Methadone, sold under the brand names Dolophine and Methadose among others, is a synthetic opioid agonist used for chronic pain and also for opioid use disorder.[7] It is used to treat chronic pain, and it is also used to treat addiction to heroin or other opioids.[10][11] Prescribed for daily use, the medicine relieves cravings and removes withdrawal symptoms.[12] Withdrawal management using methadone can be accomplished in less than a month, or it may be done gradually over a longer period of time, or simply maintained for the rest of the patient's life.[7] While a single dose has a rapid effect, maximum effect can take up to five days of use.[7][13] After long-term use, in people with normal liver function, effects last 8 to 36 hours.[7][9] Methadone is usually taken by mouth and rarely by injection into a muscle or vein.[7]
^Volkow ND, Wargo EM (August 2018). "Overdose Prevention Through Medical Treatment of Opioid Use Disorders". Annals of Internal Medicine. 169 (3): 190–192. doi:10.7326/M18-1397. PMID29913514. S2CID49300767.
^Cite error: The named reference JosephStancliffLangrod was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB, Hansen RN, Sullivan SD, Blazina I, et al. (February 2015). "The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop". Annals of Internal Medicine. 162 (4): 276–286. doi:10.7326/M14-2559. PMID25581257. S2CID207538295.
^Kuehn, B. M. (2005). Methadone Treatment Marks 40 Years. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 294(8), 887–889. doi:10.1001/jama.294.8.887
^World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.