Methadone

Methadone (Methadone Hydrochloride)

Street name

Methadone, Mixture, Meth, Linctus, Physeptone, Phy amps. 

General Info

Methadone is a synthetic opiate manufactured for use as a painkiller and as substitute for heroin in the treatment of Heroin addiction. It has similar effects to Heroin which means you can be easily addicted. Opiates are sedative drugs that depress the nervous system. They slow down the body functions and reduce pain.

A patient who is addicted to Heroin will often be prescribed Methadone as a substitute and the dose of Methadone is gradually reduced over time therefore avoiding acute withdrawal symptoms. Prescription Methadone is usually a green liquid which is swallowed, but it can come in tablet or injectable form

Methadone mixture and linctus are taken orally while the tablets can be taken orally or injected, physeptone ampoules are injected.

Effects

• Methadone slows down the body, reduces physical and psychological pain, provides a feeling of warmth, relaxation and detachment while relieving feelings of anxiety.
• It can have unpleasant side effects such as light-headedness, a dry mouth, dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness.
• In some cases overdoses can lead to coma and even death from respiratory failure.

Risks

• Methadone prescribed by a doctor is stringently controlled.
• Street Methadone however is not regulated and therefore purity is uncertain. It can be more powerful than expected.
• It often causes people to be sick the first time they use it.
• Higher doses can cause sleepiness or coma or stop breathing completely.
• Mixing Methadone with Alcohol or with other sedatives can make an overdose more likely, and this can lead to a coma or respiratory failure and death.

Class

Class A