11 Taper off Note! If you’re considering stopping your methadone treatment, it’s important to talk to your doctor. It’s crucial that you taper off in consultation with your treating physician to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms.Tapering off also carries risks, and it’s very important that you are aware of them. Your tolerance to opioids decreases as soon as you begin to reduce or stop using methadone. If you relapse and use opioids, there’s a risk of overdosing on an amount that you were previously accustomed to. If you decide to taper off methadone on your own, you should do so at the pace you have agreed upon with your doctor. It’s always okay to pause the tapering process and increase the dose if you feel it’s necessary. The responsible doctor at your clinic will assess the conditions for potentially resuming the treatment. If you don´t have a tolerance to methadone, it´s easy to overdose. Just a few milligrams of methadone can be lethal for a child, a mouthful can be fatal for a teenager, and less than 20 mg can kill an adult.This also applies to individuals who have used opioids. Alcohol and sedatives increase the risk of a methadone overdose! Store your methadone out of reach of children. A single dose can be fatal. • Ensure the child-resistant cap is securely tightened. • Keep the bottle in a safe place, high up, out of sight, preferably locked away. • Inform children about the danger. Fact-checked by Martin Kåberg, Chief Physician of Psychiatry/ Addiction, Medical Officer for the Needle Exchange Program in Stockholm, Karolinska University Hospital.
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