Methadone treatment is effective when combined with drug treatment, counseling, and therapy but is not a solution to true sobriety and total abstinence.
Methadone is a prescription medication used to help people reduce and ultimately quit the use of heroin and other opiate drugs and medicines. It has been used for many years to treat people addicted to opiates and opioids. Taking it as prescribed is a safe and effective treatment as it gives recovering addicts a chance to reclaim their lives.
It works by changing how the nervous system and brain react to pain. It essentially lessens the symptoms associated with opiate withdrawal and acts as an opiate blocker by blocking the euphoric effects that those drugs cause. When taking methadone, you are unable to get high on opiates. So, you’re probably wondering, “What does methadone maintenance look like?” To learn more about a methadone treatment program, call On Call Treatment at 866.276.1920. Our team is available to discuss treatment program options that could be suitable for you or a loved one.
What Does Methadone Maintenance Look Like?
Methadone comes in pill, liquid, or wafer forms and is taken once daily. For those dependent or addicted to opiates or opioids, methadone treatment offers many benefits. The effects of one dose of methadone can last anywhere from 24 to 36 hours, so as long as you take it at the same time every day, you will not get sick or experience opioid withdrawal. Taking methadone correctly also will not get you high and help keep the actual drug cravings at bay so you won’t feel the need to keep using the drugs that held you down. It also completely blocks any high you get from opiates, so if you try to take heroin or some other opiate while on methadone, you likely won’t feel it.
What Is a Methadone Maintenance Program?
Methadone can either be gotten from a doctor or a methadone clinic or provided when you enter a detox facility for your addiction. Before you begin your methadone treatment, a doctor will need to do an assessment. This assessment includes a physical exam and answering some questions about your drug use. This helps the doctors ensure you get the proper dosage and the length of your treatment and make sure methadone is right for you.
For safety purposes, your first dose of methadone will range from 15 to 30 mg to determine your tolerance and ensure no other drugs you have taken interfere with it. You can experience withdrawal symptoms for the first few days or methadone treatment when you first begin treatment. You may feel tired and experience drug cravings until your dosage is stabilized to your needs.
Methadone Maintenance Is Similar to Medication-Assisted Treatment
The first step to effective treatment is ensuring you have the correct dosage so that the methadone can do its job. A stable dose of methadone generally ranges from 60 to 100 mg daily. It can be adjusted to meet your particular needs. The length of time you stay on methadone treatment will depend on the severity of your addiction and how long your doctor thinks it will best suit your needs. When you stop methadone treatment, you will need to taper off it to avoid the side effects, especially when larger doses are being taken.
Benefits of Methadone Maintenance
Methadone can effectively treat opiate addiction when used as prescribed and under medical supervision. It offers many benefits, including:
- Relief from withdrawal symptoms
- Allowing you to focus on other aspects of your life, such as work, school, or family
- Decreasing the risk of overdose
- Lowering the risk of contracting HIV or other diseases
- Helping you stay in treatment longer
- Decreasing drug cravings
- Improving your quality of life
Methadone maintenance is not a cure for addiction but can be a very effective tool in your recovery.
Learn More About Methadone Maintenance and Addiction at On Call Treatment
Methadone treatment is the most effective when combined with other forms of treatment, such as drug treatment and therapy. You can benefit tremendously from encouragement, support, and guidance from a therapist or a counselor. Discussing your problems with someone who understands can make things simpler and easier to solve.
The first step in recovery is getting to the root of your addiction problems to stay on the right path. Taking the steps needed to get sober can be scary. However, with methadone treatment combined with therapy, it is possible to get sober. Today is the day to take the first step and to answer the question, “What does methadone maintenance look like.” Contact On Call Treatment at 866.276.1920, and one of our addiction specialists can help you find the best treatment for you.
