Pinnacle Treatment Centers Publishes Blog Post on Uses for Methadone

Pinnacle Treatment Centers, with headquarters located in Mt Laurel Township, New Jersey, has announced that they have recently published a blog post that explains the uses for methadone for treating substance use disorder (SUD). The article points out that the effects of methadone may be able to help addiction patients in reducing the uncomfortable and usually debilitating withdrawal symptoms. Drugs like methadone can clearly help patients because discontinuing narcotic drug use, such as the use of opioids, can be hard. Some of the withdrawal symptoms include sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, nausea, and other problems such that the body will be craving for the use of the narcotic drug.

Methadone is one of the most commonly used medications to help patients recover from addiction to opioids, such as oxymorphone, morphine, hydrocodone, fentanyl, and codeine, and illicit opioids like heroin. By using methadone in combination with evidence-based behavioral therapy, a commitment to recovery, and a strong support system, the chances of a patient being able to achieve long-term recovery from addiction to opioids are increased.

Methadone is actually a synthetic drug that is utilized for treating pain and narcotic drug addiction. While it is similar to morphine, its effects will last longer. Common brands are Methadone Intensol, Methadose, Diskets, and Dolophine. However, it is important to note that only those with a prescription can obtain methadone.

It is also important to note that just like any other narcotic drug, methadone can have a number of side effects. There is also the possibility that it may be abused, which is why it is a highly regulated drug. Thus, patients who are given methadone as a maintenance drug will need to go the clinic every day to get their daily dosage. It should be noted also that people who use methadone to help them with their opioid addiction are at greater risk of developing an addiction to methadone. Some of the side effects of methadone include sedation, slower reaction times, drowsiness, reduced attention span, muscle weakness, decreased reaction to light, reduced blood pressure, and dry mouth.

Meanwhile, suboxone is a medication similar to methadone and it is a good idea to compare suboxone vs methadone for medication-assisted treatment of opioid addiction. Suboxone is one of the burprenorphine MATs and one key factors that differentiate suboxone from methadone is that it is safer to use compared to methadone. Thus, it is easier to prescribe will not require patients to visit the clinic daily, which substantially increases its availability for those who require treatment.

Suboxone is an opioid partial agonist and is able to produce the same euphoric effects as opioids but the effect is much less intense compared to heroin or prescription opioids. It also has the advantage of providing long-lasting effects, as long as it is taken daily. And when the patient stops taking it, the withdrawal effects would be milder compared to that of methadone.

Meanwhile, Pinnacle Treatment Centers has been providing treatment to more than 29,000 patients daily in the states of Kentucky, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio. Today, they have more than 110 community-based locations where they offer a complete range of quality care for both adult men and women. The kinds of treatment provided include partial hospitalization/care, sober living, medically-monitored detoxification/withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder, intensive and general outpatient programming, and inpatient/residential treatment.

Pinnacle Treatment Centers has a team of well-experienced and knowledgeable counselors and therapists who can design and adjust each program for each particular patient to get them started on the road to recovery. The types of therapy that will be applied to each patient will vary, depending on the level of care that is needed and the location. The customized treatment plans that can be provided include individual therapy, group therapy, complementary modes such as yoga and mindfulness, family therapy and counseling, trauma support, healthy lifestyle activities such as exercise and outdoor recreation, and expressive therapies.

Those who would like to learn more about medication-assisted drug addiction treatment may want to check out the Pinnacle Treatment Centers website, or contact them on the phone, or through email.