Does Methadone Help With Pain?

Methadone can be used to treat severe pain due to chronic or life-threatening diseases. This medication is an opioid pain reliever, and it alters how one responds to pain. It’s not ideal for relieving mild or transient pain and it must be obtained through a doctor’s prescription. Here’s some critical information about Methadone and its use as a pain-relieving medication.

What Is Methadone Pain Management?

Methadone is well-known as a drug used to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings in patients who are recovering from opioid use. It’s less well-known as a potent pain management medication. Methadone can be used with a proper physician’s oversight or the support of family members or community groups to help people who need effective relief from severe pain.

Why Is Methadone Used for Pain Relief?

Methadone can be prescribed for patients who need relief from severe pain. It belongs to a class of medicines called opioid analgesics. Methadone treats pain by altering the way the nervous system and brain respond to pain.

Methadone works well for patients who have chronic pain. These patients usually have conditions that require pain medication throughout the day, and they can’t be treated successfully with milder forms of pain medication. Methadone has a longer half-life than many other opioids, meaning its effects in the body are felt longer with just one dose of medication. This makes it not only useful in opioid addiction treatment, but also for the management of severe chronic pain.

Benefits of Using Methadone for Pain Management

Methadone is a synthetic opioid with unique qualities that make it a valuable option for managing cancer pain and chronic pain. It’s an adequate replacement for other opiates when patients have side effects and cannot take higher doses. Some of the major benefits of using Methadone for pain relief include:

• Effective for managing pain in life-limiting illnesses
• Convenient prescription schedule
• Affordable for most patients who need it

What Side Effects Can Occur When Using Methadone?

A few of the common side effects of Methadone include:

• Headache
• Dry mouth
• Mood swings
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Vision problems
• Difficulty urinating

If you don’t exceed the prescribed amount, these symptoms aren’t likely to be severe, and they can go away within a few days.

Precautions for Patients Using Methadone for Pain Management

Patients using Methadone for pain management should take the following precautions:

• Let your doctor know if you’ve had any previous medical conditions or mental illness
• Avoid drinking any alcoholic beverages while taking Methadone
• Receive counseling about the proper use and side effects involved with using Methadone
• Give your doctor constant feedback about your pain relief
• Avoid chewing, crushing, or snorting the tablet or injecting the dissolved Methadone to prevent uncontrolled delivery of the medicine
• Avoid stopping the drug abruptly to avoid any withdrawal symptoms

Learn More About Using Methadone for Pain Management

Healthcare Resource Centers offer counseling, information, and treatment for opioid misuse disorder. To find out more about Methadone and how it can treat severe pain or withdrawal symptoms during recovery from opioid dependence, please contact us today.

Medically Reviewed By:

Health Care Resource Centers Clinical Team

Health Care Resource Centers Clinical Team

The Clinical Team at Health Care Resource Centers is our team of physicians and medical directors within the organization. HCRC is a CARF accredited organization and has been providing addiction treatment services for over 32 years in the New England area.