Methadone is considered a cost-effective and efficient synthetic narcotic used to treat addiction and relieve pain. Long-time opiate addicts and people suffering from terminal illnesses often find the drug useful in managing their conditions. Methadone is often administered in pill form, but can also appear as powder or liquid.
Depressant Effects
Methadone is derived from a white, milky substance that oozes out of the underdeveloped seed of the poppy plant when it is cut; this origin is also the same for all opiates including opium and heroin. All opiates are depressants, meaning that when an opiate is consumed, the body reacts in a soothed, calm and relaxed way. The most characteristic effects that depressants cause are a general feeling of drowsiness, slowed breathing, weakness and a sluggish heart rate. These effects can be potentially life-threatening, and according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the risk of developing life-threatening effects is greatest at the beginning of treatment.
Addictive Effects
All opiates are addictive. Although methadone does not cause the euphoric rushes that are characteristic to drugs like heroin, long-term exposure to the drug will make the body dependent. The difference between being addicted to heroin and being addicted to methadone, however, is big. Someone struggling with heroin often suffers from highs and lows, erratic behavior and other negative symptoms. They often need to be taken off the drug rather quickly, causing a harsh withdrawal period.
This is not the case with methadone. Methadone maintenance treatment, or MMT, can last for years, says the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Addiction to methadone is more manageable, since the drug has been designed to do exactly what heroin does without some of the more negative effects. A methadone addict will still need to get drugs, but his motivation is not seeking the euphoria of heroin.
Side Effects
No drug functions only by causing a single desired effect. Any chemical that is introduced to the body causes multiple reactions. Some of these reactions might not be desired. Drugs.com lists hypomagnesemia, abdominal pain, amenorrhea, hypokalemia, anorexia, dry mouth, weight gain and reduced libido or potency as possible side effects or conditions caused by methadone. The U.S. National Library of Medicine adds vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, flushing, headaches and other conditions to the list of side effects caused by the drug. Many of the side effects caused by methadone are psychological. Some of them include dysphoria, confusion, insomnia, disorientation, agitation, euphoria and seizures, says Drugs.com.
