Dangerous Side Effects

As with any pharmaceuticals, methadone has some scary side effects, many of which endanger the user. One of the biggest problem is respiratory depression, "this usually occurs when pain is abruptly relieved and the sedative effects of the opioids are no longer opposed by the stimulating effects of pain."(Respiratory Depression) The problem with respiratory depression is that it doesn't happen until hours, or even days later, and last much longer than the peak of the analgesic effects, this problem will usually happen to patients whom are new to the daily methadone dosing. Another major concern is cases of QT interval prolongation and arrhythmia, this is mainly a concern for people who are required to take large doses. "An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia the heart can beat too fast, and too slow, or with an irregular rhythm," the site goes on to say that arrhythmia's are primarily harmless, but sometimes they can be serious and even fatal.(Arrhythmia) As I have stated before, and as any doctor or person with common sense would tell you, methadone is dangerous, but if taken correctly, and always safely the less likely something will go wrong.

Coming off Narcotics

You become addicted to a substance after, but not always, prolonged use; this being anywhere from a month to a year depending on the amount of the substance you put into your body.

Anyone can become addicted!

It is a problem that the country as a whole needs to be aware of to stop the loss of employment, loss of family, and loss of personal perspective. Addiction to opiate narcotics is considered the worse type of dependency, this is due to the way it affects the users dopamine, and other chemicals in the brain. When a person becomes addicted to a substance their body tells them they need more of the substance to get the same kind of high, and the more they take the worse the brain is damaged. When a person wants to come off of a drug they start to feel withdrawal symptoms, including: severe pain, diarrhea, muscle spasms, and other bodily malfunctions. The worst thing about coming off a opiate, or opioid, is the lack of dopamine being released in the brain, causing the user to remain depressed, and more like a robot than a functional human being. What doctors do with someone who is not releasing dopamine is to simply prescribe them either Methadone. In some newer cases with people who have had a chance with Methadone, and have still gone back to heroine, or other opiates/opioid, they are then forced to be put on Suboxone. Drug Dependency is a disease, and it should be taken seriously, because the people who suffer from the pain of dependency deserve a second chance to live a productive life.

New Era: Suboxone

A newer drug compared to methadone, but with many of the same effects. It is an opioid blocker, which stops the effects of other opioids, such as methadone, heroine, etc. It is made up of buprenorphine which is an opioid, and naloxone which is an opioid antagonist. Suboxone is fastly becoming the new wonder drug to get people off of opiates( opioids), and more over to stay off of narcotics.

"Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opiate with partial agonist and antagonist actions. Buprenorphine hydrochloride was first marketed in the 1980s by Reckitt & Colman (now Reckitt Benckiser) as an analgesic." (Right Health)

Is Suboxone really a wonder drug? Many ex-users think the come down from Suboxone was much worse due to the extended length of the come down. "Unfortunately, not all doctors give their patients the full story. People need to understand that Suboxone is an extremely powerful OPIATE. Even the FDA’s own studies concluded that Suboxone by volume is 20 times more powerful than morphine!"(Storm Looming)