Abstract
The key aim of this chapter is to review the use of methadone as the most widely applied synthetic opioid used to treat chronic addiction. The implications of the treatment are reviewed, specifically its inability to adequately completely eradicate addiction symptoms. Our review of literature shows that while methadone has some benefits, it also has many limitations including the potential to reinforce addiction as well as withdrawal. This review also aims to bring attention to lesser-known alternative treatments to opiate addiction, including Levo-alpha-acetylmethadol, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. While these medications have overcome some of the limitations of methadone, they also carry other side effects, which we also discuss in this article.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Cognitive, Clinical, and Neural Aspects of Drug Addiction |
| Publisher | Elsevier - Mosby |
| Chapter | 13 |
| Pages | 267-287 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780128169797 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780128169803 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |