Methadone is a medication that is widely used in treating opioid use disorder. However, it’s not without risks of its own. If abused, methadone can become addictive, leading to the need for a methadone detox.
Coming off methadone is a long process that requires professional help. In this article, we’ll talk about what methadone is, detoxing from methadone, and what to expect at a methadone detox center.
If you are looking for methadone detox near Los Angeles, read on.
What Is a Methadone Detox Center?
A methadone detox center is a place where you can go to safely come off of methadone. The reason these centers exist is because methadone, while an important medication for treating addiction, also carries its own risk of dependence.
The goal of a methadone detox center is to ensure patients can come off the drug cleanly, with as little pain as possible, while mitigating any risks to their health.
What is Methadone Used For?
Methadone lessens withdrawal symptoms and cravings by acting on the brain’s opioid receptors.
Yes, the brain actually has receptors specifically for opioids. In fact, scientists have identified three types of such receptors.
The three types of opioid receptors and their purposes are as follows:
- Mu – Responsible for the sense of euphoria, sedation, and slowed breathing experienced while on opioids
- Delta – Play a role in pain relief, the emotional response to opioids, and some of their antidepressant effects
- Kappa – Induce feelings of unease, altered perceptions, increased urine production (diuresis), and modulate stress
Methadone acts on these receptors, essentially tricking the brain into thinking it’s taken opioids. That’s because it is an opioid – a very controlled version of the drug.
There are two primary uses for methadone:
- Opioid Addiction Treatment: Methadone was first approved for the treatment of opioid addiction in the 1960s. It helps manage symptoms and reduce cravings, allowing people who take it to stabilize their lives and work toward recovery.
- Chronic Pain Management: Methadone is also prescribed for severe chronic pain, particularly in patients who have not found relief with other pain medications. Its long-acting nature makes it effective in providing consistent pain relief.
Despite being an opioid, when used correctly, methadone can be very helpful in helping people recover from opioid addiction.
But when not used correctly, it also has significant potential for abuse and even overdose. A person who abuses methadone could potentially be trading one dangerous addiction for another. At that point, a methadone detox in Los Angeles may be necessary.
How Do People Get Methadone?
Methadone is highly regulated. To get it, patients need to go to special, government-approved methadone clinics on a daily basis. A methadone clinic is there to offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT), meaning the use of certain drugs to assist with detox, reduce cravings, and support recovery.
Patients generally have to go to a methadone clinic daily to receive their medication. For many, this is inconvenient and discourages treatment.
How Can I Get Emergency Methadone?
If you find yourself unable to obtain methadone from your normal methadone clinic, you do have options. Practitioners in hospitals can make a special request for a three-day supply of methadone. This is called an opioid treatment exception request.
According to SAMHSA’s Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) guidance, if you already have an existing relationship with this caregiver, you may be able to ask them to make this request via telehealth.
Ultimately, if you find yourself unable to control your intake, consider a methadone detox in Orange County.
Get confidential help from our addiction treatment specialists in Orange County. Call to join our rehab program today!
Call 866-881-1184How Does Methadone Affect the Brain?
Methadone is an opioid agonist. An opioid agonist is a substance that binds to and activates opioid receptors in the brain. It mimics the effects of other opioids like heroin and morphine, producing effects like euphoria and pain relief.
Methadone influences the release of various neurotransmitters like dopamine, which plays a key role in the brain’s reward and pleasure pathways. This modulation helps stabilize mood by reducing the euphoric highs and lows associated with opioid use.
Is Methadone Dangerous?
However, methadone also has a long half-life, meaning it remains in the body for a long time. While this reduces the risk of withdrawal, it also brings dangers. A study in the Journal of Addiction Health suggests chronic use of methadone may cause cognitive impairment. Specifically, the study pointed to difficulties participants in the study had with speaking, planning, and problem-solving.
Another study found that methadone patients showed lower gray matter volume. The study pointed specifically to gray matter deficits in the parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, visual processing, memory, and motor skills. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health found the same concerns.
Methadone can be helpful for MAT of opioid addiction. However, it clearly comes with dangers of its own. When methadone use goes too far, a methadone detox is needed.
How Long Does Methadone Stay in Your System?
Methadone has a half-life of 24 to 36 hours. A half-life refers to how long it takes for the body to eliminate 50% of a substance.
This means that potentially, a day and a half after taking it, half the drug could still be in your system. It also means that a methadone detox would, therefore, take anywhere from 120 to 180 hours to 5 to 7.5 days.
What Are the Signs of Methadone Addiction?
Methadone addiction brings with it various signs and symptoms:
Physical signs of methadone addiction:
- Needing higher doses of methadone to achieve the same effects (tolerance)
- Experiencing methadone withdrawal symptoms like sweating, shaking, nausea, vomiting, and muscle aches
- Frequent and severe drowsiness
- Lack of energy (lethargy)
- Neglecting personal hygiene and appearance
- Weight fluctuation
Behavioral signs of methadone addiction:
- Using methadone more frequently or in more significant amounts than prescribed
- Visiting multiple doctors to obtain additional prescriptions for methadone (“doctor shopping”)
- Ignoring work, school, or family obligations due to methadone use
- Isolating oneself from friends and family
- Losing interest in activities or hobbies once enjoyed
- Spending a lot of time and effort to obtain, use, or recover from methadone use
Psychological signs of methadone addiction:
- Intense cravings or a strong desire to use methadone.
- Mood swings, such as euphoria followed by depression or irritability.
- Increased anxiety, restlessness, or paranoia related to methadone use or the fear of running out of the drug.
- Denying or downplaying the extent of methadone use despite clear evidence of its negative impact.
Methadone withdrawal can last for several days and can be quite uncomfortable. If you find yourself going through any of these symptoms, it might be time to seek addiction treatment in Orange County.
What Is Methadone Detox in Los Angeles Like?
Methadone detox is the process of clearing your body of methadone. It’s best done under professional supervision.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Medical Evaluation: Here, you’ll go through a thorough examination of your medical history, current health status, and level of methadone dependence. After that, professionals will help you come up with a personalized recovery plan.
- Tapering: With drugs that bring physical dependence, such as opioids like methadone, a good strategy is to “taper” or reduce one’s intake of the drug gradually. Specialists can construct a tapering schedule and monitor you closely as you go through methadone detox.
- Supportive Care: Expert care will be made available to deal with any methadone withdrawal symptoms that may arise. This includes things like non-opioid drugs for nausea, sleep issues, or anxiety, as well as proper hydration and nutrition. Therapies like CBT and other behavioral therapies can help provide emotional support.
- Post-Treatment Care: After methadone detox, ongoing support and treatment are vital for ensuring continued sobriety. This can include outpatient therapy, support groups, and counseling. Relapse prevention strategies like coping skills and identifying triggers to avoid can also help.
A detox from methadone in Los Angeles can be challenging due to the withdrawal symptoms. However, with proper support from an addiction center, full recovery is possible.
Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms
Methadone withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Here are some symptoms to expect:
- Early Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Sweating
- Muscle Aches
- Running Nose
- Yawning
- Later Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal Pain
- Dilated Pupils
Throughout the methadone withdrawal process, you may expect certain psychological symptoms. These include cravings, depression, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating.
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Check Your CoverageMethadone Detox Timeline
The intensity and duration of methadone detox and methadone withdrawal symptoms will vary by person. Factors here include length of methadone usage, dosage, and overall health.
Here is a general outline of what to expect during methadone detox:
- Onset of Methadone Withdrawal (First 24-48 hours): Symptoms here may include anxiety, agitation, and sweating.
- Peak of Withdrawal (3-7 Days): Symptoms may intensify, hitting their peak around the three-to-seven-day mark. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, insomnia, and strong cravings.
- Tapering (1-2 Weeks): Once symptoms begin subsiding, it’ll be time to start tapering off methadone. That means taking it for a time, gradually reducing the dose, perhaps on a staggered schedule (ex, one day on, one day off). The goal is to be completely off the medication within a couple of weeks.
- Post-Acute Withdrawal Phase (2-4 Weeks or More): Around this time, physical withdrawal symptoms should be greatly diminished. There may be lingering psychological symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and cravings.
Beyond this rough time frame, sustained recovery and sobriety may take months or even years. Continued participation in therapy and support groups is crucial to maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse.
Who Can Help With Methadone Detox?
The best way to go through a detox from methadone in Orange County is to go to an Orange County treatment center. Treatment centers provide expert care, including continuous medical monitoring, personalized recovery plans, medication management, therapies, and more things that ensure sustained sobriety.
Here are some benefits of going through a methadone detox at a treatment center in Orange County:
- Expert Medical Care: Access to medical professionals who specialize in addiction ensures that patients can receive consummate care as they go through methadone detox.
- Beautiful Weather: Southern California is world-renowned for its famously mild, pleasant climate, with sunshine year round. Warm and beautiful weather can do a lot for one’s emotional and mental state, making methadone detox a little more bearable.
- Safety: Continuous monitoring will ensure you can safely detox from methadone in Orange County.
- Scenic Environment: This region offers stunning coastal views and ready access to beaches and parks. Being surrounded by beauty can do wonders for your mental and emotional state, providing a scenic backdrop for recovery.
- Structure: A structured setting with a fixed routine, firm boundaries, and accountability helps people stay focused on their recovery, free of distractions.
Undergoing a methadone detox at a treatment center means having a supportive, medically supervised environment. Psychological and physical methadone withdrawal symptoms are addressed under the watchful eye of experts. This significantly enhances the likelihood of successful recovery.
Other Tips for Recovering from Methadone
Here are some other ways to recover from methadone dependency:
- Join a Support Group: Recovery support groups can provide a vital morale boost as you go through methadone detox and work toward sobriety.
- 12-Step Programs: Programs like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) offer structured support and guidance through the recovery process. There’s also a relatively new 12-step group dedicated to people on methadone or buprenorphine called Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous. A group like this would be perfect for those who seek a safe space, free of the stigma of MAT that is sometimes found in more traditional 12-step programs.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices like mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing can help manage stress and enhance mental clarity, as well as post-methadone detox.
- Online Resources: There are a variety of resource guides that provide information, advice, and support for dealing with addiction. Some that may help here include Resources for Loved Ones and Resources for Veterans.
By taking these steps, along with professional treatment, methadone detox, and recovery is very achievable,
Methadone Detox Treatment Near Me
If you are looking to detox from methadone in Los Angeles, South Coast Behavioral Health will help you. We offer a full spectrum-of-care Opioid Addiction treatment program that will address the unique challenges you face in a personalized way. This includes individualized treatment plans that will provide you with the tools needed to recover safely.
If you are seeking methadone detox for yourself or a loved one, give us a call at 866-881-1184 or contact us here. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have.
- Assessment of Cognitive Functions in Methadone Maintenance Patients – PMC (nih.gov)
- The influence of methadone on cerebral gray matter and functional connectivity – Zhu – Annals of Palliative Medicine (amegroups.org)
- Long-term methadone treatment can affect nerve cells in brain | ScienceDaily
- Submit an Opioid Treatment Exception Request | SAMHSA
- New rules enable telemedicine treatment for opioid-use disorder | American Medical Association (ama-assn.org)
