Methadone is a medication utilized for the treatment of opiate addiction. A person who wants to quit using heroin or prescription pain killers can get started on a methadone program in or near Fate where they take it on a daily basis to stop withdrawal symptoms, avoid cravings and in essence replace their addiction with a legal medication. Many individuals who begin methadone treatment remain on it for many years, because withdrawing off it can bring about withdrawal symptoms far worse than even heroin withdrawal. Methadone is a full opioid agonist, similar to heroin and morphine. However, it's effects last much longer which is why detoxing from it can be so painful and last such a long time. Additionally, since methadone can stay in the body for so long, users usually will not even begin feeling the effects of withdrawal for a day or two when they stop taking it. Methadone withdrawal is like that of other opiates, and are likened to a severe flu which can include chills, fever, profuse sweating, nausea and vomiting, muscle and bone aches and pain, stomach cramping, acute insomnia, etc.
Methadone detoxification can be made much more comfortable in a professional detoxification facility which allow methadone clients. Some programs provide a medically managed detox while others help the client withdrawal off the drug cold turkey without any medications.