Brand name
- Methadose®
Drug Class
- Opioid aganoist
Preparations
- Methadose® 10mg/1ml Oral Concentrate
Indications
- Treatment of opioid dependence
- Treatment of chronic pain
Do not take Methadose and tell your doctor if:
- 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
Dosing
- 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
Drug Interactions
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.
Adverse Effects
- Constipation
- Drowsiness
- Allergic reaction
- Nausea
Driving and using machines
- 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
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
- Methadone dose needs to be adjusted if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Warning
- 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
Section
This document is prepared by the “Mental Health for All” team. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the Essentials of Medicine. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.