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| Methadone |
Until now, there are several kinds of therapy for drug addicts. Some examples are the cold turkey (stopping abruptly), detoxification, and methadone therapy. But that proved more successful is the last of methadone maintenance therapy.
Methadone is a synthetic opiate that a party with heroin, codeine, and morphine. Opiates were first developed in Germany in 1945 as a painkiller. Furthermore, around the year 1960, for the first time that methadone is used for treatment programs to drug addicts in New York.
By following methadone therapy, does not mean necessarily drug addicts out of dependency. Why is that? Because methadone itself is a class of opiates, thus giving this drug is actually intended to replace the need for addicts to other opiates such as mix, morphine, etc..
As an opiate substitute that can only be obtained on methadone therapy clinic, its use has many advantages compared with the use of illegal opiates. Methadone to reduce or even eliminate dependence on opiate addicts other risky route of administration, for example by injection. It has long been known, the use of needles among intravenous drug users is a major cause of transmission of HIV and other diseases such as hepatitis. Another advantage is to reduce the crimes of drug addicts. Drug users typically use a variety of ways to get drugs.
In a dose methadone therapy arranged so that patients do not experience withdrawal symptoms, while not causing the wearer anesthetized by dose. Thus will normalize the wearer's lifestyle and behavior.
Methadone is given in liquid form. Patients must take medicine in front of the officer. To ensure that this drug really has the swallow, the officer will usually ask the patient to name but a few words or sentences. Methadone is long enough in the blood, ranging between 24-36 hours. Therefore, simply given once daily.
Duration of methadone was not limited. But in the early stages, should not stop until six months. To succeed, methadone treatment must be accompanied by therapy counseling and ongoing support for patients. If the patient's condition improved, and patients want to eliminate the dependency, it can be a gradual reduction in dose.
How is Methadone Used?
Methadone is usually given to the client program in the form of liquid (syrup solution) is taken under supervision at the clinic every day. Each client requires a different measure, because of differences in metabolism, body weight and tolerance to opiates. Some time is needed to determine the proper dose of methadone for each client. Initially, the client must be observed every day and reaction to the dose assessed. If the client shows signs or symptoms of withdrawal, the dose should be increased. Generally the program started with a 20mg dose of methadone and then increased 5-10mg per day. Typically clients stay in therapy and be able to stop using heroin with moderate to high doses of methadone (60-100mg).
What Side Effects Methadone?
Although methadone is usually well tolerated, sometimes clients have side effects:
* Nausea
* Vomiting: 10-15 percent of these side effects, which usually disappear after a few days
* Constipation: like other opiates, nutrition and exercise can help
* Sweat: to appear as a side effect, or because the dose of methadone is not suitable
* Amenorrhea: menstrual period was late, or sometimes more regularly
* Libido: methadone can decrease sexual desire
* Fatigue: can be reduced by reducing the dose
* Tooth decay: caused by syrup
Information about the side effects that might occur should be given to the client.
Does Methadone Interact with Other Drugs?
It can be concluded that methadone does not affect the dose of antiretroviral or TB drugs apart ddI (see Fact Sheet (LI) 413) version of the buffer (buffered) and AZT (LI 411). If there is a methadone clients are taking didanosine, ddI dose may be increased or buffer version of ddI should be replaced with didanosine EC (if available). When used AZT (or a combination pill containing AZT, eg. Combivir), side effects of AZT may arise again. Because of these side effects can be similar to the withdrawal, should be careful to distinguish. Something similar happened after starting interferon therapy for hepatitis C.
But some medications can affect the effects of methadone. So methadone clinic staff should always monitor the use of other drugs by clients. When after started taking other drugs, the client is experiencing withdrawal or sedation, methadone dose should be adjusted. In contrast, after the drug is stopped, the dose of methadone should be adjusted again.
Methadone is a synthetic opiate that a party with heroin, codeine, and morphine. Opiates were first developed in Germany in 1945 as a painkiller. Furthermore, around the year 1960, for the first time that methadone is used for treatment programs to drug addicts in New York.
By following methadone therapy, does not mean necessarily drug addicts out of dependency. Why is that? Because methadone itself is a class of opiates, thus giving this drug is actually intended to replace the need for addicts to other opiates such as mix, morphine, etc..
As an opiate substitute that can only be obtained on methadone therapy clinic, its use has many advantages compared with the use of illegal opiates. Methadone to reduce or even eliminate dependence on opiate addicts other risky route of administration, for example by injection. It has long been known, the use of needles among intravenous drug users is a major cause of transmission of HIV and other diseases such as hepatitis. Another advantage is to reduce the crimes of drug addicts. Drug users typically use a variety of ways to get drugs.
In a dose methadone therapy arranged so that patients do not experience withdrawal symptoms, while not causing the wearer anesthetized by dose. Thus will normalize the wearer's lifestyle and behavior.
Methadone is given in liquid form. Patients must take medicine in front of the officer. To ensure that this drug really has the swallow, the officer will usually ask the patient to name but a few words or sentences. Methadone is long enough in the blood, ranging between 24-36 hours. Therefore, simply given once daily.
Duration of methadone was not limited. But in the early stages, should not stop until six months. To succeed, methadone treatment must be accompanied by therapy counseling and ongoing support for patients. If the patient's condition improved, and patients want to eliminate the dependency, it can be a gradual reduction in dose.
How is Methadone Used?
Methadone is usually given to the client program in the form of liquid (syrup solution) is taken under supervision at the clinic every day. Each client requires a different measure, because of differences in metabolism, body weight and tolerance to opiates. Some time is needed to determine the proper dose of methadone for each client. Initially, the client must be observed every day and reaction to the dose assessed. If the client shows signs or symptoms of withdrawal, the dose should be increased. Generally the program started with a 20mg dose of methadone and then increased 5-10mg per day. Typically clients stay in therapy and be able to stop using heroin with moderate to high doses of methadone (60-100mg).
What Side Effects Methadone?
Although methadone is usually well tolerated, sometimes clients have side effects:
* Nausea
* Vomiting: 10-15 percent of these side effects, which usually disappear after a few days
* Constipation: like other opiates, nutrition and exercise can help
* Sweat: to appear as a side effect, or because the dose of methadone is not suitable
* Amenorrhea: menstrual period was late, or sometimes more regularly
* Libido: methadone can decrease sexual desire
* Fatigue: can be reduced by reducing the dose
* Tooth decay: caused by syrup
Information about the side effects that might occur should be given to the client.
Does Methadone Interact with Other Drugs?
It can be concluded that methadone does not affect the dose of antiretroviral or TB drugs apart ddI (see Fact Sheet (LI) 413) version of the buffer (buffered) and AZT (LI 411). If there is a methadone clients are taking didanosine, ddI dose may be increased or buffer version of ddI should be replaced with didanosine EC (if available). When used AZT (or a combination pill containing AZT, eg. Combivir), side effects of AZT may arise again. Because of these side effects can be similar to the withdrawal, should be careful to distinguish. Something similar happened after starting interferon therapy for hepatitis C.
But some medications can affect the effects of methadone. So methadone clinic staff should always monitor the use of other drugs by clients. When after started taking other drugs, the client is experiencing withdrawal or sedation, methadone dose should be adjusted. In contrast, after the drug is stopped, the dose of methadone should be adjusted again.
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