Total abstinence can sometimes be an unrealistic goal.
We recognize that some are more prone to relapse than others or would prefer a medically aided program. For some of you, or maybe your loved one, Methadone Therapy, in conjunction with a personal addiction treatment program, can be the best treatment option to recover from your drug addiction.
With help from our proven Methadone Therapy Program, you can successfully achieve and maintain sobriety.
What is Methadone?
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, mimicking other common opioids such as heroin, Oxycontin, or morphine. Developed in Germany during the World War II as a pain reliever, methadone has been used safely and effectively for over 40 years to treat opioid addiction.
Methadone is a successful drug addiction treatment option because it is both long-lasting in the body, controlling withdrawal and cravings, and can be used for prolonged periods. With a supervised Methadone Maintenance program, some even choose to use methadone to maintain their sobriety for the rest of their lives.
While considering if a methadone program is appropriate for you or your loved one, it is important to remember that methadone is most effective when supporting a comprehensive program that includes the safety of residential care, like the Sobriety.ca Foundation Drug Rehab Center, and individual addiction treatment.
What Does Methadone Treat?
Methadone Treatment is often thought as a heroin addiction treatment, but it is often used to treat any number of opioid addictions—from Oxycontin and Percocet, to codeine, morphine, and more.
How Methadone Works
Methadone works by blocking the euphoric feeling, or the high, of other opioid drugs, effectively controlling cravings and drug seeking behaviours. Because it is itself an opioid, it helps minimize your withdrawal symptoms as well. Its long-lasting effects help take away the physical cravings for the drug, without the foggy, high or drugged feeling, allowing you to participate fully in life.
Despite the common misconception, methadone has no effect on the internal organs and does not damage the liver, thyroid gland, or memory. Methadone also does not negatively impact one’s thinking.
When used properly, methadone can be your gateway to a productive, successful, and fulfilling sober life.
Methadone Cannot be Mixed
Methadone is harmful when combined with other substances, including alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. Other substances, including alcohol, interfere with the methadone in your body leading to early withdrawal symptoms, over-medication, overdose, and even death. When participating in either a Methadone Therapy or Methadone Maintenance program it is direly important to strictly adhere to the program and heed your doctor’s advice.
Our Methadone Treatment programs, with personalized addiction treatment care and individual therapy, promotes overall sobriety from both drugs and alcohol ensuring the most successful Methadone Treatment program that is perfectly right for you.
Side Effects of Methadone
Some mild side effects have been associated with methadone, including sweating and constipation. Side effects are generally uncomfortable and can be controlled with dosage adjustments, grow less bothersome or disappear altogether over time.
However, it’s important to remember that methadone has been thoroughly researched and tested for over 40 years. It is a proven, safe, and effective addiction treatment option when used properly.
Methadone Therapy for Oxycontin and Other Prescription Drug Addictions
Do you need more and more prescription painkillers to manage your pain?
Oxycontin, Percocet and other prescription painkillers are often highly addictive. With prolonged use of these prescription drugs, your body builds up a tolerance and suddenly you need more and more of your drugs in order to manage your pain.
Does it feel like it will never end?
Methadone Treatment, although more commonly thought of as a heroin addiction treatment, is commonly used to treat a number of opioid addictions—such prescription narcotic painkillers as oxycondone or Oxycontin, Percocet, codeine, morphine, and more.
Methadone Therapy: Short-Term Methadone Program
The decision between Methadone Therapy and Methadone Maintenance is a very personal one. Let our team of doctors, counselors, and psychotherapists assist you.
Methadone Therapy is a medically supervised, strict program in which our licensed physician prescribes daily maintenance doses of methadone while you detox and begin your personalized addiction treatment program.
Although it may seem counterintuitive to supplement your drug rehab program with another drug, when medically supervised, methadone therapy has proven to be an effective means of controlling your physical cravings and withdrawal symptoms while you detox and stabilize.
At the Sobriety.ca Foundation Drug Rehab, our drug addiction treatment program focuses on individual and group behavioral cognitive therapy sessions. Our team of medical professionals and expert clinical staff are experienced with modifying your drug rehab program to incorporate Methadone Therapy, ensuring that you properly use your prescribed methadone to achieve its benefits to the fullest.
We will be with you every step of your recovery, supporting and encouraging you. Now that you’ve come to us, you will never again feel alone with your drug addiction.
Methadone Maintenance: Medium-Term Methadone Program
Although at the Sobriety.ca Foundation Drug Rehab Center you have the opportunity to withdraw from methadone completely with our Methadone Reduction Program, this option may not be suitable for everyone.
If you or your loved one feels at high risk of relapse, you may decide to use methadone to maintain your sobriety. Methadone is a prescription medication needed in order to function at your highest potential, equivalent to insulin for a diabetic.
Our Methadone Maintenance Program is a medium-term treatment program that focuses on harm reduction, addressing methadone maintenance issues while providing treatment. Eventually, our experienced team will help prepare you or your loved one for the return home, well-versed and secure in their Methadone Maintenance program, fully equipped for the new, successful, and fulfilling life that awaits.
Ending your Methadone Treatment Program
If you have chosen to end your Methadone Treatment program, our Methadone Reduction Program assists and supports your through a phased dosage reduction.
Methadone Reduction
In the past, you used drugs to overcome stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and other negative emotions. However, with a supervised Methadone Treatment program and addiction treatment, you have now gained control of your life and no longer need drugs in order to survive.
Now that you have achieved and maintained sobriety, you may feel strong enough to stop using methadone. If you are considering quitting methadone, you shouldn’t do it alone. Methadone, despites its therapeutic use, is still a narcotic, and a highly addictive one at that. Coming off of it can be as equally difficult and uncomfortable as any other drug.
Like most other drugs, quitting methadone without professional help is rarely successful.
Your Methadone Treatment program was medically supervised, and so too should be its reduction or elimination. At the Sobriety.ca Foundation Drug Rehab Center, you will receive not only medical support but a comprehensive addiction treatment program as well, as you gradually reduce and even eliminate your methadone dose.
The Methadone Reduction Program at Sobriety.ca Foundation Drug Rehab Center
Our Methadone Reduction Program gives you the opportunity to reduce or eliminate methadone safely, in a medically supervised environment. As a residential addiction treatment center, our dedicated expert staff provide professional therapeutic and medical care.
Our experienced medical staff can care for your mild and moderate withdrawal symptoms, including body pain, nausea, and general discomforts. If you experience more severe symptoms, we will help find a suitable facility nearby before you begin receiving addiction treatment services with us.
As you enter our Methadone Reduction Program, we will also assess your psychological and emotional needs, designing an addiction treatment program that is right for you. Individual care helps reduce the risk of relapse. Combining the Methadone Reduction Program with personalized counseling and psychotherapy will help you to develop healthy habits and coping mechanisms, while healing old wounds that may have led you to drug addiction in the first place.
What to Expect
Our Methadone Reduction program is just that: a slow, gradual tapering of your methadone dose. You can expect that your dosage be reduced by about 5 mg every two weeks or so. At this rate, there are generally very few physical symptoms, although some withdrawals symptoms may appear in the final stages.
At first, you may experience some trouble sleeping, body aches, and a lack of appetite. These symptoms usually last a few weeks. Emotional lows, including a sense of loss or sadness, and insomnia sometimes continue beyond that as you slowly come off methadone.
Relapse is also very common when proceeding through methadone reduction. You should become very aware of your triggers before falling to their prey. The addiction counseling you receive at the Sobriety Home Drug Rehab Center, as part of our Methadone Reduction program, will become an important tool during this stage, as you will learn to recognize and cope with your triggers in a safe environment.
Your Length of Stay With Us
The duration of our Methadone Reduction program varies from person to person, according to each individual’s needs. Typically, the brain takes anywhere from seven to ten days to adjust to the reduction in dosage. We also want you to have a period of total abstinence with us. This transition period, we find, is very beneficial, allowing you to adjust to life without methadone while still in the safety and comforts of Sobriety.ca Foundation.
Therefore, our Methadone Reduction program typically lasts anywhere from three to six months. However, the actual length of your stay will depend entirely on your own needs.
Ending Your Methadone Treatment
Finally, when you’re ready to leave us, we will develop an Aftercare Program, including a personalized Exit Plan, to help you transition into your new life.
