Methadone Side Effects

Methadone is used primarily in the treatment of Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction. Opiate addicts can still experience negative side-effects including death when switching to or from methadone.

Methadone is designed to block the pleasurable effects of other opiates by filling the mu receptors (opiate receptors). However, methadone dependence is a very real risk.
Methadone is addictive and can cause negative side-effects (opiate withdrawals) if stopped abruptly.

Physical side-effects of methadone include:

Short-term Methadone Side Effects

• Death
• Seizures (Tonic-clonic)
• Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
• Respiratory depression (Hypoventilation)
• Sexual Dysfunction (Impotence)
• Chronic Fatigue (Sleepiness)
• Miosis (Pupil Constriction)
• Itchy skin
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anorexia
• Dry Mouth
• Sweating
• Constipation
• Euphoria
• Stomach Pains
• Swelling
• Blurred Vision
• Insomnia
• Skin Rash
• Impaired Motor Skills

Long-term Methadone Side Effects

Lung and respiratory problems (Hypoventilation)

Thrombosis (Blood Clotting)

Weight Gain

Gynecomastia (Male Breast Development)

Methadone Side Effects on Women:

Menstrual cycle dysfunction

Pregnancy complications

Breast Feeding Complications (Methadone passes to infants through breast milk)

Neonatal Opiate Abstinence Syndrome (Infants should be titrated off their mother’s breast milk with a taper method to prevent opiate withdrawal symptoms from developing)