What is methadone?

Methadone is an opioid medicine, which is only available with a prescription from your doctor.

What is methadone used for?

Methadone is prescribed for the medical treatment of heroin and other opioid dependencies. Methadone can also be prescribed to help manage severe pain cause by certain conditions.

Because of the risks associated with opioid use, methadone should only be used for pain relief in people who are not able to take non-opioid pain-relief medicines, or in circumstances when pain cannot be managed with other options.

How does methadone work?

When methadone is used to replace another opioid, it helps to lessen the effects of withdrawal and reduces the harm associated with opioid drug use. In this way, methadone makes it easier for people to stop their harmful drug use.

Methadone also works to reduce feelings of pain, by interrupting the way nerves signal pain between the brain and the body.

What forms of methadone are available?

Methadone is available in syrup, injection and tablet forms.

What are the possible side effects of taking methadone?

Like all opioid medicines, methadone can cause life-threatening breathing problems. The risk of these is higher:

• when you first take methadone
• after a dosage increase
• if you are older
• if you have an existing lung problem

Other common side effects of methadone include:

• constipation
• headache or dizziness
• fatigue or drowsiness (especially soon after a dose)
• loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting

Methadone affects everyone differently. Your chances of experiencing side effects may depend on:

• if you regularly use methadone
• if you take methadone while also taking other drugs or medicines
• your dosage
• your weight
• your general health

If you experience side effects while taking methadone, or you are concerned about your drug use, speak with your doctor.

Always take medicines exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

What are the risks associated with methadone?

Methadone is an opioid medicine and can cause life-threatening breathing problems.

Methadone may make it difficult for you to drive or operate heavy machinery. If you have recently started taking an opioid medicine or changed dosage, you may be at a higher risk of having an accident.

If you have kidney problems or your kidney function is impaired, your doctor will need to adjust your dosage of methadone.

There are other factors that may limit your use of methadone — for example, if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that can cause drowsiness.

Your doctor is the best person to advise you on whether methadone is the right medicine for you, how much you need and how long to take it for. Your doctor can also guide you on when and how to stop taking methadone.

Opioid dependence

If you take methadone regularly, you may become dependent on this medicine, even if you take it exactly as prescribed and only for a short time. Your doctor will monitor how you use methadone to reduce your risk of harm.

You can also develop tolerance when you take methadone. This means you need to take larger amounts of the opioid to get the same effect. As the dosage increases, so does the risk of side effects.

If you stop taking methadone suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.

You may have been prescribed methadone to treat heroin or opioid dependency. This is because your doctor thinks that the benefits of methadone outweigh the risks of long-term use. If you are concerned about the risks of methadone, speak to your doctor. If your doctor has prescribed methadone for drug dependency, do not stop taking the medicine without first discussing it with your doctor.

Are there any alternatives to methadone?

Both methadone and buprenorphine are used to help treat opioid dependence or misuse. Your doctor will work with you to decide the best treatment for you.

Methadone is only rarely used to treat severe pain when other treatments do not work or cannot be tolerated. Everyone’s pain is unique. Your doctor may recommend different pain-relief medicines in different circumstances. If you have been prescribed methadone and have concerns or are experiencing side effects, speak with your doctor about other ways you can manage your pain.

If you have chronic (long-term) pain, your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes to help manage the discomfort. This may include:

• improving your physical fitness
• activity pacing
• social activities
• relaxation techniques
• overall health management

Find out more about options for managing chronic pain.

When should I see my doctor?

Always check with your doctor before adjusting your dosage either up or down — do not change your dose without checking first.

See your doctor if you experience any unexpected or unwanted side effects.

If you stop taking methadone suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor can advise you on the best way to reduce your dosage of methadone to minimise the impact of withdrawal effects.

How do I dispose of medicines safely?

It's important that you dispose of unwanted opioid medicines safely. Unused medicines can be returned to any pharmacy. Don't keep unused methadone 'just in case', as this can lead to dangerous or inappropriate use.

Keep methadone out of reach of children and pets. Never throw medicines into a garbage bin or flush them down the toilet, as this is dangerous to others and harmful to the environment.

Resources and support

Asking about your treatment or medicine is important to help you understand your options. Here's a guide to questions you should ask your pharmacist or doctor before taking any medicine.

Find a pharmacy near you that is involved with the Opioid Dependency Treatment program.

See also this list of medicines that contain methadone to read the consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet for the brand prescribed, or:

• Call 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) to talk about the medicines you are taking for your pain.
• Learn more about prescription opioids on the Choosing Wisely website.
• For answers to your questions and for practical advice, call the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (1300 85 85 84).
• For confidential alcohol and drug counselling, visit CounsellingONLINE. You can also call a local service in your state or territory — check the website for local phone numbers.