What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. A side effect may be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone. The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away over time. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- lightheadedness
- nausea
- sweating
- vomiting
Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.
Drowsiness/reduced alertness: Methadone may cause dizziness or drowsiness, which may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid activities requiring alertness if the medication affects you in this way. Alcohol and other medications causing drowsiness (e.g., benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and diazepam) can intensify this effect.
Irregular heartbeat: This medication may cause an irregular heartbeat. Get immediate medical attention if you notice symptoms of an irregular heartbeat, such as palpitations (awareness of your heartbeat), dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
Low blood pressure: This medication may cause your blood pressure to drop when you get up from a sitting or lying position. This could lead to dizziness or fainting. To decrease your risk of injury, get up more slowly from a sitting or lying position.
Medical conditions: People with breathing problems, head injuries, low blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, or abdominal (stomach) problems should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking this medication.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking methadone, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of this medication have not been established for children.
Seniors: Seniors may be more prone to side effects from methadone, and should be closely monitored by their doctor while taking this medication.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may be an interaction between methadone and any of the following:
- abacavir
- alcohol
- amprenavir
- barbiturates (e.g., secobarbital, phenobarbital)
- benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam)
- butorphanol
- buprenorphine
- calcium channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, diltiazem)
- carbamazepine
- certain antiarrhythmics (e.g., quinidine, procainamide, sotalol, amiodarone)
- certain neuroleptics (e.g., chlorpromazine, thioridazine)
- desipramine
- didanosine
- efavirenz
- fluvoxamine
- ketoconazole
- lopinavir - ritonavir
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- monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine)
- nalbuphine
- naloxone
- naltrexone
- nelfinavir
- nevirapine
- other narcotics (e.g., morphine, hydromorphone)
- pentazocine
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin
- rifampin
- ritonavir
- sertraline
- stavudine
- St. John's wort
- tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, imipramine)
- voriconazole
- zidovudine
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If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.