Methadone is also used in managing severe chronic pain, owing to its long duration of action, extremely powerful effects, and very low cost.

In 2006, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration issued a caution about methadone, titled “ Methadone Use for Pain Control May Result in Death .” The FDA also revised the drug's package insert.

Methadone acts by binding to the µ-opioid receptor, but also has some affinity for the NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptor.

Methadone also binds to the glutamatergic NMDA ( N-methyl-D-aspartate ) receptor, and thus acts as a receptor antagonist against glutamate.

Methadone also acted as a potent, noncompetitive α < sub > 3 </ sub > β < sub > 4 </ sub > neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist in rat receptors, expressed in human embryonic kidney cell lines.

In contrast to morphine, which was used to alleviate pain in the injured but also to boost the esteem, stamina, and drive of German soldiers in combat, methadone had effects that have been described as such ; " Dolophine ( Methadone ) had many adverse effects on the soldiers to whom it was given, leading to apathy, lethargy, and decreased willingness to engage in combat ".

This category also includes narcotic treatment programs that administer and dispense primarily Methadone for narcotic addiction treatment.

The analgesic effect of Methadone has been known to mask the onset of malignant disease in patients undergoing treatment with Methadone, the disease only becoming apparent when the dose ( and pain-killing effect ) of Methadone is reduced.

Methadone was introduced into the United States in 1947 by Eli Lilly and Company as an analgesic ( they gave it the trade name Dolophine, which is now registered to Roxane Laboratories ).

Methadone was first manufactured in the USA by Eli Lilly, who obtained FDA approval on August 14, 1947, for their Dolophine 5 mg and 10 mg Tablets.

Methadose / Methadone should not be injected either.

Despite the FDA directive, many doctors continue to prescribe Methadone as a pain killer, but only to patients which have shown to be responsible in their use of previous pain killers.

Some patients will be prescribed as much as 325 mg of methadone a day ; though a dose as low as 30 mg can prove fatal in an opiate naive individual, or in individuals who lack cross-tolerance to other opioids .. Patients prescribed Methadone for pain control, are likely to be given Methadone tablets, that come in the strength of 5mg in the Uk.

Deaths of persons recieveing Methadone are normally attributable to other factors, such as alcohol or additional drug use on top of the prescribed Methadone.

However, Methadone has much lower cross-tolerance, when switching to it from other opioids, than other opioids .< ref > This means that Methadone can start at a low dose, and the time for the next switch will be longer.

Many patients report that Methadone's sedation effect is often less pronounced than with other opioids and cite this as a major argument for preferring Methadone as an analgesic .< ref > Persons reciveing MMT should not suffer from extreme sedation as a resullt of the treatment, due to the fact that a properly prescribed person will have had their dose titrated up to the optimal level to remove the effects of withdrawl, a point at which sedation should not be evident.

Methadone and its major metabolite, EDDP, are often measured in urine as part of a drug abuse testing program, in plasma or serum to confirm a diagnosis of poisoning in hospitalized victims, or in whole blood to assist in a forensic investigation of a traffic or other criminal violation or a case of sudden death.

Injecting Methadone pills can cause collapsed veins, bruising, swelling, and possibly other harmful effects.

Methadone clinics operate as any other addiction medical facility.

Methadone is mainly used in the treatment of opioid dependence.

Methadone is approved for different indications in different countries.

Methadone can provide a method of stable treatment of the symptoms associated with withdrawal and mental anguish, and, with a proper slow taper, can be discontinued after the patient feels he or she is ready, often after a year or more, which gives the addict time to get away from old habits or triggers.

Methadone maintenance is rarely covered by private insurance and patients are encouraged to enroll in public welfare programs or face upwards of $ 500 USD per month.

When an individual is leaving the UK with an amount of Methadone that exceeds 500mg, a Home Office Export Licence is required which should be arranged by the prescriber.

In the UK, when a prescriber of Methadone uses form FP10 for the daily dispensing of the drug, the name of the allocated pharmacy that the user must go to is included.

Methadone, with its long half-life ( and thus long duration of effect ) and good oral bioavailability, is a common second-choice drug for pain that does not respond to weaker agonists.

When taken according to the prescribers instructions, Methadone is relatively safe, as the prescriber will have gradually built the dose up to avoid the danger of overdose.

One reason for use of Methadone is its advantages for opioid rotation.

Methadone linctus, which is prescribed in 1mg / 2. 5ml strength is used where approved as a remedy for violent coughing.

Methadone usage history is considered in interpreting the results as a chronic user can develop tolerance to doses that would incapacitate an opioid-naive individual.

Methadone is metabolized by CYP3A4, CYP2B6, CYP2D6 and is a substrate for the P-Glycoprotein efflux protein in intestine and brain.

Methadone is a full µ-opioid agonist.

A common problem in treating methadone overdoses is that, given the short action of Naloxone ( versus the extremely longer-acting Methadone ), a dosage of Naloxone given to a Methadone-overdosed patient will initially work to bring the patient out of overdose, but once the Naloxone wears off, if no further Naloxone is administered, the patient can go right back into overdose ( based upon time and dosage of the Methadone ingested ).

* Methadone, a synthetic opioid

* Methadone. us: A resource center on opioid addiction treatment

In chronic pain conditions that are opioid responsive a combination of a long-acting ( Oxycontin, MS Contin, Opana ER, Exalgo and Methadone ) or extended release medication is often prescribed in conjunction with a shorter-acting medication ( oxycodone, morphine or hydromorphone ) for breakthrough pain, or exacerbations.

*** Methadone can be used for either treatment of opioid addiction / detoxification when taken once daily or as a pain medication and as such is usually administered on an every 12-hour or 8-hour dosing interval.

* The opioid Methadone is synthesized in Germany by scientists working at Hoechst AG.

MMT ( Methadone Maintenance Treatment ), a form of opioid replacement therapy, reduces and / or eliminates the use of illicit opiates, the criminality associated with opiate use, and allows patients to improve their health and social productivity.

When used correctly, Methadone maintenance has been found to be medically safe and non-sedating.

This licence allows the individual to export the licenced amount and import any remaining Methadone that has not yet been used. The granting of a licence does not guarentee that the Methadone or person will be allowed entrance into the country of travel.