Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .
Chemical Name: METHADONE (METH-a-done)
This medicine is a narcotic analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain that is not relieved by other pain medicines. It is also used in treating narcotic addiction as part of a treatment program. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
WARNING: THE MEDICINE MAY CAUSE SEVERE AND SOMETIMES FATAL HEART AND BREATHING PROBLEMS. These problems may occur some time after you take a dose. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any new or worsening symptoms such as slowed or shallow breathing or irregular heartbeat. Your doctor will perform heart and lung function tests to check for side effects while you take this medicine. Keep all doctor and laboratory appointments. Talk with your doctor and be sure to understand the risks and benefits of using this medicine. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE OR TAKE THIS MEDICINE MORE OFTEN THAN PRESCRIBED. THIS CAN LEAD TO OVERDOSE AND POSSIBLE DEATH. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE IF you are taking sodium oxybate (GHB) or have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor type B (MAOI-B) (eg, rasagiline, selegiline) within the last 14 days. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking barbiturate anesthetics (eg, thiopental), benzodiazepines (eg, midazolam), cimetidine, other narcotic analgesics (eg, morphine), phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine, promethazine), antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, dofetilide, flecainide, propafenone), antipsychotics (eg, haloperidol, paliperidone, ziprasidone), calcium channel blockers (eg, nifedipine), certain antiemetics (eg, dolasetron, droperidol), chloroquine, cisapride, diuretics (eg, furosemide), H1 antagonists (eg, astemizole), kinase inhibitors (eg, lapatinib, nilotinib), lithium, macrolide antibiotics (eg, clarithromycin), quinolones (eg, ciprofloxacin), streptogramins (eg, quinupristin), tacrolimus, tricyclic antidepressants (eg, desipramine), azole antifungals (eg, fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole), certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluvoxamine, sertraline), carbamazepine, efavirenz, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, amprenavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir), narcotic agonists/antagonists (eg, butorphanol, nalbuphine, pentazocine), narcotic antagonists (eg, naloxone, naltrexone), nevirapine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, St. John's wort, zidovudine, or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (eg, abacavir, didanosine, stavudine). DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions, including lung or breathing problems (eg, asthma); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); sleep apnea; stomach or bowel problems (eg, bowel inflammation); stomach pain or constipation; liver or kidney problems; thyroid problems; Addison disease; abnormal curvature of the spine; narrowing of the urethra, trouble urinating, or an enlarged prostate; low blood volume, blood pressure, or blood oxygen levels; low potassium or magnesium blood levels; increased pressure, tumors, or lesions in your head; a recent head injury; seizures; allergies; pregnancy; or breast-feeding. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart problems (eg, enlarged heart) or irregular heartbeat; or if you or a family member have a history of mental or mood problems (eg, anxiety, depression), suicidal thoughts or attempts, or alcohol or substance abuse. Tell your doctor if you are elderly, very ill, or very overweight, or if you have recently had stomach or intestine surgery. USE OF THIS MEDICINE IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you have slowed breathing or severe asthma, or if you are having an asthma attack; you have a stomach or bowel blockage or certain severe bowel problems (eg, paralytic ileus); or if you have diarrhea caused by food poisoning or antibiotic use. This medicine should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using this medicine.
Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. AN EXTRA PATIENT LEAFLET is available with this medicine. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information. TAKE THIS MEDICINE by mouth with or without food. THIS MEDICINE IS FOR ORAL USE ONLY and must not be injected. This medicine must be administered under close medical supervision. STORE THIS MEDICINE between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C) in a tightly closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Always keep this medicine in a secure place to protect from theft. TAKE THIS MEDICINE ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE to get the most benefit from it. It is more effective in preventing pain than in treating pain after it occurs. IF THIS MEDICINE IS NO LONGER NEEDED, dispose of it as soon as possible. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to dispose of this medicine properly. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. DO NOT take 2 doses at once. IF YOU MISS YOUR DOSES OF THIS MEDICINE FOR MORE THAN 2 DAYS, contact your doctor before you start taking this medicine again.
DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or if you are allergic to any ingredient in this product. BREATHING PROBLEMS MAY OCCUR SOME TIME AFTER YOU TAKE A DOSE OF THIS MEDICINE. Tell your doctor or seek medical care immediately if you notice trouble breathing (eg, slowed or shallow breathing) while you take this medicine. DO NOT EXCEED THE RECOMMENDED DOSE or take this medicine for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Exceeding the recommended dose or taking this medicine for longer than prescribed may be habit-forming. When used for an extended period of time, this medicine may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medicine stops working well. DO NOT SUDDENLY STOP taking this medicine without your doctor's approval. If you suddenly stop taking this medicine, you may experience WITHDRAWAL symptoms. Tell your doctor if you experience anxiety; diarrhea; fever, runny nose, or sneezing; goose bumps and abnormal skin sensations; nausea; vomiting; pain; rigid muscles; rapid heartbeat; seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not there; shivering or tremors; sweating; and trouble sleeping. LAB TESTS, including liver function, lung function, and heart function, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LAB APPOINTMENTS while you are taking this medicine. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS, DIZZINESS, BLURRED VISION, OR LIGHTHEADEDNESS. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use this medicine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL OR USE MEDICINES THAT MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using this medicine; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS, LIGHTHEADEDNESS, OR FAINTING; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects. THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE CONSTIPATION. Constipation may be avoided by using a stool softener or fiber laxative. TELL YOUR DOCTOR OR DENTIST THAT YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine. FOR WOMEN: THIS MEDICINE MAY CAUSE HARM to the human fetus. IF YOU BECOME PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. THIS MEDICINE IS FOUND in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you use this medicine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while using this medicine include constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, increased sweating, itching, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience confusion; decreased sexual desire or ability; excessive drowsiness; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; hallucinations; loss of appetite; menstrual changes; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, disorientation, exaggerated sense of well-being); seizures; severe or persistent dizziness or lightheadedness; shortness of breath; slow or shallow breathing; swelling of the arms, feet, or legs; trouble sleeping; trouble urinating; or unusual bruising or bleeding. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include cold and clammy skin; coma; fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; muscle weakness; pinpoint pupils; severe dizziness, drowsiness, or lightheadedness; slow, shallow, or difficult breathing.
DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS MEDICINE out of the reach of children and pets. IF USING THIS MEDICINE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
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