include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach cramps
Dehydration
Loss of appetite
Restless leg syndrome
Lethargy
Sleeplessness
Severe itching
Lightheadedness
Fever
Sweating
Chills
Tremors
Muscle and bone pain
Elevated pain sensitivity
Elevated blood pressure
Increased heart rate
Slower reflexes
Cognitive symptoms of methadone withdrawal may include:
Suicidal thoughts
Susceptibility to cravings
Depression
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Visual hallucinations
Auditory hallucinations
Decrease in sex drive
Paranoia
Delusions
Methadone withdrawal symptoms appear 24-48 hours after the last dose and increase in intensity for six days. They begin to subside and most major symptoms are minimal by the 14th day. However, general discomfort, loss of appetite and insomnia may persist for as long as six months. Methadone withdrawal symptoms can be drastically reduced by withdrawing as part of a slow, deliberate dose decrease managed by a physician.
A medication called Clonidine may be used in order to reduce the anxiety, agitation, muscle aches, sweating, runny nose and cramping associated with methadone withdrawal.
To minimize methadone withdrawal symptoms, one should not stop taking methadone "cold turkey." To stop maintenance methadone treatment, you should do so slowly and only with the help and supervision of a medical professional. The dosage should not be reduced by less than 10 percent at a time, with at least 10 to 14 days between reductions.
