What Happens if You Miss a Methadone Dosage?

According to a report published by the Center for Disease Control in the United States an estimated 980,000 people are addicted to heroin and other opiates. Methadone maintenance treatment better known as MMT, is used for the reduction of heroin and similar opiate addiction related withdrawals and cravings, the medication is administered in liquid or tablet form on a daily basis to cut down on the cravings, control the withdrawal symptoms and reduce the signs and impact of a heroin addiction. The impact of missing a methadone dosage can vary from person to person. Many addicts in recovery reported that they don’t even feel sick if they miss a dose.

Will I feel different if I miss one dose?

Methadone has a much longer shelf life than most other opioid medications, and it does stay present & active in the body way beyond the 24-hour period. For this reason, some recovering addicts have a tendency to remain comfortable and have absolutely no other symptoms following a single missed dose. However, the chemical make up of each person is different, and some addicts may in fact begin to experience the onset of withdrawals and cravings even if they have missed only a single methadone dose. It is always best to be sure to be diligent about your daily dosing and to avoid missing a dose if at all possible.

What happens if I forget to take it?

It is important to stick with your methadone schedule.

If you have been put on a methadone treatment plan and are required to take a dose regularly and have forgotten then it is best to take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next methadone dose, you should skip the missed dose and continue your regular methadone-dosing schedule. You should never take a double dose of methadone to make up for the one you missed, as it could be very dangerous to you.

You should never stop using methadone suddenly; you have been given this drug for a reason. As with anything similar each person’s body will react in a different way to the lack of the drug being in their system. If you miss a single dose then remember to take the dose as soon as you remember. There is always the chance your body could begin to experience some very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms although most time this will not happen with just a single missed dose. Should you miss additional doses you must contact your health professional as soon as possible. In the event you miss more than three doses of methadone contact your Physician right away, as unfortunately, you may have to begin your treatment again.