Synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic, antitussive and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients on opioids
Indications:
1) Used in managing chronic pain owing to its long duration of action and very low cost
2) Opioid dependence. It has cross-tolerance with other opioids including heroin and morphine and a long duration of effect. Oral doses of methadone can stabilise patients by mitigating opioid withdrawal syndrome. Higher doses of methadone can block the euphoric effects of heroin , morphine, and similar drugs. As a result, properly dosed methadone patients can reduce or stop altogether their use of these substances
