methadone

noun

meth·a·done | \ˈme-thə-ˌdōn

variants: or less commonly methadon \-ˌdän

Definition of methadone

: a synthetic addictive narcotic drug C₂₁H₂₇NO used especially in the form of its hydrochloride for the relief of pain and as a substitute narcotic in the treatment of heroin addiction

Examples of methadone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like methadone, this medication is taken daily to stave off withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioids. — Brian Barnett, STAT, "Jails and prisons: the unmanned front in the battle against the opioid epidemic," 2 July 2018 Break down insurance barriers for patients seeking treatment and expand coverage to include drugs like methadone. — Mari A. Schaefer, Philly.com, "Tony Luke Jr., Mayor Kenney explore solutions to overcoming opioid crisis," 17 May 2018 Like methadone, it's been proven to help patients decrease their use of illicit opioids and to keep them in treatment, reducing the risk of overall mortality due to overdose. — Brie Zeltner, cleveland.com, "Federal grant boosts number of area docs, nurses who can prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction," 23 Feb. 2018 The drug may also cause an incorrect positive in urine drug screening tests for methadone, opiates, and PCP, according to the drug website. — Korin Miller, SELF, "What to Know About Bonjesta, the Morning Sickness Drug Kim Kardashian Is Posting About on Instagram," 28 June 2018 For the sickest patients, the ones living day by day, doctors typically start with methadone. — Jennifer Brown, The Seattle Times, "Methadone clinics in Colorado have doubled in 3 years," 4 Feb. 2018 It can be used with methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone) or naloxone (Narcan) or naltrexone (Vivitrol). — Keri Blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Researcher developing a heroin vaccine - and it could be a game-changer," 24 Jan. 2018 The stout sexagenarian lives in Sham Shui Po, a seedy, working-class neighborhood where grimy highrises drip AC runoff onto the market stalls, methadone clinics and brothels below. — Casey Quackenbush / Hong Kong, Time, "'We're Not Educated.' The Untold Story of Lung King Heen, the World's First Michelin Three-Star Chinese Restaurant," 12 July 2018 Currently most jails and all prisons in Massachusetts deny inmates access to the main medications used to treat opioid addiction — methadone and buprenorphine (often known by a trade name, Suboxone). — Felice J. Freyer, BostonGlobe.com, "House backs plan to try addiction medications in some Mass. prisons," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'methadone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for methadone

The first known use of methadone was in 1947

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More Definitions for methadone

methadone

noun

English Language Learners Definition of methadone

: a drug that people take to help them stop taking heroin

See the full definition for methadone in the English Language Learners Dictionary

methadone

noun

meth·a·done | \ˈmeth-ə-ˌdōn

variants: also methadon \-ˌdän

Medical Definition of methadone

: a synthetic addictive narcotic drug used especially in the form of its hydrochloride C₂₁H₂₇NO·HCl for the relief of pain and as a substitute narcotic in the treatment of heroin addiction

— called also amidone