MEDICATION GUIDE

 Methadose is:

• A strong prescription pain medicine that contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used to manage pain severe enough to require daily around-the-clock, long-term treatment with an opioid, when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines or immediate-release opioid medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
• A long-acting opioid pain medicine that can put you at risk for overdose and death. Even if you take your dose correctly as prescribed you are at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse than can lead to death.
• Not for use to treat pain that is not around-the-clock
• Also used to manage drug addiction.

Important information about Methadose:

• Get emergency help right away if you take too much Methadose (overdose). When you first start taking Methadose, when your dose is changed, or if you take too much (overdose), serious or life-threatening breathing problems that can lead to death may occur.
• Never give anyone your Methadose. They could die from taking it. Store Methadose away from children and in a safe place to prevent stealing or abuse. Selling or giving away Methadose is against the law.

Do not take Methadose if you have:

• severe asthma, trouble breathing, or other lung problems.
• a bowel blockage or have narrowing of the stomach or intestines.

Before taking Methadose, tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of:

• head injury, seizures
• liver, kidney, thyroid problems     
• problems urinating                                                      
• heart rhythm problems (Long QT syndrome)
• pancreas or gallbladder problems
• abuse of street or prescription drugs, alcohol addiction, or mental health problems

Tell your healthcare provider if you are:

• pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Prolonged use of Methadose during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in your newborn baby that could be life-threatening if not recognized and treated.
• breastfeeding. Methadone hydrochloride passes into breast milk and may harm your baby. 
• taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Taking Methadose with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects.

When taking Methadose:

• Do not change your dose. Take Methadose exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. 
• Do not take more than your prescribed dose in 24 hours. If you take Methadose for pain and miss a dose, take Methadose as soon as possible and then take your next dose 8 or 12 hours later as directed by your healthcare provider. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
• If you take Methadose for opioid addiction and miss a dose, take your next dose the following day as scheduled.  Do not take extra doses. Taking more than the prescribed dose may cause you to overdose because methadone hydrochloride builds up in your body over time.
• Do not crush, dissolve, snort or inject Methadose because this may cause you to overdose and die.
• Call your healthcare provider if the dose you are taking does not control your pain.
• Do not stop taking Methadose without talking to your healthcare provider.
• After you stop taking Methadose, flush any unused tablets down the toilet.

While taking Methadose DO NOT:

• Drive or operate heavy machinery, until you know how Methadose affects you. Methadose can make you sleepy, dizzy, or lightheaded.
• Drink alcohol or use prescription or over-the-counter medicines that contain alcohol. Using products containing alcohol during treatment with Methadose may cause you to overdose and die.