Methadone is a prescription drug. It’s an opioid, which makes it a controlled substance. This means this drug has a risk of misuse and may cause dependence.
Methadone comes as an oral tablet, oral dispersible tablet (tablet that can be dissolved in liquid), oral concentrate solution, and oral solution. Methadone also comes in an intravenous (IV) form, which is only given by a healthcare provider.
Methadone is also available as the brand-name drug Methadose, which comes in an oral soluble tablet.
Methadone oral tablet is used to manage moderate to severe pain. It’s only given when other short-term or non-opioid pain drugs don’t work for you or if you can’t tolerate them.
Methadone is also used to manage drug addiction. If you have an addiction to another opioid, your doctor may give you methadone to prevent you from having severe withdrawal symptoms.
Methadone belongs to a class of drugs called opioids (narcotics). A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.
Methadone works on pain receptors in your body. It reduces how much pain you feel.
Methadone can also replace another opioid drug that you have an addiction to. This will keep you from experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.
This drug can make you very drowsy. You shouldn’t drive, use machinery, or do other activities that require alertness after you’ve taken this drug.
Methadone can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking methadone. This list doesn’t include all possible side effects.
For more information on the possible side effects of methadone, or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The more common side effects of methadone can include:
If these side effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
The methadone dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the dosage that’s right for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.
The safety and effectiveness of this drug hasn’t been established in children. It shouldn’t be used in children younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
Your kidneys may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.
The safety and effectiveness of this drug hasn’t been established in children. It shouldn’t be used in children younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
Your kidneys may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.
The standard dosage ranges between 80–120 mg per day. Your doctor will determine a dosage that’s right for you.
The safety and effectiveness of this drug hasn’t been established in children. It shouldn’t be used in children younger than 18 years.
Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)
Your kidneys may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.
Do not crush, dissolve, snort, or inject methadone oral tablets because this may cause you to overdose. This can be fatal.
Methadone oral tablet is used for short-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.
If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: Your pain may not be controlled and you may go through opioid withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal include:
If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. You may also experience withdrawal symptoms.
If you take too much: You could have dangerous levels of the drug in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:
If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.
What to do if you miss a dose:
If you’re taking this drug to treat pain: Don’t take more than your prescribed dose in 24 hours. If you take this drug for pain and miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Then take your next dose 8–12 hours later as directed by your doctor.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
If you’re taking this drug for detoxification and maintenance of addiction: Take your next dose the following day as scheduled. Don’t take extra doses. Taking more than the prescribed dose may cause you to overdose because this drug builds up in your body over time.
How to tell if the drug is working: You should have decreased pain, or your withdrawal symptoms should go away.
This drug comes with various warnings.
This drug can make you very drowsy. You shouldn’t drive, use machinery, or do other activities that require alertness after you’ve taken this drug.
Methadone can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:
If you develop these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death).
The use of drinks that contain alcohol can increase your risk of sedation, slowed breathing, coma (being unconscious for a long time), and death from methadone.
If you drink alcohol, talk to your doctor. You may need to be monitored for low blood pressure, breathing problems, and sedation.
For people with kidney problems: If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear this drug from your body well. This may increase the levels of methadone in your body and cause more side effects. Your doctor should watch you closely if you take this drug.
For people with liver problems: If you have liver problems or a history of liver disease, you may not be able to process this drug well. This may increase the levels of methadone in your body and cause more side effects. Your doctor should watch you closely if you take this drug.
For people with breathing problems: This drug can cause breathing problems. It can also worsen breathing problems you already have. This can be fatal (cause death). If you have breathing problems, severe asthma, or have an asthma attack, you should talk to your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you.
For people with a gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction: This drug can cause constipation and increase your risk of a GI obstruction. If you have a history of GI obstructions or you currently have one, you should talk to your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you. If you have a paralytic ileus (lack of muscle tone in the intestines that can cause GI obstructions), you shouldn’t take this drug.
For people with seizures: This drug may cause more seizures in people with epilepsy. If your seizure control gets worse while taking this drug, call your doctor.
For people with a head injury: This drug may cause increased pressure in your brain. This can raise your risk of complications or cause death. If you’ve had a recent head injury, it increases your risk of breathing problems from methadone. Talk to your doctor about whether this drug is safe for you.
Methadone can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.
Below is a list of medications that can interact with methadone. This list doesn’t contain all drugs that may interact with X drug.
Before taking methadone, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take the following drugs with methadone. Doing so can cause dangerous effects in your body.
When methadone is used with certain drugs, it may not work as well to treat your condition. This is because the amount of methadone in your body may be decreased. Examples of these drugs include:
Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes methadone for you.
A prescription for this medication isn’t refillable. You or your pharmacy will have to contact your doctor for a new prescription if you need this medication refilled.
When traveling with your medication:
Don’t swallow the dispersible tablet before it has been dissolved in a liquid. You should mix it with 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 milliliters) of water or citrus fruit juice before you take it. It takes about a minute to mix.
You and your doctor should monitor certain health issues. This can help make sure you stay safe while you take this drug. These issues include:
There are restrictions on dispensing methadone for detoxification or maintenance programs. Not every pharmacy can dispense this medication for detoxification and maintenance. Talk to your doctor about where you can get this drug.
There are other drugs available to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other drug options that may work for you.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
Last medically reviewed on October 13, 2020
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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