Is Methadone a Painkiller?

Methadone is a synthetic prescription opioid that acts as a painkiller, and its effects are similar to morphine. It tends to have a slower onset, and it’s effective in opioid withdrawal treatment because people don’t experience the same high they do with other opioids. It was initially developed to create a pain reliever with effects similar to morphine but without the addictive elements.

What Does Methadone Look Like?

Methadone is available in both liquid and pill form. The pill form is available at various dosages, and the pills may look different from one another based on the dosage and manufacturer. For example, Roxane Laboratories manufacturers pills in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 40 mg sized tablets. The 5 mg and 10 mg pills are small, white and round, with scoring on one side and numbers printed on the other. As an oral solution, methadone brand names include Methadose Oral Concentrate (methadone hydrochloride oral concentrate USP) and Methadose Sugar-Free Oral Concentrate (methadone hydrochloride oral concentrate USP). These oral concentrates are available in a 10 mg/mL dosage.

What Is Methadone Used For?

Methadone is used primarily as part of the treatment process for opioid addiction. During treatment, methadone helps ease withdrawal symptoms and has a lower chance of creating euphoric effects. Methadone can also be used for pain, but it is not usually the first choice for pain treatment.