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| Pronunciation |
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 (lee
voe METH a dil AS e tate hye droe
KLOR ide) |
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| Brand Names |
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| ORLAAM® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Analgesic, Narcotic |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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- Levomethadyl is used only to treat narcotic addictions. Do not use
other drugs or alcohol with this medicine. The sedative effects may not be felt
right away. Patients have died from an overdose while using this medicine with
street drugs or alcohol. Do not take this medicine every day. It is to be given
to you every other day or three times a week. Daily use could cause an
overdose.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to levomethadyl or any other part of the
medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of narcotic
addiction.
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| How does it work? |
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- Levomethadyl acetate hydrochloride binds to narcotic receptors in the
brain. This can help with the cravings and withdrawal
symptoms.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Make sure you are drinking enough liquids unless told to drink less by
healthcare provider. Avoid products with
caffeine.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Talk with healthcare
provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Do not take street drugs. The combination could kill you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- You may feel sleepy, lightheaded, dizzy, or having blurred vision.
Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing
diet may help. Talk to healthcare provider about a stool softener or
laxative.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Too tired or sleepy.
- Changes in thinking clearly and logically.
- Passing out, fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
- Difficult breathing.
- Severe nausea or vomiting.
- Any rash.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant containers at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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