Daily methadone.
Dispensed with care.

Methadone occupies the same receptors as other opioids, but it acts slowly and lasts a long time. At the right dose it removes withdrawal and blunts cravings for around 24 hours, without the rapid rise and fall that drives repeated use.

Methadone is started low and increased slowly, because it builds up in the body over several days. Most people take a few weeks to reach a dose that holds them for a full 24 hours. Tell your prescriber and us how you are doing — the early weeks are the ones worth talking about.

At a correct maintenance dose, no. You should feel normal — not in withdrawal, not sedated. If you feel drowsy, foggy, or are nodding off, that is worth telling us straight away so we can flag it to your prescriber.

One missed day, come in and we will sort it out. Miss three or more days in a row and your tolerance drops enough that restarting at your usual dose is genuinely dangerous — your prescriber has to reassess and often restarts you lower. We contact them on your behalf so the gap is as short as possible.

Once you are on a stable dose and not sedated, most people drive normally. Driving is risky during the first weeks while your dose is being adjusted, and any time you feel drowsy. Alcohol or sedatives on top of methadone make it unsafe.

The important ones are alcohol, benzodiazepines and other sedatives, which increase the risk of overdose. Some antibiotics, antifungals, HIV medications, and seizure medications change your methadone levels. Some medications affect heart rhythm. Tell us everything you take, including anything bought over the counter — we screen it all.

Take-home doses are authorised by your prescriber, not by the pharmacy, and usually once treatment has been stable for a period. When you are approved, we prepare them in child-resistant, tamper-evident bottles. Store them locked and out of reach — a carry dose can be fatal to someone without tolerance, especially a child.

Usually yes. We can arrange guest dosing at a pharmacy where you are going, or your prescriber may authorise carries for the trip. Both need lead time, so tell us as early as you can.

Methadone is covered by PharmaCare for eligible BC residents, and most patients pay nothing out of pocket. We will confirm your coverage and help you register for Fair PharmaCare if you are not already.

There is no set length. Some people stay on it for years, some taper off. Both are legitimate. Staying on OAT is not a failure to finish treatment — for many people it is what keeps them well, and stopping is a decision to make with your prescriber, slowly and when you are ready.

Yes. People move between methadone, Suboxone and Kadian for all sorts of reasons — side effects, dosing convenience, how they feel. Switching needs to be planned by your prescriber, and we dispense whichever you end up on.