Series: The Killer Cure (3 Of 11)

WHAT IS METHADONE?

What it is: Methadone is a synthetic opiate developed by the Germans
during World War II as a substitute for morphine.

What it isn't: Methadone often is confused with "meth," or
methamphetamine, an illegal stimulant commonly cooked in clandestine
labs. Methadone is a completely different -- and legal -- drug.

Uses: Until recently, methadone was given mostly to heroin addicts to
suppress their cravings. Now, doctors are increasingly prescribing it
as a painkiller.

Dangers: Methadone acts differently from other painkillers. It can
stay in the body for an unusually long time, making it possible for
therapeutic doses to build up to a toxic level.

Methadone may take a while to make its effects felt. Patients may
take an extra dose, thinking the first one isn't working, and an
overdose can result.

An overdose of methadone may cause a patient to fall into a deep
sleep and eventually stop breathing. Methadone is more dangerous when
taken with certain other drugs, such as Valium and Xanax.

Reactions to methadone vary dramatically. A dose that is therapeutic
for one person might kill someone else.