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Dolophine

  • Generic Name: methadone tablets
  • Brand Name: Dolophine

Dolophine (Methadone Tablets) side effects drug center

Dolophine Side Effects Center

What Is Dolophine?

Dolophine (methadone) is an oral and injectable opioid used for treatment of pain and opioid or heroin addiction. A generic formulation of Dolophine is available.

What Are Side Effects of Dolophine?

Common side effects of Dolophine include:

Dolophine can be abused and causes withdrawal symptoms. Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Dolophine including:

Dosage for Dolophine

The initial dose of Dolophine is 2.5 mg orally every 8 to 12 hours.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Dolophine?

Dolophine may interact with other narcotic pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or other medicines that can make you sleepy or slow your breathing, diuretics (water pills), antibiotics, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV medicines, MAO inhibitors, rifampin, or seizure medications. Tell your doctor al medications and supplements you use.

Dolophine During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

It is unknown if Dolophine will harm a fetus. Dolophine may cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Dolophine. Dolophine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Dolophine Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

Dolophine Consumer Information

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opioid medicine can slow or stop your breathing, and death may occur. A person caring for you should give naloxone and/or seek emergency medical attention if you have slow breathing with long pauses, blue colored lips, or if you are hard to wake up.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • weak or shallow breathing, breathing that stops during sleep;
  • severe constipation;
  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath;
  • low cortisol levels--nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, worsening tiredness or weakness; or
  • serotonin syndrome--agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, diarrhea.

Serious breathing problems may be more likely in older adults and people who are debilitated or have wasting syndrome or chronic breathing disorders.

Common side effects may include:

  • dizziness, drowsiness;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • increased sweating; or
  • pain, redness, or swelling where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Dolophine (Methadone Tablets)

Dolophine Professional Information

SIDE EFFECTS

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling:

  • Addiction, Abuse, and Misuse [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
  • Life Threatening Respiratory Depression [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
  • QT Prolongation [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
  • Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
  • Interactions with Other CNS Depressants[see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
  • Hypotensive Effect [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
  • Gastrointestinal Effects [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
  • Seizures [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]

The major hazards of methadone are respiratory depression and, to a lesser degree, systemic hypotension. Respiratory arrest, shock, cardiac arrest, and death have occurred.

The most frequently observed adverse reactions include lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. These effects seem to be more prominent in ambulatory patients and in those who are not suffering severe pain. In such individuals, lower doses are advisable.

Other adverse reactions include the following:

Body as a Whole: asthenia (weakness), edema, headache

Cardiovascular: arrhythmias, bigeminal rhythms, bradycardia, cardiomyopathy, ECG abnormalities, extrasystoles, flushing, heart failure, hypotension, palpitations, phlebitis, QT interval prolongation, syncope, T-wave inversion, tachycardia, torsades de pointes, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia

Central Nervous System: agitation, confusion, disorientation, dysphoria, euphoria, insomnia, hallucinations, seizures, visual disturbances

Endocrine: hypogonadism

Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, anorexia, biliary tract spasm, constipation, dry mouth, glossitis

Hematologic: reversible thrombocytopenia has been described in opioid addicts with chronic hepatitis

Metabolic: hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, weight gain

Renal: antidiuretic effect, urinary retention or hesitancy

Reproductive: amenorrhea, reduced libido and/or potency, reduced ejaculate volume, reduced seminal vesicle and prostate secretions, decreased sperm motility, abnormalities in sperm morphology

Respiratory: pulmonary edema, respiratory depression

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue: pruritus, urticaria, other skin rashes, and rarely, hemorrhagic urticaria

Hypersensitivity: Anaphylaxis has been reported with ingredients contained in DOLOPHINE. Advise patients how to recognize such a reaction and when to seek medical attention.

Maintenance on a Stabilized Dose: During prolonged administration of methadone, as in a methadone maintenance treatment program, constipation and sweating often persist and hypogonadism, decreased serum testosterone and reproductive effects are thought to be related to chronic opioid use.

DOLOPHINE for the Detoxification and Maintenance Treatment of Opioid Dependence: During the induction phase of methadone maintenance treatment, patients are being withdrawn from illicit opioids and may have opioid withdrawal symptoms. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms including: lacrimation, rhinorrhea, sneezing, yawning, excessive perspiration, goose-flesh, fever, chilling alternating with flushing, restlessness, irritability, weakness, anxiety, depression, dilated pupils, tremors, tachycardia, abdominal cramps, body aches, involuntary twitching and kicking movements, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal spasms, and weight loss and consider dose adjustment as indicated.

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Dolophine (Methadone Tablets)

© Dolophine Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Dolophine Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.