Methadone is a commonly used treatment to help patients who are attempting to detox from narcotics or other opioid compounds. Methadone is a synthetic opioid, which only partially stimulates the brain cells that other narcotics stimulate. This helps ease the physical symptoms of withdrawal. Methadone stays in the body for a long time, so it can be taken only once a day for effective relief.
Step 1
Contact a doctor or visit a methadone clinic. Methadone is only legally available with a prescription. Some physicians have experience in helping people detox from opiates. Methadone clinics are often privately owned and managed and provide medication and counseling for opiate addicts.
Step 2
Determine your daily methadone dose. Most patients require between 60 and 120 milligrams of methadone per day to help them detox. Each patient is different, however, so your doctor or the doctors at the clinic will help you determine how much methadone you need.
Step 3
Visit the clinic or doctor every day. In the early stages of your detox, you will probably need to visit the clinic or doctor daily in order to get your methadone dose, because most patients are not given "take-home" doses of methadone in the early stages of detox.
Step 4
Avoid all narcotic usage. Methadone is used to help ease the withdrawal symptoms that can occur, while detoxing from opiate use. In fact, methadone will often block the euphoria that other opiates can cause.
Step 5
Continue to take methadone for at least one year. Your methadone clinic or doctor will be able to help you create a dosing schedule that may include being given methadone pills to take at home.
