Methadone maintenance

Methadone maintenance treatment is the use of methadone, administered over a prolonged period of time, as treatment for someone who is addicted to opioids such as heroin, where detoxification has been unsuccessful and/or admittance to a substance abuse treatment facility requires complete abstinence. "Methadone maintenance makes possible a first step toward social rehabilitation" because it allows addicts to avoid the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms that result from complete abstinence. Methadone maintenance can also be used for patients who suffer with severe pain problems that are resistant to other drugs.

Methadone maintenance has been used to treat opioid dependence for more than 45 years (invented in 1937).Therapeutic dosing is contingent upon individual patient needs, and the therapeutic dosage range is generally between 25 to 150 mg. Such a dose would not be tolerated by an opioid-naive individual. The amount of oral Methadone that an addicted individual will require is dependent on the amount of illicit substance that they have previously been used to, but as a general rule 1 gram of street Heroin is roughly equivalent to 50 to 80 mg of methadone. Methadone is taken either orally as DTF (Drug Tariff Formula) methadone mixture 1 mg/1ml which is supplied as a red or clear liquid, but can now also be prescribed as a mixture containing 10 mg of methadone in 1ml of liquid (blue color) or methadone 20 mg in 1ml (brown color). This is often used when a person is on a large amount of methadone and is rarely permitted for consumption unsupervised, because these formulations are not as viscous as the 1 mg/1ml mixture, they are more prone to mis-use as they are easier to inject, and also due to the high risk of diverted medication causing an overdose in an individual that is not used to such a large dose. An individual who is prescribed 200 mg would only have to ingest 20ml of 10 mg/1ml mixture, thus making it easier to take. Methadone Maintenance can also be delivered by either IV or IM injection, and ampoules come in various strengths from 10 mg up to 50 mg, this method is often used for individuals who have a "needle fixation" and who would otherwise revert to using iv heroin. Methadone is widely distributed to body tissues where it is stored and then released into the plasma. This combination of storage and release keeps the patient comfortable, free from craving, and feeling stable.

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