Pros and Cons of Methadone Treatment

As an opiate addict, you may be looking for a way to beat your addiction and take back your life. In this case, you need to consider all your options, including methadone treatment.

If you have any questions regarding the use of methadone, schedule an appointment with your doctor or contact a methadone clinic in your area. Either way, a medical professional can help you better understand this type of treatment.

Like any prescription drug, especially one that is meant to help patients overcome an addiction, there are both pros and cons.

It is important to be aware of the benefits and drawbacks before deciding for or against this type of treatment.

Methadone Treatment Pros

Before we go any further, it is important to note that the benefits of methadone treatment far outweigh any potential downfalls. Here is a short list of some of the benefits:

• Has been effectively used for more than 45 years to treat opioid addiction
• With the use of methadone treatment, withdrawal symptoms are suppressed
• Long lasting treatment, reducing withdrawal symptoms for as long as a day and a half
• The ability to take the medicine orally as opposed to intravenously, which is much more complex
• Methadone clinics can help patients in need get started with this type of treatment
• There are side effects associated with the use of methadone, often times including: anxiousness, feeling of weakness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, impotence

Methadone Treatment Cons

Like any medication, there are potential downfalls of treating an opioid addiction with methadone. These can include:

• It can be a habit forming drug, meaning that you will face withdrawal symptoms when it is time to stop taking the medication
• Overdosing on methadone is a possibility, meaning that patients should only take the amount prescribed by their doctor
• A daily visit to a methadone clinic for treatment can be bothersome, especially for those who have personal and professional responsibilities
• It is possible to continue to use opioids while being treated with methadone
• The use of methadone will show up on a urine test, which can be a concern if going through drug testing for employment purposes

Despite the fact that there are negatives associated with methadone treatment, it has been an effective way of treating opioid addiction for more than 45 years. For this reason, it continues to be used as one of the best ways to treat this type of addiction.

If you are still shaky regarding the pros and cons of methadone treatment, the best thing you can do is contact a local clinic that specializes in this. From there, you can discuss your personal situation with a medical team that is able to point you in the right direction.

Most people agree that the benefits of methadone treatment for opioid addiction outweigh and potential drawbacks. As long as you are comfortable with this treatment strategy, you should consider implementing it as a means of beating your addiction once and for all.