When contemplating embarking upon a course of detox methadone withdrawal, it can be easy to become intimidated by the long list of physical symptoms that are associated with the process. Withdrawal itself can be a challenging process, producing symptoms that range from chills to fever to joint and muscle aches to irritability, nausea, diarrhea, sleeplessness, agitation, anxiety, depression and more. However, methadone itself, while FDA approved to treat drug addiction, is a habit-forming drug that has its own set of withdrawal symptoms and challenges.
This is why sudden cessation of methadone causes what is known as detox methadone withdrawal. Symptoms can include teary eyes, constipation, sleepiness, fever or sweating, chills, muscle aches, weakness, moodiness, headaches, runny nose and other cold like symptoms. With detox methadone withdrawal, the individual should be under the supervision and care of a licensed substance abuse treatment professional at all times. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association (SAMHSA) cautions that properly supervised detox methadone withdrawal can take from one half to one full year or longer. In some instances, newer medications, such as buprenorphine, are introduced to reduce the methadone withdrawal symptoms and ease the withdrawal process.
Other Sources: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000949.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682134.html
Methadone has been a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for detox methadone withdrawal for over three decades. Recently, the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) issued a statement cautioning medical professionals about the propensity for misuse of methadone, which can be lethal when used improperly. Proper use of methadone continues to prove effective in managing opiate withdrawal symptoms, but careful monitoring and combination with behavioral counseling and support services is essential to present misuse during detox methadone withdrawal.
Mental problems associated with detox methadone withdrawal vary by the individual – just as no two individuals respond equally to treatment, no two individuals will experience the same exact symptoms. However, during detox methadone withdrawal, reports indicate a greater likelihood that the patient will experience mental disturbances due to anxiety and depression. As methadone detox withdrawal progresses, the patient is left unshielded from the same issues that led to the substance abuse in the first place. While mental health disturbances such as depression and anxiety are mild in some cases, they can be quite severe in others, and underline yet again that methadone detox is not intended as a standalone recovery program.
The official White House policy on detox methadone withdrawal is that “methodone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and efficacious for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence.” This well respected government agency has allowed the use of detox methadone withdrawal services in treatment centers for over thirty years. Taken orally once per day, methadone itself works by suppressing opiate withdrawal symptoms for the 24 to 36 hours. Methadone is also approved for use with opiate-addicted mothers, further evidence of its stability and effectiveness to manage the withdrawal symptoms of the detox process.
Unfortunately, methadone itself can become addictive, and when that happens the individual finds themselves facing detox methadone withdrawal. With detox methadone withdrawal, the individual is once again facing the full severity of detox symptoms. This is where suboxone can really help to safely manage the symptoms of detox methadone withdrawal. Suboxone is a newer medication that is also approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use with managing detox withdrawal symptoms. The use of suboxone, which is not as easily abused and is formulated to cause severe illness if injected, can be an effective solution to manage the effects of detox methadone withdrawal.