Before learning about how long methadone stays in your system, it’s important to understand what methadone is since it’s commonly used for medical purposes. Methadone is used as an assistant medication to help people reduce or quit their misuse of specific substances. Heroin or other opiates are highly addictive, and methadone is meant to relieve a person of intense symptoms. For safety and security reasons, a person should seek a respected rehab with an opioid or heroin addiction treatment program so patients can be medically monitored.
How to Take Methadone
Liquid methadone is available under the brand name Methadose, a medication that is consumed orally. However, people addicted to the drug will inject the substance into their veins. Prescribed methadone should never be injected. Another common form of dosage is methadone tablets, which are also taken orally. The methadone hydrochloride compound can contain 5 or 10 mg of chemically compressed medicine. Some ingredients include dibasic calcium phosphate, colloidal silicon dioxide, and stearic acid.
How Long Does Methadone Stay in Your Urine?
Suppose you are wondering how long methadone stays in your system. The duration depends on numerous factors, including how the medication is tested and injected, the person, and the dose. The drug can stay in the system for two to fourteen days. For a person fighting opioid or heroin addiction, the half-life of methadone is around 24 hours.
Methadone can be detected one hour after consumption but stays in the system for two weeks after the last use. Blood, saliva, or hair tests can determine how long methadone stays in your system, and the time can range from four days to several months. Drugs tend to be detected in hair follicles for an extended period after the last injection.
How Long Does It Take to Detox from Methadone?
Methadone detox should be professionally supervised, especially if a person needs heroin or opiate addiction treatment. Methadone can be addictive if abused and not used as prescribed by a doctor. Withdrawal symptoms from methadone can last up to six weeks, but the process can last longer depending on the level and severity of the addiction. During detox, there are various levels of care, such as Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) and intensive outpatient programs, that can help during the withdrawal process.
Long-Term Effects of Methadone
It’s essential to know how long methadone stays in your system and why it’s used in the first place. Methadone blocks pain and helps reduce withdrawal symptoms from heroin and opiates. However, if methadone is abused, then adverse side effects follow the misuse of the substance. Some of the side effects of methadone include:
- Sweating
- Feeling faint
- Chest pain
- Respiratory failure
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle aches and backache
- Hallucinations or confusion
- Nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite
- Taking the drug regularly even if you don’t need it
When you take methadone, it changes how the brain and nervous system respond to pain. Relief and less stress are acquired after consumption. The easiest way to come off methadone is by professional care. Make sure to let a doctor know if you are undergoing a mental illness, have problems breathing, or are prone to seizures.
Addiction Treatment at Our Massachusetts Rehab
At Banyan Treatment Centers Massachusetts, we offer unique programs and therapeutic methods like our Faith in Recovery program, intervention planning, and more. Our experienced medical staff will safely get you through withdrawals and help you return to having control over your behavior and life. If you or a loved one are showing serious signs of addiction, seek professional support now and begin on the road to recovery.
Contact a specialist at our Boston addiction treatment center at 888-280-4763 and ask about our intensive outpatient program to get started today!
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