bkdaniels
User
/ Moderator
Mar 31, 2005, 4:45 PM
Post #2 of 4
(987 views)
Shortcut
|
Hey usvet, how are you doing?
For more than 30 years this synthetic narcotic has been used to treat opioid addiction. Taken orally once a day, methadone suppresses narcotic withdrawal for between 24 and 36 hours.
Ultimately, the patient remains physically dependent on the opioid, but is freed from the uncontrolled, compulsive, and disruptive behavior seen in heroin addicts. Withdrawal from methadone is much slower than that from heroin.
As a result, it is possible to maintain an addict on methadone without harsh side effects.
When methadone is taken under medical supervision, long-term maintenance causes no adverse effects to the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, bones, blood, brain, or other vital body organs.
Methadone produces no serious side effects, although some patients experience minor symptoms such as constipation, water retention, drowsiness, skin rash, excessive sweating, and changes in libido. Once methadone dosage is adjusted and stabilized or tolerance increases, these symptoms usually subside.
Best wishes,
(This post was edited by bkdaniels on May 22, 2005, 7:24 PM)
|
MAIN INDEX
SEARCH POSTS
WHO'S ONLINE
LOG IN