Make your own free website on By: David J. Wilmont, M.D. Of all
the strong narcotic analgesics in our formulary used to treat
severe or  intractable pain, methadone (Dolophine, Lilly) is
surrounded by a mystique perhaps greater than any other agonist
medication available for use legally. Unlike other powerful
opiates or opioids, like meperidine (Demerol,) morphine sulfate,
fentanyl (Duragesic transdermal system,) oxycodone (Percocet,
Percodan, OxyContin) or hydromorphone (Dilaudid,) methadone has
been singled out as the only acceptable opioid for use in
detoxification from narcotic addiction.  Methadone is also the
only narcotic approved in the United States for use in
maintenance programs designed to treat opiate or opioid
dependent individuals. Within these programs, most often heroin
(or other narcotic) addicts are given single daily dosages of a
form of methadone called Methadose.  The purpose here is to
prevent the addict from going through a withdrawal or abstinence
syndrome upon cessation of use of his