Methadone and heroin are both extremely potent opiates derived from a substance received by milking the underdeveloped seed of the poppy plant. One of the key reasons methadone is prescribed to individuals is to help alleviate the withdrawal symptoms they have as a result of discontinuing the use of heroin. While methadone is a widely praised drug with a long history of success, it also has many similar effects with heroin, making its use potentially hazardous.
Addiction
Unfortunately, both heroin and methadone are substances to which you get easily addicted, because most people use them for extended periods of time and develop a tolerance for them quickly. However, there is a big difference between heroin and methadone addictions. Usually, heroin withdrawal lasts for a short time, whereas methadone addicts going through withdrawal can expect to experience side effects for as long as six weeks. In the book titled "Heroin: Myths and Reality," author Jara Krivanek reports findings that reveal 25 to 40 percent of heroin addicts are only psychologically addicted to heroin. On the other hand, most methadone addicts are both physically and mentally dependent on the drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most heroin addictions are fairly easy to manage, but unfortunately, methadone addiction is one of the most common causes for drug overdoses and is extremely hard to treat.
Short-Term Effects
Most people who use heroin or methadone, whether illicitly or not, do so because of the short-term effects these drugs have on the body. The speed at which these effects manifest depends largely on how the drug is consumed. After the drug is introduced to the body, users can expect to feel a rush and a euphoric feeling. A feeling of warmth and dullness comes soon after, as the depressive qualities of the opiates start to work. Oftentimes, users of both heroin and methadone can experience odd effects soon after they taking the drugs such as heaviness in their extremities or dry mouth.
Long-term Effects
Often, the long-term effects of heroin and methadone can be quite severe and mostly depend on how the opiates are consumed. Different methods of consumption can cause various conditions after repeat exposure. According to two articles published in "Jama" in 2000, these conditions can include apnea, abnormal menses, blurry vision, insomnia, gynecomastia, hepatotoxicity, urinal retention and biliary pain. It is possible for long-term use to lead to severe conditions like respiratory failure and hypoxia, which can cause comas or even death, but these cases are rare.
Side Effects
Most people who use any type of opiate can expect to experience some kind of side effect. Most of the possible side effects are usually mild, but irritating. It is common for people who use heroin and methadone to complain about such conditions as itchy skin, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and watery eyes.
References
- National Institute on Drug Abuse: Heroin
- "Heroin: Myths and Reality"; Jara Krivanek; 1988.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Increases in Poisoning and Methadone-Related Deaths
- "Jama" Journal; Methadone maintenance vs 180-day psychosocially enriched detoxification for the treatment of opioid dependence.; Sees; vol. 283, 1303-1310, 2000.
- "Jama" Journal; Provision of methadone treatment in primary care medical practices.; Weinrich, Stuart; vol. 283, 1343-1348, 2000.
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