Getting high on methadone is not a rare thing. People who start using the drug to treat heroin addiction become more at risk of abuse because of drug dependency history. Some patients use higher doses than prescribed, making methadone recreational use fairly common.
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Can One Get High on Methadone?
Methadone, a synthetic opioid sold under the brand name Dolophine, is prescribed for moderate to severe pain. It is commonly used to treat opiate addiction, especially heroin, and reduces painful withdrawal symptoms. It was classified as a Schedule II drug by the FDA.
While it has legitimate medical use, its users are also more likely to develop dependence.
Although its euphoric effect is limited, it causes several other side effects, including sedation, reduced reaction time and attention span, drowsiness, droopy eyelids, muscle weakness, low blood pressure, and little to no reaction to light.
These side effects are worsened in high doses, creating an actual “high” feeling. The methadone euphoria effect is also increased based on the method of administration, such as IV use.
How Can One Get High on Dolophine?
There are several ways to get a feeling of methadone high. Different routes of administration can cause overdosing with no trouble.
The only safe and legitimate way to use methadone is to follow the doctor’s prescriptions. Do not try to change the route of administration or dosage as it may cause severe adverse reactions and even death.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the techniques to get high on an opioid. Smoking methadone also allows fast delivery of the substance to the bloodstream via the lungs. Some users prefer this route because of its immediate and intense high effect. However, it is extremely dangerous and may result in lung obstruction and overdose.
Snorting
Snorting methadone allows quick delivery of the drug to the brain via the blood-brain barrier because it skips liver metabolism. However, this causes severe nasal damage.
Plugging
Another dangerous way to take methadone to get high is plugging. This technique also bypasses liver metabolism. Hence the effect is fast and heightened, so are the side effects as well.
Injecting
IV use is one of the most common ways to use a drug. While shooting liquid methadone is easier, others crush the tablets into powder form to mix with water. This converts the methadone PO to IV immediately. It is then injected directly into a vein. This does not require absorption and digestion in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as liver metabolism.
Unfortunately, people who shoot methadone are prone to infection, especially if the materials used for injection are not new, clean, or sterile.
Parachuting
Users who want to secure a faster and prolonged 10mg methadone high effect while avoiding the unpleasant taste of the drug do parachuting. The drug is folded and rolled in a piece of paper. There is a sustained release of the drug because the paper acts as a parachute.
This technique, however, is hazardous. If the paper is accidentally inhaled, one may suffer from airway obstruction and a bowel perforation.
Drug Interactions
Some of the best methadone potentiators include alcohol and other prescription drugs. For example, methadone and oxycodone are both central nervous system depressants that are used for pain relief. The additive effects of these substances can amplify side effects and cause a “high” feeling.
Many people also mix Dolophine and alcohol purposely in an attempt to experience the high that these substances can produce. Even an average methadone dose can bring on the nervous system side effects when mixed with alcohol.
How Long Does It Take for Methadone to Kick In?
Methadone, as discussed earlier, is available in different forms and can be given through several means. Aside from the dosages, the route used to administer the drug will affect the speed of drug delivery and its effects.
Under most circumstances, a person will experience pain relief after about 4-8 hours.
How long the effects of methadone last will again depend on the dosage and individual metabolism, but the average its half-life is about 24-36 hours, and it can stay in the body for up to 5 days after the last dose.
How Does Dolophine High Feel?
Like other opioids, this medication can slow body functions to deficient levels. It can alter brain chemistry, and repeated use makes the drug seem like more of a necessity. A high methadone dose can produce the following effects:
- Warmth
- Euphoria
- Feeling of detachment
- Reduction of physical and psychological pain
- Relief from anxiety
Extremely high doses may result in a coma.
Who is More Likely to Get High on Dolophine?
Recovering heroin addicts often rely on this medication to help relieve withdrawal symptoms. Is methadone addictive? Yes, it is. After regular and prolonged use, physical dependence and tolerance may develop. Patients will soon start asking for higher doses to get the desired drug effects.
Recreational Use of Methadone and Addiction
Despite being a prescription drug, methadone recreational dose is very easy to purchase. With access to these highly addictive pills online, abuse is relatively common. This increases people’s risk of drug addiction.
It is never easy to go off the drug. While a methadone antidote is available and helpful in saving patients overdosing on opioids, abrupt removal of the drug can cause uncomfortable side effects, hence requiring medical supervision. It is always recommended to consult a doctor before discontinuing the use of this drug.
Look for an accredited rehabilitation facility or free methadone clinics for treatment options.
The first step to recovery from addiction involves a medically-assisted methadone taper program and detoxification.
Medications are given to help relieve withdrawal symptoms while slowly decreasing the dosage of the drug. Some patients, however, may require additional treatment to fully recover from a substance abuse disorder. Behavioral therapies are helpful in securing long-term sobriety.
Page Sources
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2006/006134s028lbl.pdf
- https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682134.html
