Methadone is often prescribed as an effective medication to treat opioid dependencies. When used under medical supervision, this drug can offer great support during recovery. However, in some cases, long-term methadone use can lead to methadone addiction and drug dependence, making it important to monitor usage and seek help if needed.
Methadone reduction therapy in such instances can be a lifesaver, as it is specifically designed to address methadone addiction and drug dependence resulting from prolonged methadone use. We’ll cover how this treatment plan works and what it takes to make the process more manageable in today’s guide.
Is Methadone Addictive?
What happens when you take ibuprofen daily? You form a habit of consuming it, regardless of your condition. Now, ibuprofen isn’t that addictive or harmful, but when administered for a long time, it will take a toll on your kidney health.
Likewise, any drug, whether consumed for medical purposes or recreational, can form an addiction in no time. Especially for drugs like methadone that already have addictive properties, the chances of creating dependency on it become even higher.
Without proper medical supervision, methadone use can sometimes result in swapping one addiction for another, as individuals may replace their original opioid addiction with a dependence on methadone.
How Does It Work?
Most addictive drugs directly affect our central nervous system. They control how our brain responds to emotions such as pleasure, pain, and stress. Methadone is an opioid medication used for pain relief and addiction treatment. It also impacts the mechanism of our brain that manages emotions. No, it doesn’t numb the pain away. Instead, it relaxes the system by slowing down brain activity, so when pain is felt, it is mild.
But how does this form dependency? After all, aren’t all medicines used to ease some or other kinds of pain? The answer to this lies in how our body can get used to associating feeling calm with taking methadone. Over time, our system may begin to depend on this substance, and when not consumed, withdrawal symptoms may kick in.
Its Effects
● Lightheadedness
● Fatigue
● Slow breathing rate
● Mood swings
● Feelings of pleasure at first, but then anxiety
When Professionals Consider Methadone the Safe Option?
Not all drugs are used for getting high. For instance, methadone is an effective drug that many healthcare practitioners often prescribe for drug treatment programs. Before starting methadone, a thorough medical assessment is essential to ensure it is a safe and appropriate option for the individual.
Treating Opioid Use Disorder
In terms of opioid use disorder, patients who are dependent on opioid drugs are often administered methadone therapy. As discussed earlier, methadone impacts how the brain perceives pain. It gives the same pleasure as other opioids but without intense highs. Consequently, a person can function properly, pursue their career and responsibilities while staying grounded.
However, this is only the case when methadone is consumed under medical supervision. It is strictly advised not to use the drug as a self-medication to treat any form of addiction!
When Other Treatments Aren’t Effective
There are numerous other medications for managing withdrawal symptoms. Nevertheless, not all medicines might suit everyone. Some may have severe side effects, while others may not have an effective mechanism to alleviate symptoms. Methadone may be considered when other drugs for withdrawal management are not effective.
In such cases, methadone proves itself to be the most effective medication to ease discomfort during the detox process. The drug delivers the same effects without making the person lose their senses. And it is for this reason that many doctors consider methadone a backup medication in many recovery treatments.
Signs of Methadone Withdrawal
● Muscle aches
● Psychological distress
● Nausea
● Vomiting diarrhoea
● Inability to fall asleep
● sweating
● Psychosis (severe dependency)
How Long Does Methadone Stay in Your System?
You cannot eliminate an addictive substance from your body the moment you stop consuming it. In many cases, the traces of the drug are still found in various body fluids even days after the last dose.
The duration of methadone’s presence in the body and the duration of withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on individual factors and the severity of dependence.
Methadone, with an 8-hour half-life, can stay in the human body for up to 2 weeks after the last dose. And for as long as the traces remain in the system, the effects that accompany them can be persistent and evident too.
Things to Expect
The first week after starting methadone reduction is often the most challenging, with withdrawal symptoms typically peaking during this period. Once you have started cutting off methadone, you can expect a lot of changes. In the starting days, you may experience mood swings and irritability. This is because the drug is still present in your system, and your brain is somehow craving the same experience.
Now, if the urge to use the substance overpowers and you relapse, these feelings may disappear, and you will feel calm. On the other hand, if you control these emotions, you move one step closer to recovery.
Everybody’s Experience Is Different!
With everything discussed above, methadone detox can never be the same for you and another person. Factors such as metabolism rate, body mass, and age play a crucial role in deciding how long a drug will stay in one’s system. The severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms can also vary depending on factors such as metabolism, body mass, and age.
For example, a person with a high metabolism rate may be able to get rid of the addictive substance more rapidly. In the same manner, a person with greater body mass will eliminate the drug slowly. So, in short, you can not compare your detox journey with another person because everyone gets to have a different experience.
Methadone Reduction Timeline
Here’s how methadone reduction treatment begins and what impact it has on the person’s body:
● 1 to 2 Days: These will be the days when your body has just sensed a change. You may experience withdrawal symptoms, including anxiousness, restlessness, intense cravings, and trouble sleeping.
● 3 to 7 Days: During these days, your cravings will become even more intensified. The withdrawal effect can become more evident, causing you to experience flu-like symptoms, upset stomach, sweating, chills, and sometimes severe symptoms such as severe pain, especially for those who were on high doses.
● 1 Week to 2 Weeks: After a week or two, the symptoms may begin to ease as the body adjusts to lower doses, but mood swings or fatigue can still exist. At this stage support or structured recovery plan can provide great help.
● Beyond 3 Weeks: At this time, physical symptoms have almost disappeared. While some emotional stress may often resurface, however, ongoing support can further ease the journey.
The timeline and intensity of symptoms can vary depending on individual factors and previous doses. Careful management of doses is important to minimize severe symptoms during methadone reduction.
Where to Begin With Methadone Detox?
Recovering from addiction isn’t a straightforward process. Whether you’re detoxing or tapering methadone, it requires a lot of patience and a carefully curated treatment plan. Medical detox is recommended for patients beginning methadone reduction, as it provides professional supervision to ensure safety and comfort during withdrawal. For this purpose, you have to:
Asses Your Willingness
Are you ready to reduce methadone? You being ready to walk towards your recovery can provide you strength to stay firm on the path. The whole detox process can be extremely tough. Your willingness during this phase can remind you how strong you are as a person. It stands as a testament to the fact that even though recovery is hard, you’re still willing to stay committed to it.
Seek Professional Guidance
Understand that you can never undergo a successful detox unless you’re supervised by a doctor. Attempting detox without medical supervision increases the risk of complications, some of which can be life threatening. Remind yourself again and again that detox can be a very challenging phase. In severe cases, the process can even cause you to lose your senses. In such a scenario, if you don’t have professional help at hand, things can go extremely wrong.
In contrast, if you’re under medical supervision during detox, you can expect to have fewer withdrawal symptoms. And if by any chance the effects get severe, doctors will be able to assess you right away. You can research rehab centres in your area or have referrals from your friends or others with similar experiences as yours.
Prioritise a Supportive Environment
Your healing starts from you! While you’re having a detox, as you will be in a rehab, you’ll have a quiet, positive and free of triggers environment. Supportive care, including emotional and practical support, is essential for creating a successful recovery environment. Once your reduction therapy is completed and you go back into society, prioritise a supportive environment. Respect your peace and surround yourself with friends and family who think the best for you.
Methadone Reduction Plan
An addiction treatment plan works best when it is structured and tailored just according to the needs of a person. However, not everyone can give you an effective recovery schedule, and you cannot expect it to work either. Only expert mental healthcare practitioners must be considered for this purpose.
During a methadone reduction plan, the dose of methadone must be carefully managed and adjusted throughout the process to ensure safety and effectiveness.
These professionals can provide a successful methadone reduction plan by:
Determining Your Dependence Level
The reason every person’s methadone reduction journey can greatly differ is because of their experience with the drug. To begin with, planning the reduction schedule, your medical supervisor will assess your history with methadone. This may include inquiring about when you started taking the drug and your dosage, to estimate how dependent your body has become.
Setting Feasible Tapering Goals
Your healthcare provider will discuss what goals you want to achieve. He or she will also assure you that methadone reduction is a slow and gradual process. After acknowledging your thoughts, your care team will formulate small and achievable milestones. They will also ensure that the journey remains comfortable and free of emotional or physical stressors. As part of the tapering process, your care team will help you plan the timing and amount of your next dose to ensure safe and effective progress.
Preparing a Personalised Professional Tapering Schedule
Your doctor’s role doesn’t end at identifying and setting goals with you. Instead, he or she will also provide you with a feasible timeline to achieve those milestones. And yes, they will discuss it with you before fixing any schedule.
Equipping You for Withdrawal Symptoms
Once your recovery plan is ready, your healthcare provider will brief you about the withdrawal symptoms you may experience. This is not to scare you, but to make you aware of what you can expect. In addition to physical symptoms, psychological symptoms such as anxiety or depression may also occur during withdrawal and should be addressed in the plan. They will also strengthen you for the process by providing healthy coping strategies and emotional support.
Monitoring Your Progress Carefully
As you’re going through the reduction treatment, your clinician will monitor your progress regularly, paying close attention to the severity of withdrawal symptoms. He will check whether an intervention is effective or needs to be modified for the betterment. You can also report to them if a phase seems overwhelming or the symptoms get intense. Depending on your concerns and the severity of your symptoms, your schedule can be changed according to your needs.
Role of Support When Recovering
Having strong support when undergoing methadone reduction therapy can provide:
Support can help individuals cope with depression, which is a common symptom during methadone reduction.
Motivation to Stay On Track
Staying firm on the path to recovery isn’t always easy. Some days are so hard that you end up thinking relapse is the only option. But when you have the right support, staying committed to the plan gets simpler. Your dear people remind you that you deserve healing and why you started this journey in the first place.
Sense of Accountability
The thing about us humans is that we tend to perform the best when others know about our goals. This is because it elicits a sense of accountability within us, eventually saving us from slipping into the same old toxic patterns.
Shared-Wisdom
Surrounding yourself with people who have gone through a similar experience as yours can be incredibly reassuring. You can learn a lot from their expert wisdom, insightful tips, and coping strategies.
Final Words
To sum it up, methadone reduction treatment isn’t an all-at-once process. It is a slow and gradual procedure that requires a carefully curated schedule. Methadone reduction must be managed carefully to avoid complications such as withdrawals, overdose, and interactions with alcohol or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Qualified healthcare professionals can play a major role in the effectiveness of this plan. They can inspect your body’s dependency level and provide you with a structured recovery program tailored to your needs.
At PCP, we take our clients very seriously. Our experts are dedicated to providing comprehensive recovery programs for methadone reduction. Reach out to us today to secure an appointment with our professionals!
In rare cases, serious complications can occur, so professional supervision is essential.
