Posted by Elizabeth on May 10, 2001, at 6:53:39
In reply to Re: Methadone - , posted by NikkiT2 on May 8, 2001, at 9:09:29
> I ahve never used methadone, but have a very close friend who is currently using to help kick his heroin habit.
>
> It is a nasty, nasty drug. He says it is worse than the heroin... it is HIGHLY addictive and the "come downs" are terrible."Addictiveness" is a property that isn't easy to measure; however, methadone is, if anything, *less* addictive than heroin since methadone is a long-lasting drug with a gradual onset of action (no "rush").
Because methadone is so long-acting, withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation can be quite protracted (although less intense than withdrawal symptoms from, say, heroin). As a result, methadone can be especially hard for people who are physiologically dependent on methadone to get off it.
Methadone is probably more effective as maintenance treatment than for "weaning off" a long-term opioid habit. Once a person with a long established addiction stops taking methadone, opioid cravings are likely to return. A short-term methadone taper might be more helpful for those with brief and mild addiction histories.
poster:Elizabeth
thread:17065
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010507/msgs/62340.html