Methadone is the #2 killer drug in America

[wait2long]

What is Methadone?: Methadone is an opiate that was first introduced after World War II as an alternative to morphine. Methadone was originally thought to be less addictive because of its extremely long half life. Today, methadone is used as an analgesic for pain management and more popularly as replacement therapy for heroin and other opiate addictions. Methadone is a cheap alternative to other opiate based medications which outweighs it potency when prescribing.

In 2004 close to 4000 people died from methadone. In 2005 Methadone was implicated in over 4700 deaths. That does not include auto accidents caused by those driving under the influence of methadone.

Ask your doctor about alternatives

~ There are many other effective pain relievers on the market, do not just accept Methadone because it's cheaper...cheap is not always better

~ For addiction consider Suboxone, Buprenorphine, inpatient treatment, or detoxification...know that embarking on MMT is developing a new addiction that may be harder to overcome then your current one

Mixing other Medications or Drugs with Methadone can be deadly

~ Methadone is contraindicated with many medications you may need to take

~ Over the counter cough and flu medicines have been deadly mixed with Methadone

~ Benzodiazepines such as (Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Restoril etc..) are the most common drugs found in the deceased victim

~ Even taking other medications as prescribed with Methadone can kill

~ Be wary of mixing certain herbal supplements and grapefruit juice with Methadone

Methadone is Cardio Toxic

~ Insist on regular EKG's and ECG's from your doctor while on Methadone

~ For additional information on the cardio toxicity of Methadone, QT Prolongation, and Torsades de Pointes please see the research articles

Medical Conditions

~ Notify your doctor if you have Asthma, Sleep Apnea or high blood pressure prior to accepting Methadone Treatment

~ If you are overweight you may have an increased risk for respiratory depression or sleep apnea while on Methadone

Support Systems

~ Notify your friends and family that you are taking Methadone

~ Ask your doctor for a prescription of NARCAN (this is the overdose antidote) during the induction phase (first 2 weeks of treatment) you are at increased risk for overdose and death

   Call your doctor ASAP if you are experiencing

   1. Migraines / Headaches

    2. Difficulty / Shallow or Slow Breathing

    3. Pinpoint Pupils

    4. Vomiting / Nausea

    5. Drowsiness

    6. Disorientation / Dizziness

    7. Limp Muscles

    8. Itching / Hives / Rash

    9. Seizures

~ Advise family and friends to call 911 immediately if they hear a loud, strange snoring or gurgling sound coming from you while you are sleeping

~ If you are feeling faint or nodding out (falling asleep spontaneously) do NOT take more Methadone ... contact your doctor and do NOT drive

I found this website called HARMD a while ago, the information in this website and the statistics about methadone are scary, and this does cover methadone maintenance and NUMEROUS people that died by taking one illicit 5 or 10 mg dose of methadone, JUST ONE PILL CAN KILL !!  and the facts are staggering...
if you are interested in any of my research about methadone...just let me know.  there is nothing safe about this medication at all, not even one songle dose is safe.
and as far as methadone maintenance therapy - I understand addiction and the facts that show and prove that addiction IS a disease. some people MAY require methadone for life.  but do know if you thinking about MMT as your way top treat your disease, your dose MAY be upped on a regular basis, most, not all, but most find after being on the same dose of methadone for an extended time, the dose will need to be increased over and over again, your dose is never enough to sustain you for life in most not all cases...
suboxone is NOT like this and is also a  preferred and recommended alternative to methadone in most if not all cases but HARMD.
HARMD also has a memorial page for any one that has lost a loved one to methadone, whether it be MMT or a 1 time illicit use of methadone.

METHADONE IS THE #2 KILLER DRUG IN AMERICA....FACT!



  

[sawzall]

I respectfully bid you both a good night and many blessings for the future. :)

[sawzall]

I fully respect your opinion. Mine is also an opinion only. Informed as I can make it, but an opinion nonetheless. I just want people to know that there is more benefit to methadone than there is death and destruction.

You stand a far better chance on methadone maintenance than you do driving an automobile, that's for certain.

Methadone kills. Cars kill. Alchohol Kills. Guns Kill. People Kill.............
[insert here] kills.......

[sawzall]

The alcohol was thrown in there as an illustration of how sensationalism and the cause "du jour" continues to drive the legislation and cause of the day; while a known family destroyer and killer of hundreds of thousands of innocent drivers continues to occur; war is waged by non-M/D's against highly beneficial drugs.

The assertion that the "benefits of methadone are few" is just flat out false. Tens of thousands of pain patients have been given back a large portion of their quality of life, which prior had been next to 0. Unbearable. Not to mention the re-integration of former heroin addicts back into society.

I'm with you 100% against the illicit diverters and that one should seek other remedies before ever considering a course of opiate medication, but the "methadone has few benefits" is false. It is superbly effective due to it's properties beyond the standard morphine and derivatives (mu agonist only; methadone has nmda-antagonist properties also of great use for neuropathic pain.)

Again, I'll use the automobile analogy. A great many people are killed, maimed for life and murdered in them daily by drunk/careless other drivers, yet the automobile persists because of the greater good. Methadone will continue as well due to the greater good.

1. STOP DIVERSION (I myself am working on microscopic poly-serial numbers to place in each pill that can't been seen without a microscope, nor sifted away completely by a drug dealer; to ID the source of the diverter. Not sure it's doable yet, but I will continue to do my best on it).
2. Acknowledge that opiates (methadone and others) are an enigma, and come with pros and cons.
3. Opiate therapy should always be a last resort. Alternative pain therapy for pain patients, and abstinence for abusers should always be the ultimate targets.
4. Stop with the blame games and visceral reactions to things that occur as part of life. The root cause of the rise in methadone deaths is diversion. It is still far preferrable to have the hundreds of thousands continue to have massively improved quality of life, than to viscerally react and pull methadone completely due to a much smaller percentage of deaths due to ILLICIT DIVERSION OF PRESCRIPTIONS.

Instead of being mad, seek the truth.

[confused456]

MY OPINION and it is just MY OPINION:

Methadone is deadly!!
I personally agree with you about end stage cancer paients, by all means, put them on methadone to make as comftorable as possible. Also, if there is an addict (strictly to heroin, etc.) that can not function due to their drug use, and methadone seems to be the last resoet for them, go for it. BUT those are the only times that I feel it should EVER be used. Thanks for your thoughts and opinion. Have a good night and a Happy Easter. Again, this is MY OPINION.

[cathy5841]

i am not sure what you point is about the alcohol..it is late and i am sleepy, but i do not believe anybody is suggesting or promoting alcohol has any benifits.  bottom line is the benifits of methadone are few, there maybe some incidences where it is needed, but that is to be decided by an M/D.  i do not think it is something that should be suggested on this forum as an alternative or a method to help anyone get off opiates.  at the very least to an addict methadone is dangerous....i highly recommend no one on this forum try it...as a matter of fact i suggest you leave it alone, and stay as far away from it as possible.  it does kill

[sawzall]

Don't forget, most overdoses are polydrug abuse situations. You see "METHADONE OVERDOSE" in the headlines, but the sensationalist article fails to mention that valium, or xanax, or ativan, or many times another opiate, usually heroin;  was found along with the <<<<<>>>>> that caused the death.

poly drug overdoses comprise 90%, methadone singly only 10%, according to my sources, which may not be entirely on point. It certainly indicates a trend towards polydrug abuse being the primary situation where death occurs though. Methadone is taking over as whipping boy where "hillbilly heroin" oxycontin once stood before purdue settled.  Hillbilly Heroin, such a class-warfare term, and misnomer to boot; most people with the money to pay illicit prices were quite affluent and decidely NON hillbillyish. Rush Limbaugh anyone ?