Methadone
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Methadone is a long-acting full opioid agonist used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and for chronic pain. Its long half-life gives stable opioid-receptor occupancy that suppresses cravings and withdrawal.
Too much may be associated with
As a full opioid agonist it carries significant overdose risk (respiratory depression), especially early in treatment or when combined with sedatives; it can also prolong the cardiac QT interval. Dependence develops, and discontinuation requires a slow, supervised taper.
Informational only — not medical advice.
Neurotransmitters
Related stimuli
Research (10)
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, Opioid Withdrawal, and Opioid Overdose: A Review Harris et al. (2026)
- Caring for Hospitalized Adults With Opioid Use Disorder in the Era of Fentanyl: A Review Englander et al. (2024)
- Intraoperative Methadone in Next-day Discharge Outpatient Surgery: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Dose-finding Pilot Study Kharasch et al. (2023)
- Methadone for Pain Management: A Pharmacotherapeutic Review Kreutzwiser et al. (2020)
- Medication Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Bell et al. (2020)
- Opioids for cancer pain - an overview of Cochrane reviews Wiffen et al. (2017)
- Addiction disorders Merrill et al. (2014)
- Opioid dependence O'Shea et al. (2011)
- Opioid dependence Benich (2011)
- Opioid dependence O'Shea et al. (2009)
Recovery resources
Help for methadone use and recovery. Not an endorsement or medical advice — see all recovery resources.
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
A global 12-step fellowship for people recovering from addiction to any drug.
SMART Recovery
A secular, science-based recovery program using cognitive-behavioral tools for any addictive behavior.
Community
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