Methadone Hydrochloride, user leaflet

• Methadose^®

• Opioid aganoist

• Methadose^® 10mg/1ml Oral Concentrate

• Treatment of opioid dependence
• Treatment of chronic pain

• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to methadone
• you have severe breathing problems or a history of asthma or COPD
• you are taking Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) used to treat depression
• you have phaeochromoytoma, a tumour of the adrenal glands
• you have a bowel disorder known as paralytic ileus
• you have or have recently had a head injury
• you have liver or kidney problems
• you have problems with your gallbladder and bile duct
• you have seizure or epilepsy
• you are addicted to alcohol
• you use benzodiazepines
• you have low thyroid function (hypothyroid)
• you have an enlarged prostate gland
• you have a history of irregular heart beat
• you have a history of heart disease
• you have a family history of people dying suddenly without cause
• you are pregnant or breast-feeding

• Maximum starting dose and only for heavy intravenous users is 30 mg daily
• Dose can be increased by 10% once every 5 days
• If you miss three consecutive doses, your daily dose will be reduced to 50%
• If you miss 5 consecutive doses, your daily dose will be reduced to 30 mg

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Anti depressions such as: fluvoxamine, fluoxetine…
• cimetidine
• rifampicin
• Phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital and primidone
• Narcotic painkillers such as codeine and pentazocine
• Naltrexone
• Buprenorphine
• HIV medications such as: nevirapine, efavirenz, abacavir and nelfinavir
• Antibiotics such as: ciprofloxacin or macrolide antibiotics for example erythromycin
• Anti-fungals such as: ketoconazole or fluconazole
• John’s Wort – a herbal preparation for depression
• Cyclizine, domperidone and metoclopramide used to treat nausea and vomiting
• Mexiletine used to treat unusual heart rhythms.

• Constipation
• Drowsiness
• Allergic reaction
• Nausea

• Methadose can severely affect your ability to drive or use machines as it may make you sleepy or dizzy
• Review care plan with your doctor

• Methadone dose needs to be adjusted if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

• Children must not take this medicine.
• If you take more of this medicine than you should, talk to a doctor or go to your nearest hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you.
• If you forget a dose do not take it. Wait until the next dose is due and take only that amount
• Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose
• take your daily doses as prescribed