When methadone is mentioned, most people tend to think of it as a treatment for heroin or drug addiction in various detox programs and are incredibly surprised to learn that it is also used for treating pain many times in relation to various forms of cancer. Methadone pain management has proven effective for not only
cancer, but other chronic states. Methadone for pain control is very common because it is a synthetic opioid, which means that is has similar analgesic qualities as morphine despite its having a very different structure.
Methadone is a highly lipohilic molecule, which means that it can be successfully administered in various ways. Methadone has been approved for intramuscular, oral, rectal, intravenous, subcutaneous, and epidural use. It may also be administered intrathecally. Methadone for pain control is very effective, partially because the drug is quickly absorbed in the stomach and rapidly distributed to the liver, kidneys, muscles, lungs, and brain.
In many cases, methadone for pain control is given to patients who have an allergy to morphine. However, because the drug is synthetic, there is very little chance of an allergy to it. It is also more widely used today because it is less expensive than morphine.
Typically, patients taking methadone for pain management take it on their own orally. Methadone is stronger than morphine, so it is important to note that a methadone dosage may be lower than a typical morphine dose. Each dosage usually alleviates pain for about 6-8 hours, but it does leave the body very slowly and can build up in the body over a period of extended time.
Although methadone is a highly effective drug, it is not without side effects. Taking the drug can result in very serious side effects or even death, so it is not a medication to consider lightly. Less serious methadone side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, constipation,
headache, nausea, vomiting, and a dry mouth. More serious side effects include severe drowsiness, slowed breathing, skin rash, hives, itching, severe confusion, hallucinations, or changes in the
heartbeat. The drug can also affect a person s ability to think, react, or communicate.
Methadone Pain ManagementTaking the medication improperly will worsen any side effects. It is especially important to pay attention to respiratory patterns when taking methadone as, like any narcotic, it can slow the breathing rate. Suddenly stopping
methadone dosages can result in unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Combining methadone with alcohol can result in very dangerous side effects, or even death. If a patient believes that the drug is not working, it is best to immediately discuss these thoughts with a doctor.
The above information thankfully comes from the onlinemedicineinfo.com at the following
link.
