Effects

As a depressant of the central nervous system, methadone has several distinct effects:

•    The body functions slow down – breathing and heart rate slow down, the body temperature drops, pupils constrict, bowel function slows down;
•    Physical and emotional pain is dulled;
•    Sensations of warmth and relaxation;
•    Diminished anxiety;
•    Feeling of slight euphoria;
•    Tolerance;
•    Important: methadone binds to the mu-opioid receptors in the brain for a long time and as a result, people who use heroin after taking methadone cannot feel the effects of heroin. In some cases, as much as 2 weeks need to pass so that the receptors are “freed” of methadone. However, this does not apply to the effects of both substances on breathing – heroin suppresses it regardless of whether the user can feel the other effects. This creates a high risk of overdose and death.