Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of methadone in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of methadone in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart, kidney, liver, or lung problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving methadone.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Bepridil
  • Cisapride
  • Dronedarone
  • Fluconazole
  • Itraconazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Mesoridazine
  • Nalmefene
  • Naltrexone
  • Nelfinavir
  • Pimozide
  • Piperaquine
  • Posaconazole
  • Rasagiline
  • Safinamide
  • Samidorphan
  • Saquinavir
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Terfenadine
  • Thioridazine
  • Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abametapir
  • Acepromazine
  • Adagrasib
  • Alfentanil
  • Alfuzosin
  • Almotriptan
  • Alprazolam
  • Amineptine
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amitriptylinoxide
  • Amobarbital
  • Amoxapine
  • Amphetamine
  • Amprenavir
  • Anagrelide
  • Anileridine
  • Apomorphine
  • Aprepitant
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Armodafinil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Artemether
  • Asenapine
  • Astemizole
  • Azithromycin
  • Baclofen
  • Bedaquiline
  • Benperidol
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Benzphetamine
  • Boceprevir
  • Bosentan
  • Bromazepam
  • Bromopride
  • Brompheniramine
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Buserelin
  • Buspirone
  • Butabarbital
  • Butorphanol
  • Calcium Oxybate
  • Cannabidiol
  • Cannabis
  • Capecitabine
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carbinoxamine
  • Cariprazine
  • Carisoprodol
  • Carphenazine
  • Ceritinib
  • Cetirizine
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Chlordiazepoxide
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpheniramine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Chlorzoxazone
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clobazam
  • Clofazimine
  • Clomipramine
  • Clonazepam
  • Clopidogrel
  • Clorazepate
  • Clothiapine
  • Clozapine
  • Cobicistat
  • Cocaine
  • Codeine
  • Conivaptan
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Dantrolene
  • Daridorexant
  • Darunavir
  • Dasatinib
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Delavirdine
  • Desipramine
  • Deslorelin
  • Desmopressin
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Dextromethorphan
  • Dezocine
  • Diazepam
  • Dibenzepin
  • Dichloralphenazone
  • Difenoxin
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Diltiazem
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Diphenoxylate
  • Disopyramide
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Doxepin
  • Doxylamine
  • Droperidol
  • Duloxetine
  • Ebastine
  • Eletriptan
  • Encorafenib
  • Enflurane
  • Entrectinib
  • Enzalutamide
  • Eribulin
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Esketamine
  • Eslicarbazepine Acetate
  • Estazolam
  • Eszopiclone
  • Ethchlorvynol
  • Ethopropazine
  • Ethylmorphine
  • Etrasimod
  • Famotidine
  • Fedratinib
  • Felbamate
  • Fenfluramine
  • Fentanyl
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Flibanserin
  • Fluoxetine
  • Fluphenazine
  • Flurazepam
  • Fluspirilene
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Formoterol
  • Fosaprepitant
  • Foscarnet
  • Fosnetupitant
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Fospropofol
  • Fostemsavir
  • Frovatriptan
  • Furazolidone
  • Gabapentin
  • Gabapentin Enacarbil
  • Galantamine
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gepirone
  • Glasdegib
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Halazepam
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Halothane
  • Hexobarbital
  • Histrelin
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydroquinidine
  • Hydroxyamphetamine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxytryptophan
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibutilide
  • Idelalisib
  • Iloperidone
  • Imatinib
  • Imipramine
  • Indinavir
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Iproniazid
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Isoflurane
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivacaftor
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketamine
  • Ketazolam
  • Ketobemidone
  • Lacosamide
  • Lapatinib
  • Lasmiditan
  • Lefamulin
  • Lemborexant
  • Lenacapavir
  • Lenvatinib
  • Leuprolide
  • Levocetirizine
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Levorphanol
  • Linezolid
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Lithium
  • Lofepramine
  • Lofexidine
  • Lomitapide
  • Lopinavir
  • Lorazepam
  • Lorcaserin
  • Loxapine
  • Lumacaftor
  • Lumefantrine
  • Lurasidone
  • Macimorelin
  • Magnesium Oxybate
  • Mavacamten
  • Meclizine
  • Mefloquine
  • Melitracen
  • Melperone
  • Meperidine
  • Mephobarbital
  • Meprobamate
  • Meptazinol
  • Metaxalone
  • Methamphetamine
  • Methdilazine
  • Methocarbamol
  • Methohexital
  • Methotrimeprazine
  • Methylene Blue
  • Metoclopramide
  • Metronidazole
  • Mibefradil
  • Midazolam
  • Mifepristone
  • Milnacipran
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mitotane
  • Mizolastine
  • Mobocertinib
  • Moclobemide
  • Modafinil
  • Molindone
  • Moricizine
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nafarelin
  • Nafcillin
  • Nalbuphine
  • Naratriptan
  • Nefazodone
  • Netupitant
  • Nialamide
  • Nicomorphine
  • Nilotinib
  • Nirmatrelvir
  • Nitrazepam
  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Norfloxacin
  • Nortriptyline
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Omaveloxolone
  • Ondansetron
  • Opipramol
  • Opium
  • Opium Alkaloids
  • Orphenadrine
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Oxazepam
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymorphone
  • Ozanimod
  • Pacritinib
  • Palbociclib
  • Paliperidone
  • Palonosetron
  • Panobinostat
  • Papaveretum
  • Papaverine
  • Paregoric
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Peginterferon Alfa-2b
  • Pentamidine
  • Pentazocine
  • Pentobarbital
  • Perampanel
  • Perazine
  • Periciazine
  • Perphenazine
  • Phenelzine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Phenytoin
  • Pimavanserin
  • Pipamperone
  • Piperacetazine
  • Pipotiazine
  • Piritramide
  • Pitolisant
  • Ponesimod
  • Potassium Oxybate
  • Prazepam
  • Prednisone
  • Pregabalin
  • Primidone
  • Probucol
  • Procainamide
  • Procarbazine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Promazine
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Propofol
  • Protriptyline
  • Quazepam
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Ramelteon
  • Ranitidine
  • Ranolazine
  • Relugolix
  • Remifentanil
  • Remimazolam
  • Remoxipride
  • Ribociclib
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifampin
  • Rifapentine
  • Risperidone
  • Ritonavir
  • Rizatriptan
  • Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
  • Scopolamine
  • Secobarbital
  • Selegiline
  • Selpercatinib
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Sibutramine
  • Siponimod
  • Sodium Oxybate
  • Sodium Phosphate
  • Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
  • Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
  • Solifenacin
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Sparsentan
  • St John's Wort
  • Sufentanil
  • Sulpiride
  • Sunitinib
  • Suvorexant
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tamoxifen
  • Tapentadol
  • Telaprevir
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Temazepam
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Thiethylperazine
  • Thiopental
  • Thiopropazate
  • Thiothixene
  • Tianeptine
  • Tilidine
  • Tipranavir
  • Tizanidine
  • Tolonium Chloride
  • Topiramate
  • Toremifene
  • Tramadol
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Trazodone
  • Triazolam
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trifluperidol
  • Triflupromazine
  • Trimeprazine
  • Trimipramine
  • Triptorelin
  • Tryptophan
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Verapamil
  • Vilanterol
  • Vilazodone
  • Vinflunine
  • Voclosporin
  • Voriconazole
  • Vorinostat
  • Vortioxetine
  • Zaleplon
  • Zolmitriptan
  • Zolpidem
  • Zopiclone
  • Zotepine
  • Zuclopenthixol
  • Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abacavir
  • Atazanavir
  • Didanosine
  • Etravirine
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Nevirapine
  • Peginterferon Alfa-2a
  • Stavudine
  • Zidovudine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Addison disease (adrenal gland problem) or
  • Alcohol abuse, or history of or
  • Brain tumor or
  • Breathing or lung problems (eg, COPD, hypercapnia, hypoxia, apnea, sleep apnea) or
  • CNS depression, history of or
  • Cor pulmonale (serious heart condition) or
  • Drug dependence, especially narcotic abuse or dependence, or history of or
  • Gallbladder disease or
  • Head injuries, history of or
  • Heart disease (eg, cardiac hypertrophy) or
  • Heart rhythm problems (eg, arrhythmia, long QT syndrome), or history of or
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) or
  • Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood) or
  • Increased pressure in your head or
  • Stomach or bowel problems or
  • Weakened physical condition—Use with caution. May increase risk for more serious side effects.
  • Diabetes or
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure) or
  • Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or
  • Seizures, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.
  • Lung or breathing problems (eg, asthma, respiratory depression), severe or
  • Stomach or bowel blockage (eg, paralytic ileus)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Reciba nuestro boletín informativo gratuito en español

El boletín informativo de Mayo Clinic en español es gratuito y se envía semanalmente por correo electrónico con consejos de salud, recetas deliciosas, descubrimientos médicos y más. Vea un ejemplo del correo electrónico e inscríbase a continuación.

Con el fin de proporcionarle la información más relevante y útil, y de entender qué información es beneficiosa, posiblemente combinemos tanto su correo electrónico como la información sobre el uso del sitio web con otro tipo de datos que tenemos acerca de usted. Si usted es un paciente de Mayo Clinic, esto puede incluir información confidencial de salud. Si se combinan esos datos con su información médica confidencial, toda esta información se tratará como información médica confidencial y solo se usará o revelará según lo descrito en nuestro aviso sobre políticas de privacidad. En cualquier momento, puede optar por no recibir las comunicaciones de correo electrónico si presiona en el mensaje el enlace para anular la suscripción.