METHADONE - INJECTION

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METHADONE - INJECTION

PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: (METH-a-done)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Dolophine

GENERIC NAME(S): methadone HCl

Uses

USES: This medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Methadone is an opioid (narcotic) medication. It acts on certain centers in the brain to relieve pain. This medication is also used to treat addiction to opioids (such as heroin) as part of an approved treatment program. It helps prevent withdrawal symptoms caused by stopping other opioids.


How to use METHADONE - INJECTION

HOW TO USE: See also Warning section. Read the Patient Information Leaflet that may be provided by your pharmacist before you start using methadone and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your product, this medication is given by injection into a vein, into a muscle, or under the skin. Use it exactly as directed by your doctor. Read and learn all of the manufacturer's instructions for preparation and use. If you have any questions about using this medication properly, consult your doctor or pharmacist. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Before injecting each dose, clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol. If this medication is given into a muscle or under the skin, it is important to change the location of the injection site with each dose to avoid problem areas under the skin. Learn how to store and discard needles and medical supplies safely. Consult your pharmacist for more details. If nausea occurs, consult your doctor or pharmacist for ways to decrease it (such as lying down for 1 to 2 hours with as little head movement as possible). If you are using this medication for pain, remember that pain medications work best if they are used as the first signs of pain occur. If you wait until the pain has worsened, the medication may not work as well. This medication may cause withdrawal reactions, especially if it has been used regularly for a long time or in high doses. In such cases, withdrawal symptoms (such as restlessness, watery eyes, widened pupils, sweating, runny nose) may occur if you suddenly stop using this medication. To prevent withdrawal reactions, your doctor may reduce your dose gradually. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and report any withdrawal reactions right away. When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Your doctor may need to increase your dose or change your medication. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well. Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Use this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Side Effects

SIDE EFFECTS: See also Warning section. Nausea, vomiting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, dry mouth, drowsiness, and increased sweating may occur. Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site may occur if this medication is given into a muscle or under the skin. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To prevent constipation, maintain a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. Consult your pharmacist for help in selecting a laxative (such as a stimulant type with stool softener). To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: mental/mood changes (such as agitation, confusion, hallucinations), stomach/abdominal pain, difficulty urinating, signs of your adrenal glands not working well (such as loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, weight loss). Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: seizure, severe drowsiness/difficulty waking up. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

PRECAUTIONS: Before using methadone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: brain disorders (such as head injury, tumor, seizures), breathing problems (such as asthma, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-COPD), kidney disease, liver disease, mental/mood disorders (such as confusion, depression, thoughts of suicide), personal or family history of a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol), stomach/intestinal problems (such as blockage, constipation, diarrhea due to infection, paralytic ileus), difficulty urinating (such as due to enlarged prostate), disease of the pancreas (pancreatitis), gallbladder disease. Methadone may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away. The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using methadone, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death). Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using methadone safely. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, slow/shallow breathing, and QT prolongation (see above). During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may harm an unborn baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. (See also Warning section.) This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Tell the doctor right away if your baby develops unusual sleepiness, difficulty feeding, or trouble breathing. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding or if you plan to stop breast-feeding.

Interactions

DRUG INTERACTIONS: See also Warning section. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: certain pain medications (mixed opioid agonist-antagonists such as pentazocine, nalbuphine, butorphanol), naltrexone, MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine). Other medications can affect the removal of methadone from your body, which may affect how methadone works. Examples include St. John's wort, azole antifungals (such as itraconazole), HIV drugs (such as ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), rifamycins (such as rifampin), drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine), among others. The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is used with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using other products such as other opioid pain or cough relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone), alcohol, marijuana, drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, lorazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants (such as carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine), or antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine). Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including amylase and lipase levels), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Overdose

OVERDOSE: If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, give them naloxone if available, then call 911. If the person is awake and has no symptoms, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: slow/shallow breathing, extreme drowsiness, slow heartbeat, severe dizziness, pinpoint pupils, coma.

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Faq for METHADONE - INJECTION

Methadone injection is used to treat severe pain in patients who require around-the-clock pain medication and have not responded to other pain medications.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid that works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, reducing the perception of pain.

Methadone injection is administered by a healthcare professional into a vein (intravenous) or under the skin (subcutaneous). It should never be injected into a muscle.

Common side effects of methadone injection include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and dry mouth.

Yes, methadone injection can be addictive, especially if misused or used for a long time. It should only be used as directed by a healthcare professional.

Inform your healthcare provider if you have a history of substance abuse, liver or kidney disease, respiratory problems, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Yes, methadone injection can interact with other medications, including benzodiazepines, certain antidepressants, and other opioids. Inform your healthcare provider about all the medications you are currently taking.

If you miss a dose, contact your healthcare provider for instructions. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

It is generally advised to avoid alcohol while using methadone injection as it can increase the risk of side effects and decrease the effectiveness of the medication.

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Warning

WARNING: Methadone has a risk for abuse and addiction, which can lead to overdose and death. Methadone may also cause severe, possibly fatal, breathing problems and heartbeat problems. To lower your risk, your doctor should have you use the smallest dose of methadone that works, and use it for the shortest possible time. Do not increase your dose or use this medication more often than directed. See also How to Use section for more information about addiction. The risk for severe breathing problems or heartbeat problems is higher when you start this medication, when you are switching from another opioid to methadone, after a dose increase, or if you use the wrong dose/strength. Breathing problems from methadone may not happen right away after using a dose. Most heartbeat problems have happened in people using large doses of methadone for pain relief, but this problem can also occur in people getting smaller doses to treat opioid addiction. Using this medication with alcohol or other drugs that can cause drowsiness or breathing problems may cause very serious side effects, including death. Also, other medications can affect the removal of methadone from your body, which may affect how methadone works. Be sure you know how to use methadone and what other drugs you should avoid taking with it. See also Drug Interactions section. Get medical help right away if any of these very serious side effects occur: slow/shallow breathing, unusual lightheadedness, severe drowsiness/dizziness, difficulty waking up, fast/irregular heartbeat, fainting. Keep this medicine in a safe place to prevent theft, misuse, or abuse. If someone accidentally uses or swallows this drug, get medical help right away. Before using this medication, women of childbearing age should talk with their doctor(s) about the risks and benefits. Pregnancy may affect the amount of this drug in your body, so tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may slightly increase the risk of birth defects if used during the first two months of pregnancy. Also, using it for a long time or in high doses near the expected delivery date may harm the unborn baby. To lessen the risk, use the smallest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Babies born to mothers who use this drug for a long time may develop severe (possibly fatal) withdrawal symptoms. Tell the doctor right away if you notice any symptoms in your newborn baby such as crying that doesn't stop, slow/shallow breathing, irritability, shaking, vomiting, diarrhea, poor feeding, or difficulty gaining weight.


Disclaimer

IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.