This article describes methadone oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for methadone. If you want to know more about methadone oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.
Methadone oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Methadose. Methadone also comes in a dispersible tablet (dissolves in liquid), an injectable form, and oral liquid solutions. But those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about them, talk with your doctor.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about certain risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The risks are:
- serious breathing problems
- serious harm if taken with certain other medications
- serious long QT syndrome, which is a heart problem
- overdose from accidental ingestion
- misuse and addiction*
- restricted use in programs for detoxifying† opioid addiction
- neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
* ”Misuse” means taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. With addiction, a person takes a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes. Doctors sometimes refer to misuse and addiction as substance use disorder.
† “Detoxifying” means to apply medical therapy that helps with stopping addiction.
See the end of this article for more information about these warnings.
Form and strengths of methadone
Methadone oral tablet comes as follows:
- Form: tablet that you swallow
- Strengths: 5 milligrams (mg), 10 mg
Dosage of methadone
This article describes the recommended dosages for methadone oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of methadone oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of methadone in adults
Methadone is approved to be used in adults for:
- treating severe pain
- detoxifying opioid addiction,* which means to apply medical therapy that helps with stopping addiction
- maintaining a detoxifying effect on opioid addiction, which means to apply medical therapy that provides continued help with stopping addiction
* With addiction, a person takes a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes.
Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of methadone oral tablet. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of methadone oral tablet that gives the desired outcome.
For treating opioid addiction, your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you methadone oral tablet.
Dosage for pain
The recommended dosage for pain in milligrams (mg) is:
- Starting dosage: 2.5 mg every 8–12 hours
- Dosage increases: If needed, your doctor will slowly raise your dosage every 3–5 days.
Dosage for detoxifying opioid addiction
The recommended dosages for detoxifying opioid addiction* in mg are:
- Starting dosage: 20–30 mg as a single dose. If needed after your initial dose, your doctor may give you another single dose of 5–10 mg in 2–4 hours.
- Maximum dosage: 40 mg on the first day of treatment
* “Detoxifying” means to apply medical therapy that helps with stopping addiction. With addiction, a person uses a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes.
Dosage for maintaining a detoxifying effect on opioid addiction
The recommended dosage for maintaining a detoxifying effect on opioid addiction* in mg is:
- Typical maintenance dosage: 80–120 mg per day
* “For maintaining a detoxifying effect” means to apply medical therapy that provides continued help with stopping addiction. With addiction, a person uses a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes.
Dosage adjustments for methadone
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of methadone oral tablet based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your age
- other health conditions you may have
Missed dose of methadone
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of methadone oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.
For tips on how to plan your doses of methadone oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about methadone oral tablet and its dosage.
Is the dosage of methadone oral tablet similar to the liquid form of the drug?
Yes, the dosages of the two forms are similar. Actually, methadone comes in two liquid forms: a liquid solution and a concentrate solution.
Methadone oral tablet and liquid solution are both approved to treat severe pain and opioid addiction. (With addiction, a person uses a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes.) The dosages of the liquid solution and the oral tablet are the same. For example, both have a recommended starting dosage for severe pain of 2.5 milligrams (mg) every 8–12 hours.
Methadone concentrate solution is approved only to treat opioid addiction. However, the dosages of the concentrate solution and the oral tablet are the same. For example, their typical dosage for maintaining a detoxifying* effect on opioid addiction is 80–120 mg per day.
To learn more about which form of methadone is right for you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
* “Detoxifying” means to apply medical therapy that helps with stopping addiction.
What’s considered a low dose of methadone?
It depends because methadone oral tablet affects each person differently. A low dose for one person can be a high dose for another. Even so, the recommended starting dose for severe pain is 2.5 milligrams (mg). And it’s to be taken every 8–12 hours. This is typically the lowest dose of methadone oral tablet.
If you have questions about the methadone dose that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Is methadone taken long term?
Yes, methadone is typically taken long term for treating pain or opioid addiction. (With addiction, a person uses a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes.) Some people take methadone oral tablet for several months or even years.
Ask your doctor if you have questions about how long you should take methadone oral tablet.
How methadone is taken
For pain, you’ll typically swallow a dose of methadone oral tablet every 8–12 hours. You can take the drug with or without food.
For treating opioid addiction,* your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you methadone oral tablet.
Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.
Do not crush, dissolve, snort, or inject methadone oral tablet. Doing so can cause overdose, which can lead to life threatening side effects or death. But you can split the tablet on the score line (groove) to make it easier to swallow. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, you can also view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
* With addiction, a person uses a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes.
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Overdose of methadone
It’s important that you do not take more methadone oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of methadone overdose
Symptoms of an overdose can include:
- shallow, slowed breathing, which is known as respiratory depression
- limp muscles
- cold and clammy skin
- small pupils, which are known as pinpoint pupils
- fluid in your lungs
- slow heart rate
- low blood pressure
- extreme sleepiness
In extreme cases or if untreated, overdose can lead to coma or death.
What to do if you take too much methadone
If you think you’ve taken too much methadone, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
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Get free cardWhat to ask your doctor
This article describes the usual recommended dosages for methadone oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.
Do not change your dosage of methadone oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take methadone oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Will taking a higher dose of methadone oral tablet raise my risk of misuse and addiction*?
- How long will I take methadone oral tablet?
- Can you prescribe the liquid form of methadone for me?
* Misuse is taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. With addiction, a person uses a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes. Doctors sometimes refer to misuse and addiction as substance use disorder.
Boxed warnings for methadone
This drug has boxed warnings about certain risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The risk are as follows:
Risk of serious breathing problems. Methadone oral tablet can cause serious and life threatening breathing problems. This is possible even when taking the recommended dosage of the drug. Your breathing can become very slow or shallow. If this isn’t recognized and treated, it can lead to death.
Because of this risk, doctors typically won’t prescribe methadone oral tablet if you take certain other drugs. These drugs are those that cause breathing problems, such as benzodiazepines.
Your risk is also higher if you drink alcohol while taking methadone oral tablet.
Risk of serious harm if taken with certain other medications. Taking methadone oral tablet along with certain medications can raise your risk of serious, life threatening side effects. For example, sedatives and benzodiazepines slow brain function. Taking methadone oral tablet with these drugs can lead to extreme sleepiness, slowed breathing, coma, or death.
Certain other drugs can raise the amount of methadone in your body. This can cause serious side effects, such as slowed breathing.
Because of these risks, tell your doctor about any medications that you take or plan to start or stop taking. These include prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
Risk of serious long QT syndrome. Taking methadone oral tablet can raise your risk of long QT syndrome. This condition affects the heart’s electrical activity. In some cases, long QT syndrome can cause torsades de pointes. This is a life threatening disturbance to your heart rhythm.
Depending on your medical history, your doctor may monitor you closely for symptoms of these conditions.
Risk of overdose from accidental ingestion. Accidentally taking even one dose of methadone oral tablet can cause overdose and death. This risk is especially high for children.
Due to this risk, store methadone oral tablet in a secure place. Be sure it cannot be accessed by others, especially children.
Risk of misuse and addiction. Taking methadone oral tablet has a risk of misuse and addiction. (Misuse means taking a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribes it. Addiction means a person uses a drug even if it’s causing harmful outcomes. Doctors sometimes refer to misuse and addiction as substance use disorder.) Addiction can occur even when taking the recommended dosage of the drug.
Because of these risks, it’s important to attend all scheduled follow-up appointments with your doctor. It’s also important to take methadone oral tablet exactly as prescribed.
Restricted use in programs for detoxifying opioid addiction. Detoxifying means to apply medical therapy that helps with stopping addiction. Methadone oral tablet has a risk of misuse and addiction. Due to this risk, only specially certified doctors and medical clinics can prescribe it for treating opioid addiction.
Risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Taking methadone oral tablet for a long period of time during pregnancy can cause NOWS. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is used to. In this case, the withdrawal symptoms affect the newborn.
Because of this risk, doctors typically won’t prescribe methadone oral tablet during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If it’s decided you’ll take methadone during pregnancy, your doctor will monitor your newborn. They’ll watch for symptoms of NOWS and treat them as needed.
To learn more about these boxed warnings, talk with your doctor.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.