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Methadone binds itself to opiate receptor sites in the brain, occupying them so that other opiates cannot attach themselves. In turn, users won’t feel the “high” and resume their daily activities. Methadone can also limit cravings and prevent withdrawal symptoms including those opiate addicts experience during a relapse. Also, methadone can make the user feel more stable.
One of the legitimate medicine assisted treatments (MAT) used to help heroin and other opioid users overcome their addiction is Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). It is believed to have three major benefits.
- MMT curbs cravings and urges to use opiates.
- MMT minimizes and eliminates withdrawal symptoms related to opiate use, abuse and dependence.
- MMT blocks the effects of opiates making it very difficult to get that euphoric high.
The half-life of Methadone is approximately 2-3 days. That means, approximately half of the medication stays in the system. This is the reason why methadone users can go several days without treatment before they start to feel methadone-related withdrawal symptoms.
However, there are sources that suggest otherwise.
For them, methadone is unable to block the effects of opiates.
Myaddiction.com states that a synthetic opiate like methadone will not be able to block the effects of other kinds of opiates. If taken with other opiates, methadone can have a very dangerous effect on the body and the person could even overdose on the substance.
Opium.org, also, was very clear on their stand that methadone does not block opiates. The source believes that blocking opiates is not enough to help an addicted user avoid relapse.
Several other users have commented on such sources saying that higher doses of methadone have the capacity to block the effects of opiates including Oxycodone.
MMT for the treatment of opiate addiction
If possible, unless otherwise stated by a licensed medical professional, the responsible thing to do would be to tell your physician that you are suffering from opiate addiction.
Hence, you should ask for a non-opioid medication for pain management and relief from withdrawal symptoms. Apparently blocking these effects can relapse into addiction and ruin your whole recovery.
While there is currently enough evidence to suggest that MMT is able to block the effects of opiates, we are also led to believe that there is sufficient evidence to the contrary. Using methadone for the treatment of opioid addiction should not be taken so lightly. In fact, before medical professionals prescribe this form of treatment, they usually weigh in a lot of things including the risk that the person may become addicted to methadone instead.
