Methadone is a drug that is used primarily to treat chronic heroin or opiate addiction however stopping it can cause withdrawals. It is given to alleviate the painful symptoms of these patients so that they do not have to endure tremendous physical cravings for the opiate. Unfortunately, methadone is also used frequently in medical settings as an injectable medication that causes heroin addiction and dependency. When the drug is taken for long enough, it becomes very difficult to wean patients off the drug, and many who take methadone are hooked for life. Methadone is a synthetic form of the opiate agonist, morphine. Methadone is used to alleviate the painful effects of withdrawal when someone stops using heroin or other opiates. When someone decides to stop using methadone, they must first find a substitute for the opioid, such as another drug or a natural cure. Methadone is given to reduce the discomfort and symptoms associated with this process.

Although methadone is used to help relieve withdrawal symptoms, it has also been found to have significant effects on mental and emotional health, including anxiety, paranoia, depression, and mania. Because of these side effects, methadone users are at a much higher risk of developing psychological problems than non-users. Someone who quits using methadone may experience cravings for the drug during the early days of quitting, but these feelings usually subside within a week or two. This may lead to anxiety about withdrawal and depression. Other symptoms may develop such as insomnia, paranoia, irritability, anxiety, muscle aches, and increased appetite, which may cause weight gain. During the first week or two after quitting methadone, someone experiencing methadone withdrawal symptoms should abstain from sex and only consume water, or other liquids that contain low amounts of caffeine. Caffeine can increase the blood pressure and make it difficult to stay calm and focused. Other symptoms such as muscle aches, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting may occur if the person’s intake of medications increases.

Methadone Withdrawal symptoms 

Symptoms of methadone withdrawal include feeling anxious and/or agitated, having difficulty sleeping, headaches, and feeling cold, having a constant dry cough, sweating and having a runny nose and frequent eye squinting. Someone experiencing these symptoms should avoid taking in caffeine and alcoholic beverages until symptoms subside. There are over the counter medications available that can help alleviate some of these symptoms. It is important to remember that anyone taking opiates, whether they are prescribed by a doctor or illegal, should have regular visits with a methadone clinic to have any of these symptoms relieved. People who are high risk for methadone withdrawal, such as people suffering from AIDS or cancer, should be abstaining from other opioids as well. These people should also have regular checkups at a methadone clinic for any signs or symptoms of other conditions as well. Methadone clinics will treat any symptoms of addiction to heroin or other anabolic drugs.