home > drugs a-z list > methadose oral concentrate (methadone hydrochloride oral concentrate) drug center > methadose oral concentrate (methadone hydrochloride oral concentrate) drug - medication guide and patient information

• Patients should be cautioned that Methadose, like all opioids, may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinery.
• Patients who are ambulatory should be cautioned that Methadose, like other opioids, may produce orthostatic hypotension.
• Patients should be cautioned that alcohol and other CNS depressants may produce an additive CNS depression when taken with this product and should be avoided.
• Patients should be instructed to seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms suggestive of an arrhythmia (such as palpitations, dizziness, lightheadedness, or syncope) when taking Methadose.
• Patients initiating treatment with Methadose should be reassured that the dose of methadone will "hold" for longer periods of time as treatment progresses.
• Patients should be instructed to keep Methadose in a secure place out of the reach of children and other household members. Accidental or deliberate ingestion by a child may cause respiratory depression that can result in death.
• Patients should be advised not to change the dose of Methadose without consulting their physician.
• Women of childbearing potential who become or are planning to become pregnant should be advised to consult their physicians regarding the effects of Methadose use during pregnancy.
• If a physically dependent patient abruptly discontinues use of Methadose, an opioid abstinence or withdrawal syndrome may develop. If cessation of therapy is indicated, it may be appropriate to taper the methadone dose, rather than abruptly discontinue it, due to the risk of precipitating withdrawal symptoms. Their physician can provide a dose schedule to accomplish a gradual discontinuation of the medication.
• Patients seeking to discontinue treatment with Methadose for opioid dependence should be apprised of the high risk of relapse to illicit drug use associated with discontinuation of methadone maintenance treatment.
• Patients should be advised that Methadose is a potential drug of abuse.
• They should protect it from theft, and it should never be taken by anyone other than the individual for whom it was prescribed.
• Breastfeeding:
  1. Methadone use is usually compatible with breastfeeding. Pregnant mothers using methadone should be counseled about the benefits and risks of breastfeeding while using methadone. Counseling should include the following information:
• The baby receives a small amount of methadone through breastmilk.
• The baby may experience methadone withdrawal if breastfeeding is discontinued suddenly. Patients discontinuing breastfeeding should develop a plan to wean with the baby's healthcare team.
• Use of other substances of abuse during breastfeeding will expose the baby to additional risks. Patients who use other substances of abuse should not breastfeed.
  2. When starting methadone for the first time or increasing the dose, breastfeeding patients should watch their babies closely for changes in behavior or breathing patterns.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/4/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.