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| Drug Class:
Narcotic Analgesic |
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| Trade Names:
Dolophine, Methadose |
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| Description:
Methadone is a synthetic opiate (opioid), first synthesized by German scientists during World War II and made
commercially available in the United States in 1947. Although it was
originally developed for use as an analgesic, methadone is mainly
used today as a substitute for heroin in order to relieve some of
the problems associated with heroin addiction. It is usually
prescribed as a liquid syrup to be taken orally, but is also
manufactured as tablets and ampoules for injection. Methadone
maintenance programs are intended to reduce the risks associated
with heroin addiction, such as heroin overdose, HIV or hepatitis
infection from shared syringes, and risks due to criminal activity
associated with the illicit drug market. Methadone mimics many of
the effects of opiates such as heroin. However, there are many
differences. For example, heroin produces an almost immediate
"rush" or brief period of euphoria, which wears off
relatively quickly, resulting in a strong craving to use more
heroin. In contrast, methadone has a more gradual onset of action
when administered orally. Its effects can last up to 24 hours, which
allows the patient to take methadone only once a day without
experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Research has demonstrated that,
when methadone is given in regular doses by a physician, it has the
ability to block the euphoria caused by heroin if the individual
does try to take heroin. Despite methadone's role in the treatment
of heroin addiction, it has addictive properties and also a high
potential for abuse on the street. Methadone enters the illicit drug
market primarily as a result of patients selling their
prescriptions. |
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| Excretion:
In the 24-hour urine following a 5 mg oral methadone dose, unchanged
methadone accounted for 5% of the dose, EDDP for 5%, and EMDP for
less than 1%. In the 24-hour urine of methadone maintenance
subjects, unchanged methadone may account for 5% to 50% of the dose
and EDDP for 3% to 25%, with large variations due to urine pH, urine
volume, dose, and rate of metabolism. Urinary concentrations of
methadone and EDDP in these subjects ranging from 1,000 ng/ml to
50,000 ng/ml are commonly encountered. |
| Drug Information
- Methadone. The Centre for Recovery. 07 Sept.
2001 <http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/gjl37/druginfo/methad.html>. |
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| Cooper, James.
Methadone and the Treatment of Heroin Addiction. National Institute
On Drug Abuse. 07 Sept. 2001
<http://165.112.78.61/Testimony/12-11-98Testimony.html>. |
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