Methadone overdose is a serious medical emergency. As reported by federal and state officials, Methadone is increasingly being abused by drug users for recreation and is causing an alarming increase in methadone overdoses and deaths. Methadone is a drug valued for treating heroin addiction and for soothing chronic pain. Methadone’s delayed narcotic effect and its lack of a potent high are important reasons the drug can be so dangerous.
Symptoms of Methadone overdose may include slow and shallow breathing – that too with great difficulty, weak pulse, sometimes the breathing altogether stops which leads to death, bluish skin, fingernails and lips, spasms of the stomach, intestinal tract, constipation, low blood pressure, pinpoint pupils, drowsiness, disorientation, and coma.
When Methadone overdose is suspected, one should make arrangements to visit the doctor or better still call for an ambulance at the earliest.
If the patient is losing consciousness lay them on side in the recovery position. This will help them to deal with vomiting better and they won’t choke. Encouraging patients to vomit is not the right thing to do because of the risk of rapid onset of CNS depression / unconsciousness. This could lead to choking. When a patient is hospitalized during this time their saturation of oxygen should be monitored on an ongoing basis with the help of an oximeter and should be sent to ICE without delay if the patient is undergoing altered consciousness or hypoxia.
For adults ho have never taken methadone earlier or often – a single day’s maintenance dose of methadone between 50-100 mg can prove to be lethal. For people beginning MMT, starting with 40 mg doses have lead to deaths within four days of treatment. Similarly children may overdose if they mistake the medication for a drink. A 10 to 20 mg methadone dose can prove to be fatal to a child.
This drug is too unpredictable to be prescribing to ANYONE. The reason methadone deaths are so prevalent these days is because it was legalized for pain management as opposed to its previous limited use for narcotic addiction treatment drug.
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my son supposedly died from a methadone overdose 9/26/2007 no blood test was done and he was supposedly wide awake eating and fell over dead the er said he had pinpoint pupils but he also had a head injury be certain always a blood test is done in a fatal overdose because i belive that this just gave sidneys wife a clean shot at murder since she has a sever drug problem and he (sidney) had taken his money and put it in a safe away from her just a clue to the gain she made for herself she spent arouind $50.000.00 in a couple of weeks
dont let something like this happen to you or your family or friends
Debbie: Hi, mu name is Susan Barbour. I just read your comment on your sons death supposedly from a methadone overdose. My heart goes out to you. I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my brother 2 weeks ago from what I am almost positive from methadone overdose. Although he was 60, his heart was strong, his health (other than pain) was good until he started methadone. Everything changed when he started taking this poisen. I was trying to find a rehab for him too get off of it. He ran out of methadone and his doctor was on vacation. I live in a small town in Arizona and everywhere I took him was an absolute refussal to help him. The dr. at the emergency room said they would not prescribe it and that it was not a life death situation. Even though it was prescribed for pain, he was treated like he was a junkie. He told that dr. that he had some morphine tablets and the dr. told him to take those. So he did for four days. Then his regular quack doctor came back from vacation and prescribed more methadone. He died that night. He started taking the dosages he had previously taken and I’m almost 99% sure he overdosed. I’ve read over and over again that if you are off of it for more than 3 days, strict precaution should be taken. I was with him. He was sick to his stomach but I didn’t realize I was spending my last moments with my beloved brother. I tried mouth to mouth but I couldn’t get him to breathe again. Most horrible day of my life. I will never get over this. I loved him so much I can’t hardly bare this. I walk around lost all the time. My mother who is 84 cries all day like I do. I wish there was something I could do to stop this horrible drug from being given to people. I hope this doesn’t bring you more pain by reading this. I needed to talk to someone. God love you Debbie and your precious son. Regards, Susie Barbour
Dear Friends of loved ones who were killed by Methadone.
This drug is So scary!! How can we get the word out to Warn People-even Doctors.
My 24 year old Son died in March 2010 from a Methadone overdose. The prescription was given to him for knee pain due to an injury at work. As far as we know, he only took the prescribed amount and after the 2nd day complained of a stomach ache. We had No Idea that this would be the beginning of his young life ending at the hand of this evil drug. On the 3rd day, he went to bed as usual and never woke up….
My beautiful Son Brad will never be with us again in this life. We miss him so much!!
How can Doctors give this to their trusting patients? It’s not worth the risk under Any circumstances!!
Please, please WARN EVERYONE YOU KNOW.
Devastated in Seattle
I want to 1st say my hearst go out to you so deeply BUT there is so much more about this evil poisin than even most doctors know . For years doctors have been looking at mysetrious syndrome X deaths of herion addicts and now with all these methadone deaths they wonder if in fact there is something in comon with them . I have found there is a HUGE problem with methadone that nobody especially the big companys that make it who pushed for it to be priscibed by regular doctors for pain. Once the insurance comapnys got wind of how cheap it is BOOM and now all these deaths and because most people look at the people who die as JUNKIES nobody gives a damn…
I have good information as I have done alot of research or atleast as much as for a non professinal person can . I have found there is a hear defect or birth defect that 10% of people are born with that makes it unable for them to metabolize methadones inactive part . Yes it is much more complicated than I m making it out to be but I want normal people to understand it if possible so forgive me for not being more precises. And my spelling sucks I know so for give but…again if one in ten people will die from just being priscibed it shouldnt some one be stopping this . ?? Just a though and yes I have suffered a loss due to methadone my 3 year old daughter.. was it the heart defect I dont know? but I do know this is a huge problem and now you say well how did a 3 year old have methadone BY ME I was breast feeding her due to failure to thrive and if that was the cause of her death i will never forgive myself worst part of this I am now being charged as thou I gave it to her to kill her GOD I pray we all learn a little kindness but if this e-mail helps any one it wont ever make losing her worth it but it may take the hurt away for a sec if it keeps someone from having to go through any of what I am ..GOD BLESS So please if you are on methadone stop bresat feeding no matter what the doctors or nurses say it is not woth the risk !!! and if you are on it DETOX as fast and as safely as you can …