METHADONE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does methadone mean? 

• METHADONE (noun)
  The noun METHADONE has 1 sense:

1. synthetic narcotic drug similar to morphine but less habit-forming; used in narcotic detoxification and maintenance of heroin addiction

  Familiarity information: METHADONE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• METHADONE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Synthetic narcotic drug similar to morphine but less habit-forming; used in narcotic detoxification and maintenance of heroin addiction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

dolophine hydrochloride; fixer; methadon; methadone; methadone hydrochloride; synthetic heroin

Hypernyms ("methadone" is a kind of...):

narcotic (a drug that produces numbness or stupor; often taken for pleasure or to reduce pain; extensive use can lead to addiction)

 Context examples 

The determination of the amount of methadone present in a sample.

(Methadone Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

The determination of the amount of EDDP, the primary metabolite of methadone, present in a sample.

(EDDP Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

Methadone is also used as part of the treatment of dependence on opioid drugs, although prolonged use of methadone itself may result in dependence.

(Methadone hydrochloride, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A measurement of the methadone present in a biological specimen.

(Methadone Measurement, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The hydrochloride salt of methadone, a synthetic opioid with analgesic activity.

(Methadone hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Methadone mimics the actions of endogenous peptides at CNS opioid receptors, primarily on the mu-receptor and has actions similar to those of morphine and morphine-like agents.

(Methadone, NCI Thesaurus)

Methadone hydrochloride binds to opioid receptors in the central nervous system.

(Methadone hydrochloride, NCI Dictionary)

However, the detoxification symptoms between morphine-like agents and methadone differ in that the onset of methadone's withdrawal symptoms is slower, the course is more prolonged and the symptoms are less severe.

(Methadone, NCI Thesaurus)

Because of the prolonged half-life of methadone compared to other morphine-like agents such as heroin, the onset of opiate withdrawal symptoms is slower, the duration of opiate withdrawal is prolonged, and opiate withdrawal symptoms are less severe.

(Methadone hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Similar to morphine and other morphine-like agents, methadone mimics the actions of endogenous peptides at CNS opioid receptors, primarily the mu-receptor, resulting in characteristic morphine-like effects including analgesia, euphoria, sedation, respiratory depression, miosis, bradycardia and physical dependence.

(Methadone hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)