Methadone

Drug Source

synthetically produced

Trade Name

Dolophine

Street Name

Dollies

Medical Uses

occasionally used for pain relief, but main use is in opioid withdrawal treatment as a substitute drug

Drug Combinations

none

Physical Appearance

found as a fruity solution for oral use, in wafers, and tablets also found as a injectable solution

Controlled Substance Status

Schedule II in US

Dosage

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Medical

3 - 5mg provides same pain relief as 10mg morphine

Nonmedical

rarely used non-medically, but doses used are approx. same

as medical doses

Routes Of Administration

can be injected via three routes, taken orally, unknown if

methadone can be smoked, can be sniffed

Short Term Use

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CNS, Behavioral, Subjective:

Oral use provides little euphoria and tends to block opioid receptors in brain, so commonly used as a maintenance drug during rehab.

Respiratory:

Produces little depression in contrast to morphine

Gastrointestinal:

produces constipation of less intensity than morphine

Other:

Developed by Nazi Germany during WWII as Germany was unable to acquire adequate supplies of morphine.

Duration

first dose last approx. 8 hours and subsequent doses last 18 - 24 hours.

Dependency Potential

oral use provides little euphoria so little abuse potential in that form. When injected, methadone give very similar effects to morphine so has similar addiction potential.