This article describes possible side effects of methadone oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about methadone, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Methadone oral tablet is a generic medication. It isn’t available in a brand-name version. Methadone also comes in other oral forms and as an injection, but these forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
Boxed warnings
Methadone oral tablet has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This drug has boxed warnings for the risk of:
For more information about the risk of misuse addiction, see the “Misuse and methadone” section below. To learn about the risk of NOWS, see the “Warnings for methadone” section below. For other details, see the “Side effects of methadone in detail” section below.
More common side effects of methadone
Methadone oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of methadone oral tablet include:
- dizziness
- lightheadedness
- nausea or vomiting
- sleepiness
- sweating
Mild side effects of methadone
Methadone may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of methadone oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of methadone in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with methadone oral tablet. But it’s unclear whether it occurred in the drug’s studies.
Serious side effects of methadone
Methadone may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from methadone oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with methadone.
Serious side effects of methadone oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects of methadone in detail” section below.
† Methadone oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of methadone in detail” section below.
‡ Methadone oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Misuse and methadone” section below.
§ Methadone oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Warnings for methadone” section below.
¶ An allergic reaction is possible with methadone oral tablet. But it’s unclear whether it occurred in the drug’s studies.
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Common questions about side effects of methadone
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of methadone oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How do side effects of methadone compare with those seen with Suboxone?
Methadone and Suboxone are both opioid drugs. So they have similar side effects and warnings, such as the risk of serious breathing problems. But they aren’t exactly alike. Suboxone has less risk for misuse and addiction than methadone. Still, people can have different reactions to different drugs. Some people may tolerate one better than another.
If you’d like to learn more about how methadone and Suboxone compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you’re having bothersome side effects with methadone, tell your doctor.
Does methadone cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases methadone oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with methadone oral tablet include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of methadone in detail” section below.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them. Ask your doctor for more information about how long these side effects of methadone may last.
Are there any special requirements for prescribing methadone due to its side effects?
Yes, there are certain special requirements for prescribing methadone. This is because methadone carries a risk of misuse and addiction.*
When methadone is used for severe pain, it’s only available through the opioid analgesic risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program. When used for opioid use disorder, methadone is only available from specially certified doctors and opioid treatment programs.
If you have questions or concerns about special prescribing requirements for methadone, talk with your doctor. They can tell you more about how these requirements help make sure methadone is prescribed safely.
* Methadone oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Misuse and methadone” section below.
Misuse and methadone
Taking methadone oral tablet can lead to misuse and addiction. Misuse means using a drug in a way other than how a doctor prescribed it. Addiction means continuing to use a drug even though it may be causing harm. Misuse and addiction can lead to overdose and death.
In fact, methadone oral tablet has boxed warnings about these risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
To reduce the risk of misuse and addiction, take methadone oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes. This means swallowing the tablets and waiting the right number of hours before taking the next dose.
Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this warning or how you are using methadone oral tablet.
Side effects of methadone in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of methadone oral tablet.
Boxed warnings
Methadone oral tablet has several boxed warnings. These are the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Risk of serious breathing problems
In studies, serious breathing problems were not common in people taking methadone oral tablet. This side effect may be serious. With serious breathing problems, you breathe much slower than usual. It is also possible for your breathing to stop, which can be fatal. The risk is higher when you first start the drug and after dosage increases. The risk is also higher for older adults (adults ages 65 and older).
Slowed or stopped breathing can be fatal without immediate treatment. Seek immediate medical care for breathing problems.
Risk of serious harm if taken with certain other medications
In studies, it was shown that taking methadone oral tablet can cause dangerous drug interactions with certain other drugs. It wasn’t known how common these interactions were. Taking other drugs that affect the way your body processes and gets rid of methadone may put you at risk for serious side effects.
These kinds of drugs could cause the levels of methadone in your body to be too high or too low. This could lead to withdrawal side effects and cause methadone not to work as well as it should.
Taking methadone oral tablet with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants can also be dangerous. It can lead to coma and death. CNS depressants are drugs that slow down the brain function. This includes alcohol, benzodiazepines, other opioid pain relievers, and several other medications.
Tell your doctor about all the medications you take. Ask if any of your medications could interact with methadone oral tablet. Also, make sure your pharmacist knows that you take methadone. This helps them screen for possible drug interactions.
Risk of serious long QT syndrome
In studies, serious long QT syndrome was not common in people taking methadone oral tablet. This side effect may be serious. It can also lead to serious and life threatening heart rhythm problems, including Torsades de Points (TdP) syndrome. With serious long QT syndrome, there are changes in the heart’s electrical signals.
Symptoms can include:
- cold sweats
- dizziness
- pounding heartbeat
- cardiac arrest (sudden loss of heartbeat)
High doses of methadone oral tablet may increase this risk. The risk may also be higher if you have heart rhythm problems or take other medications that affect your heart rhythm.
Tell your doctor about any heart problems you have and all the medications you take. They may recommend monitoring your heart while taking methadone.
Seek immediate medical care or call 911 if you have symptoms that may be life threatening.
Risk of overdose from accidental ingestion
Accidentally taking methadone oral tablet can lead to an overdose, which can be fatal. Accidentally taking methadone is especially dangerous in children.
Store methadone oral tablet out of the reach of children. It’s illegal for anyone to take prescription drugs that aren’t prescribed for them, so keep methadone securely stored. If someone accidentally ingests this drug, immediately call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.
Ways to manage
If you have concerns about restricted use of methadone, tell your doctor.
Severely low blood pressure
In studies, severely low blood pressure was not common in people taking methadone oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.
Severely low blood pressure can lead to orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure and dizziness when standing or sitting up). This can cause you to feel very dizzy or even faint, which can cause dangerous falls.
Certain factors can increase the risk of severely low blood pressure with methadone oral tablet. This includes taking central nervous system depressants (drugs that slow brain function) or other drugs that lower blood pressure.
Ways to manage
If you feel dizzy or like you’re going to faint, sit or lie down until the feeling passes. Get up slowly to avoid problems again.
Tell your doctor if you experience dizziness or fainting. They may recommend gradually adjusting your medications.
For some people, methadone oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to methadone oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for methadone
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking methadone oral tablet.
Boxed warnings
This drug has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This drug has boxed warnings for the risk of:
For more information about the risk of misuse addiction, see the “Misuse and methadone” section above. To learn about the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, see the “Methadone and pregnancy” section below. For other details, see the “Side effects of methadone in detail” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take methadone oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether methadone oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking methadone oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Methadone and pregnancy
There are risks to taking methadone during pregnancy. But there are also risks with having untreated opioid use disorder while pregnant. (Keep in mind that methadone is prescribed for treating opioid use disorder.)
If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Boxed waring: Risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome
This drug has a boxed warning about the risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
NOWS happens when a pregnant person takes methadone oral tablet for a long time during pregnancy. This causes the baby to go through withdrawal after birth. Withdrawal describes symptoms that can occur when you stop taking a drug your body is dependent on.
Symptoms in a newborn baby may include:
- diarrhea
- unable to gain weight
- high-pitched cry
- irritability
- sleep problems
- tremor
- vomiting
These and other NOWS symptoms can be fatal.
If you’re pregnant while taking methadone oral tablet, tell your doctor. They’ll help you decide if you should continue taking it.
Methadone and breastfeeding
In rare cases, a breastfeeding child may have sleepiness and breathing difficulties if you’re taking methadone oral tablet. But there also may be benefits to taking the medication to treat opioid use disorder while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Methadone oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol.
Drinking alcohol while taking methadone oral tablet increases the risk of serious harm.* This may cause central nervous system depression (slowed brain function), which can lead to coma or can be fatal.
* Methadone oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To learn more, see the “Side effects of methadone in detail” section above.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about the risks of consuming it during your treatment with methadone oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of methadone oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Do I have a higher risk of side effects from methadone oral tablet than other people?
- How can I reduce my risk of side effects from methadone oral tablet?
- How can I manage the most common side effects of methadone oral tablet?
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.
