Methadone

Methadone is a long-acting, synthetic, narcotic drug that was first used in the maintenance treatment of drug addiction in the 1960's. It is an opiate "agonist," which means that it acts in a way that is similar to morphine and other narcotic medications.

When used in proper doses in maintenance treatment, methadone does not create euphoria, sedation, or an analgesic effect. Doses must be individually determined based on a person's body weight and opiate tolerance. The proper maintenance dose is the one at which the cravings stop, without creating effects of euphoria or sedation.

Although methadone is not a single product from a single manufacturer, the active ingredient is always the same: methadone hydrochloride. All manufacturers add a small number of additional inactive ingredients, such as magnesium steurate and cellulose. Some of the US companies that manufacture methadone include cherry or orange flavoring. Methadone is dispensed orally in different forms, which include tablets, powder, and liquid. For most people, a single dose of methadone lasts 24 to 36 hours.