Methadone is a powerful drug that can be used to treat addiction to opiates such as heroin and morphine. It was developed during World War II by German scientists working to create a synthetic substitute for opium products that would be hard to come by during the war. In 1947 it first became available in the United States.
Although problems accompany methadone, it has proven itself a worthy foe against severe and chronic pain. It has also found significant use as a prescription medicine to help ease drug users off their addictions. Taken properly, methadone makes a significant difference in the lives of many people.
The prescription drug occupies the same brain receptors as opium poppy-made drugs like heroin. Thus, it affects the body in similar ways. The human body itself produces its own pain-killers in the form of endorphins.
People may be familiar with endorphins and how they work through experience with exercise. Physical exercise stimulates endorphin production. It is ironic in a way that some people become addicted to exercise because of the endorphin release.
Endorphins and opiates create feelings of well-being and euphoria in the body. The problem with drugs that produce euphoria, of course, is that the drug-user becomes emotionally dependent and physically addicted to the drug. Greater amounts of the drug and more frequent usage become necessary in order to produce a high that matches the one experienced when the drug was first taken.
Methadone helps in two important ways. When taken properly in either liquid or capsule form, it inhibits the euphoria from other drugs. It also eases withdrawal symptoms that the addict would otherwise have to endure when leaving behind a street drug such as heroin.
Withdrawal can be extremely unpleasant. Its symptoms include not only nausea and diarrhea but twitching limbs, overall restlessness, anxiety and depression. Withdrawal can be frightening, especially to someone who quits addictive drugs cold turkey.
Methadone has been available for use in addiction treatment for more than 30 years. This depressant is relatively inexpensive and readily available through treatment centers and private physicians. It helps stimulate endorphins in the brain while calming the brain by blocking the receptor for neuron excitement.
Methadone’s pain relieving abilities are renowned and it is well documented how useful the medicine is for treating intense pain. Methadone works similarly to heroin by attaching to the mu-opioid receptor in the brain. Heroin, codeine, morphine and methadone resemble endorphins in their chemical makeup.
Methadone works to increase levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters relieve pain and work as anti-psychotics. The results are calming and pain-relieving.
Although methadone is extremely useful in pain and addiction treatment, it can be addictive itself. Physicians and other medical personnel can help guide patients through its use so it itself does not become a problem. Using methadone at the same time as other drugs such as alcohol can have dangerous consequences.
Used correctly methadone keeps away symptoms of withdrawal. It must be administered under supervision because if taken without exactitude it can cause problems or fail to keep away withdrawal symptoms. Inappropriate dosing with methadone could actually increase heroin cravings, for example.
On the streets methadone sometimes gets traded for opiates in an effort by the addict to return to use of the original problematical drug. Another negative is the possibility of methadone overdose. An addict seeking a high similar to heroin’s may take too much methadone, not understanding the different effects it produces.
Some addicts receiving methadone may take opiates at the same time. This goes against medical advice to say the least. But in spite of its drawbacks, methadone remains a strong and powerful weapon against drug addiction.