Stop Methadone Ignorance

Six Steps to Zero Deaths

1. Never take a prescription painkiller unless it is prescribed to you. Everyone responds differently to pain medications. What is safe for one person may not be safe for another.
2. Do not take pain medicine with alcohol. Never mix the two, it is a dangerous combination that can be deadly. Alcohol increases the toxicity of pain medication.
3. Do not take more doses than prescribed. Even after the effects of pain medicine seem to have worn off, it is still depressing the respiratory system. Some medications like methadone may relieve pain for a few hours but will have a prolonged respiratory depressant effect. The body must develop a tolerance to the respiratory depressant effects before the dose can be increased.
4. Use of other sedative or anti–anxiety medications can be dangerous. Combining pain medicines with other sedative drugs, such as valium, can increase the toxicity of the pain medication. Only take other medications, if directed by the prescribing doctor.
5. Avoid using narcotic medications to facilitate sleep. Narcotic medications can suppress respiration during sleep. Speak to your physician about safe methods to manage pain during sleep.
6. Lock up prescription painkillers. If consumed by children or other family members, or stolen and sold on the street, prescription pain medicine can kill.

Links

Zero Unintentional Deaths Campaign
http://www.zerodeaths.org/

AT Forum’s
Methadone Drug Interactions

Lifetree Research’s
METHADONE RELATED DEATHS ON THE RISE – SIX STEPS YOU SHOULD KNOW