RELEASE: methadone

METHADONE/PHYí/JUICE

What is it?

Methadone is an opioid. This means that it falls into the same general group of drugs as heroin and morphine, which are derived from the opium poppy. Methadone, however, is synthetically produced.

Methadone is made by a number of different drug companies. One of its brand names is Physeptone. Slang names for methadone include ëjuiceí, ëmethí and ëgreení.

What does it look Iike?

Methadone is available in various forms:

Methadone mixture:This is taken orally. The preparation most frequently prescribed is ëMethadone Mixture DTF 1mg/mlí. This preparation is mixed according to the Drug Tariff Formulary (DTF) Formulation. The key ingredients include:

Methadone Hydrochloride at a strength of 1mg/ml.;
and Glucose syrup (a sweetener), colouring and a preservative.

Some formulations may contain chloroform water which can have health risks. If you are concerned, call the heroin helpline, or speak to your keyworker or a pharmacist.

Methadone mixture varies in colour, strength and concentration. It is most commonly a green liquid. Other preparations include a colourless and a sugar free variant.

Tablets: These are taken orally. Prescribing tablets is not generally encouraged, as it is feared that people may crush the tablets and inject them. This causes a great deal of damage to veins. The tablets are 5mg, white, scored and round.

Ampoules: These are for injection. They come in a variety of strengths, mainly 10mg/1ml, 50mg/1ml and 50mg/2ml.

Linctus: These are taken orally. Linctus is sometimes confused with Methadone Mixture. However, it is a weaker preparation (2mg/5ml), used in the UK for treating coughing in terminal disease. Physeptone Linctus is still used in Eire for the treatment of drug dependence.

Methadone overdoses can be fatal. It is important to note that methadone preparations come in a variety of different strengths. Users should always check the strength of the methadone that they are about to take. You can get this information from your local prescribing service or by visiting or calling a dispensing pharmacy.

What are the effects?

Like heroin, methadone is a painkiller. When prescribed in an appropriate dose to an opiate dependent person, its principal effect is to prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Users may also experience a sense of well being and relief from physical or psychological pain.

What are the side effects?

These can include constipation, small pupils, sweating, itchy skin and drowsiness. When taking larger quantities, users can become very drowsy and appear to drift in and out of sleep. This can lead to unconsciousness and death through overdose.

The effects of methadone are longer lasting than heroin and therefore it is not usually necessary to take it more than once a day.

What are the risks?

Methadone is a very powerful drug and it can cause overdoses. For people who have no tolerance to the drug, especially children and non-users, small quantities can be fatal. Methadone should always be stored out of reach of children, in a child-proof container. Any spoons or cups used for taking methadone should be thoroughly washed after use.

After periods of not using, tolerance to methadone will drop. Overdose can occur if users resume using methadone at their former levels.

The risk of overdose is higher where methadone is used with other drugs such as heroin, tranquillizers or alcohol.

In the event of an overdose, the person should be placed in the recovery position (on their right side with their left knee bent to the floor) and it should be ensured that their airways are kept clear and that they can breath easily. An ambulance should be called immediately, reporting the overdose and giving a precise location for the victim and any extra information.

Is methadone addictive?

Yes. Sudden withdrawal can result in a number of unpleasant side-effects including aches and pains, nausea and diarrhoea. Regular use of methadone also results in tolerance to the drug. People may require dose increases to achieve a similar effect or may find the drug less effective at a fixed dose. However, this is less typical with methadone than with other opioids or opiates.

Why is methadone prescribed?

Many of the problems faced by users of heroin are a result of having to find the money to buy the drug. There are also the health risks of using a drug that may be contaminated with other powders or is of uncertain strength. Methadone is available legally, free, and in measurable doses. A prescription for methadone can help a heroin user to stabilise their life and health.

For some, it will be the start of a reduction programme over several weeks or months, while others will want to stay on a steady dose. Methadone seems, in the light of weighty evidence, to work better as a maintenance treatment than for fixed dose reductions, particularly for out-patients.

Women and methadone

Some women who use methadone report reduced or absent menstrual cycles. However, it is still possible to become pregnant, even if periods have stopped.

Women who find that they are pregnant should not suddenly stop taking methadone, as there is a risk of serious complications. Medical advice should always be sought.

Driving while taking methadone

If you become dependent on methadone after your driving licence was issued, or if you are dependent on methadone when applying for a driving licence, you must disclose your methadone use to the Drivers Medical Group of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), as it may affect your fitness to drive.

Failure to disclose such use is a criminal offence and punishable by a fine of up to £1000.

In order to determine whether to issue a driving licence or whether to allow you to keep your driving licence, the DVLA will require you to undergo a medical examination. If you are complying fully with a Consultant supervised oral methadone maintenance programme, you may be licensed to drive, subject to a favourable medical assessment and, normally, annual medical review. Applicants or drivers on an oral buprenorphine programme may be considered applying the same criteria.

It is a criminal offence to drive while unfit through any drug use.

For further information concerning the DVLA regulations and procedures, visit the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk, make an anonymous enquiry by telephoning the DVLA on 0870 240 0009, or call Releaseís legal helpline.

What is the legal position?

Methadone is a Class A, Schedule 2 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession of methadone is an offence, unless it is prescribed to you. Supply of methadone is an offence under any circumstances (unless you are licensed to issue it under prescription).

Penalties vary according to individual circumstances. If in doubt, always seek advice from your solicitor or by calling our legal helpline.


DRUGS THE LAW HUMAN RIGHTS HOME DONATE OUR SERVICES PUBLICATIONS ABOUT RELEASE BUST CARD HELPLINES CONTACT US SHOP NEWS LINKS MEDIA CENTER LEGAL MANUAL VACANCIES CONFERENCES PRIVACY DISCLAIMER	METHADONE/PHYí/JUICE What is it? Methadone is an opioid. This means that it falls into the same general group of drugs as heroin and morphine, which are derived from the opium poppy. Methadone, however, is synthetically produced. Methadone is made by a number of different drug companies. One of its brand names is Physeptone. Slang names for methadone include ëjuiceí, ëmethí and ëgreení. What does it look Iike? Methadone is available in various forms: Methadone mixture:This is taken orally. The preparation most frequently prescribed is ëMethadone Mixture DTF 1mg/mlí. This preparation is mixed according to the Drug Tariff Formulary (DTF) Formulation. The key ingredients include: Methadone Hydrochloride at a strength of 1mg/ml.; and Glucose syrup (a sweetener), colouring and a preservative. Some formulations may contain chloroform water which can have health risks. If you are concerned, call the heroin helpline, or speak to your keyworker or a pharmacist. Methadone mixture varies in colour, strength and concentration. It is most commonly a green liquid. Other preparations include a colourless and a sugar free variant. Tablets: These are taken orally. Prescribing tablets is not generally encouraged, as it is feared that people may crush the tablets and inject them. This causes a great deal of damage to veins. The tablets are 5mg, white, scored and round. Ampoules: These are for injection. They come in a variety of strengths, mainly 10mg/1ml, 50mg/1ml and 50mg/2ml. Linctus: These are taken orally. Linctus is sometimes confused with Methadone Mixture. However, it is a weaker preparation (2mg/5ml), used in the UK for treating coughing in terminal disease. Physeptone Linctus is still used in Eire for the treatment of drug dependence. Methadone overdoses can be fatal. It is important to note that methadone preparations come in a variety of different strengths. Users should always check the strength of the methadone that they are about to take. You can get this information from your local prescribing service or by visiting or calling a dispensing pharmacy. What are the effects? Like heroin, methadone is a painkiller. When prescribed in an appropriate dose to an opiate dependent person, its principal effect is to prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms. Users may also experience a sense of well being and relief from physical or psychological pain. What are the side effects? These can include constipation, small pupils, sweating, itchy skin and drowsiness. When taking larger quantities, users can become very drowsy and appear to drift in and out of sleep. This can lead to unconsciousness and death through overdose. The effects of methadone are longer lasting than heroin and therefore it is not usually necessary to take it more than once a day. What are the risks? Methadone is a very powerful drug and it can cause overdoses. For people who have no tolerance to the drug, especially children and non-users, small quantities can be fatal. Methadone should always be stored out of reach of children, in a child-proof container. Any spoons or cups used for taking methadone should be thoroughly washed after use. After periods of not using, tolerance to methadone will drop. Overdose can occur if users resume using methadone at their former levels. The risk of overdose is higher where methadone is used with other drugs such as heroin, tranquillizers or alcohol. In the event of an overdose, the person should be placed in the recovery position (on their right side with their left knee bent to the floor) and it should be ensured that their airways are kept clear and that they can breath easily. An ambulance should be called immediately, reporting the overdose and giving a precise location for the victim and any extra information. Is methadone addictive? Yes. Sudden withdrawal can result in a number of unpleasant side-effects including aches and pains, nausea and diarrhoea. Regular use of methadone also results in tolerance to the drug. People may require dose increases to achieve a similar effect or may find the drug less effective at a fixed dose. However, this is less typical with methadone than with other opioids or opiates. Why is methadone prescribed? Many of the problems faced by users of heroin are a result of having to find the money to buy the drug. There are also the health risks of using a drug that may be contaminated with other powders or is of uncertain strength. Methadone is available legally, free, and in measurable doses. A prescription for methadone can help a heroin user to stabilise their life and health. For some, it will be the start of a reduction programme over several weeks or months, while others will want to stay on a steady dose. Methadone seems, in the light of weighty evidence, to work better as a maintenance treatment than for fixed dose reductions, particularly for out-patients. Women and methadone Some women who use methadone report reduced or absent menstrual cycles. However, it is still possible to become pregnant, even if periods have stopped. Women who find that they are pregnant should not suddenly stop taking methadone, as there is a risk of serious complications. Medical advice should always be sought. Driving while taking methadone If you become dependent on methadone after your driving licence was issued, or if you are dependent on methadone when applying for a driving licence, you must disclose your methadone use to the Drivers Medical Group of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), as it may affect your fitness to drive. Failure to disclose such use is a criminal offence and punishable by a fine of up to £1000. In order to determine whether to issue a driving licence or whether to allow you to keep your driving licence, the DVLA will require you to undergo a medical examination. If you are complying fully with a Consultant supervised oral methadone maintenance programme, you may be licensed to drive, subject to a favourable medical assessment and, normally, annual medical review. Applicants or drivers on an oral buprenorphine programme may be considered applying the same criteria. It is a criminal offence to drive while unfit through any drug use. For further information concerning the DVLA regulations and procedures, visit the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk, make an anonymous enquiry by telephoning the DVLA on 0870 240 0009, or call Releaseís legal helpline. What is the legal position? Methadone is a Class A, Schedule 2 drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Possession of methadone is an offence, unless it is prescribed to you. Supply of methadone is an offence under any circumstances (unless you are licensed to issue it under prescription). Penalties vary according to individual circumstances. If in doubt, always seek advice from your solicitor or by calling our legal helpline.	DRUG FACTS 2CB 2CI alcohol amphetamines cannabis cocaine crack DMT ecstasy GHB heroin ketamine lsd methadone mushrooms nitrites salvia solvents steroids

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