Methadone is used in the treatment of opioid dependence. It also has cross-tolerance wit5h other opioids including morphine and heroin, offering similar effects and a long duration of effect. High doses of methadone can block the euphoric effects of morphine, heroin, and other drugs. Properly dosed methadone patients can stop or reduce their use of these drugs. Methadone is approved for the treatment of opioid dependence, its not intended to reduce the use of non-narcotic drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, or methamphetamines. Methadone was introduced into the United States in 1947, it has been best know for the treatment of narcotic addiction. A great deal of evidence was available that methadone might prove effective in treating heroin withdrawal and it has even been used in some hospitals. Methadone maintance therapy has been the most studied and most successful of any pharmacotherapy for the treatment of drug addiction patients.

They are side effects when taking methadone and some are constipation, hypoventilation, and miosis, in addition to tolerance, dependence and withdrawal difficulties. The withdrawal period can last much longer than with other opioids, spanning anywhere from two weeks to six months, and can be found in urine samples six to ten weeks after your last dose. They are many factors which contribute to how long it will stay in your system; it depends on the individual’s metabolism, body weight, history of use/abuse and many more factors. They have been studies done on methadone users that are going through detox, the individuals have experienced different withdrawal symptoms and withdrawal periods even though they took their last dose at the very same time.

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