How to Prepare for Methadone Treatment

When you are addicted to opiates, it is difficult to know which treatment is going to work for you. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are several treatments for opiates and opiate abuse. Unfortunately, with the choice of treatments often comes confusion over which is right for you. If your doctor is suggesting methadone treatment there are a few things you should do to prepare for your treatment.

Know What Methadone is and Why it is Prescribed

Methadone is an opiate replacement drug. Doctors use it to treat severe pain when the pain is expected to last more than 24 hours. It is often given for chronic pain patients who can no longer take opiates due to addiction or the well known opiate side effects.

Unfortunately, it has a number of side effects that are all its own such as:

• Addiction
• Weakness
• Headache
• Seizures
• Stomach pain
• Mood changes
• Visual problems

These side effects also come with drug interactions and other problems. It is important to carefully consider your options before taking this medication.

Decide which Type of Treatment Center you Want

Do your research to decide what type of center you’d like to attend and what type of treatment you need.

There are two main types of treatment centers. You can choose from inpatient methadone treatment or outpatient methadone treatment.

Inpatient treatment involves a residential program. You live at the treatment center while you are receiving your initial methadone treatment and the doctor is adjusting the dosage. There you will also receive counseling and other services. It is important the doctor find the correct dose for treatment. Too much causes ill effects and too little will leave you in pain or withdrawal.

Outpatient treatment is another option. It involves going to a treatment center daily, weekly, or when everything goes well monthly. The doctor adjusts the dosage on daily visits at first to make sure that your withdrawal symptoms are covered and that you are out of pain. This presents problems for some without transportation or other means.

Combination treatment is the last option when it comes to methadone treatment. You start out with the doctor adjusting the dose while you are an inpatient and then you follow up as an outpatient to receive additional dosages.

Consider what type of Treatment you Want

There are many treatment types available in inpatient, outpatient, and combination forms. These include:

• Individual counseling
• Group counseling
• Support groups
• Supported therapy
• Herbal therapies
• Holistic therapies

These treatment types are often combined to personalize the methadone treatment to your individual needs and wants. Most treatment centers offer more than one type.

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To prepare for methadone treatment you will need to choose what type of treatment center, what type of treatment, and whether or not you truly want methadone treatment. With so many options, it is sometimes difficult to find the treatment and the treatment center that you need. We can help narrow your search for the ideal treatment. For more information, call us at 800-994-1867Who Answers?.