Methadone rots your teeth, get’s into your bones and was invented by Adolf Hitler.

April 30, 2024

4:01 pm

Methadone

Many patients will tell you that Methadone rots your teeth, get’s into your bones and was invented by Adolf Hitler:not true . Legend has it that there were declining stocks of morphine held by the Axis forces during world war two. Hence why IG Farben were tasked to look for a cheap alternative that could be mass produced. There is a similar urban legend that the trade name of Methadone, Dolophine, was derived from Adolf Hitler’s first name. This also does not have any basis in fact. However, the trials were abandoned, and methadone was not examined again until after the war by the Americans. It is true that IG Farben has a dark history in relation to world war and slave labour. However, the potential of methadone for treatment in addictions was not actualized, or even considered, when it was first formulated. Like a lot of prescription drugs, it is licensed for a use for which it was never invented. What has never been decided is whether or not Methadone was first designed to be used for pain relief or to relieve spasms. When it was first marketed it’s pain relieving qualities were not realized. It was not until after the end of the war , when the Americans took over the production units, that the true potential of Methadone was discovered. It was the American pharmaceutical company, Eli-Lilley, who renamed it Dolophine. I have worked with several nurses who would openly tell patients that Hitler invented Methadone, especially in prison. Indeed, I have also witnessed very experienced nurses telling patients that methadone will rot their bones: It can’t. Sure, if a patient uses methadone over a very prolonged period, they may experience some mild low bone density, this is infinitely more acceptable than developing a deep vein thrombosis or bacterial endocarditis due to using dirty needles. I once had a patient who was totally adamant that the nurse had correctly informed them, so I asked him: “What is your favorite food? What is the one food item you are looking forward to on release from prison?” the answer was: “That’s an easy one! Double cheeseburger.” So, I asked him: “Do you eat a lot of these.” He eagerly replied “Yes! Every day”, using this I asked him: “Are your bones full of cheeseburgers?” The reply was “Don’t be stupid”, my answer “Precisely”.

If I had a pound coin for every time, I heard this, I would be living on the Bishops Avenue in London.. It is an urban myth. Methadone is the gold standard when it comes to treating patients with opioid dependency https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2874458/ Before we get into what Methadone is, and what it is for, let us examine what what it is being used for: Mainly heroin addiction, as well as dependency on prescribed opioids and opioid like agents, such as Tramadol (OLA’s). What is heroin? In short, it is an opioid drug made from Morphine, which is taken from the seed pod of various opium poppy plants. These are usually grown in Colombia, Asia and Mexico. Morphine, derives from Opium. What Is Opium? Opium is derived from the sap of the Opium poppy. It is a milky sap and the earliest reference to it’s use and cultivation goes back to 3,400 BC to Mesopotamia. Indeed, the ancient Sumerians (those who lived in the southernmost region of Mesopotamia, which is now Kuwait and Iraq) actually referred to the bright red poppy flowers as the “joy plant.” Cultivation continued through Greece and in Persia and Egypt. Indeed, under King Tutankhamen (circa 1330-1324) it’s used flourished. Indeed, the ancient Greek author Homer referred to the healing power of opium healing powers in his classic work: The Odyssey.

Ancient civilizations used Opium to calm children, as well to aid sleep and to relieve pain. There is also some evidence that Opium was used to provide anesthesia for surgery.

It is logical to assume that the development of the Silk Road in China and South East Asia led to the introduction of opium to that region. Indeed, this could explain how the drug ended up being grown in Afghanistan.

In the 1700s, the British empire conquered a major poppy-growing region of India and, rather than quash the production of opium, began to smuggle opium from India into China through the East India Company.

Profits from the trade helped Great Britain to trade in tea as well as porcelain and silk, as well as other Chinese luxury goods, back to the continent of Europe. This led to a huge increase of use in China. Measures were taken by the, then ruling, Qing dynasty to reduce it’s use by outlawing it. Indeed, there were even armed conflicts , named the opium wars, that occurred as a result of China’s attempts to curb the trade in Opium. Indeed, during what is known as the first opium war (1839-1842) the UK government even used “gunboat diplomacy” to try and force the Chinese government to keep the Shanghai ports open so the trade could continue.

The next “opium war” was considered to have taken place between 1856-1860. This time the French and the British joined forces to try and keep the trade in China going. However, this success led to the spread of use and increase in addiction.

Many tens of thousands of Chinese nationals went to America to work in the goldmines and on the rail roads. This led to these newcomers to set up Opium dens where Chinese people would smoke Opium, as well as sell it. Indeed, by the 1870’s it had become a pastime for many in areas now known as Chinatown. Such was the concern, not only around the use of the drug, but the fear it would increase crime and prostitution that in 1882 Chinese people were legally stopped from coming to America for another ten years.

It was a German, Friedrich Sertuner, who first isolated Morphine from Opium in 1803. It was first used in the US civil war. However, as a result, over 400,000 soldiers became addicted to it. After all, it is ten times more powerful than Opium.

Opiate Addiction and Withdrawal All opioids, and that includes heroin, have the potential to cause physical dependency. This means that someone who uses them will need ever increasing amounts to maintain an equilibrium and prevent withdrawal.

It is estimated that, worldwide, there are around thirty six million people dependent on opioids. There has been a concerning increase in opiate-related fatalities. Indeed, in the United States of America, in one year alone (2014-2015) there was a 71 percent increase in deaths from synthetic opioids and a 21 percent increase in deaths from Heroin.

Heroin was first synthesized in 1874 when it was derived from morphine in the form of diamorphine. At the time, it was considered to be a medical breakthrough. The source of diamorphine was cultivated in Asia and India. It was widely sold in Europe and North America as an acceptable (and totally legal) treatment for colds, coughs and , amazingly, a treatment for morphine addiction. It was not until the 1920’s that the authorities in North America realized that something was wrong and diamorphine (heroin) was banned from sale to the public. By this time, those who profited from it’s sale had recognized the potential for high margins. Thus, as soon as it was outlawed, supplies remained and were channeled from Asia and the Middle East, through Europe into North America, largely by organized criminal networks, such as the Mafia. In the 1970’s it was not uncommon for large amounts to be available in near pure form. However, illicit heroin now contains other elements such as baby milk formula, cut glass, sugar or other fillers so supplies can be stretched and profits increased. Indeed, it is now very common for dealers to cut heroin with other addictive drugs, especially Buprenorphine. When this happens, the heroin, because it contains this other drug (the subject of a separate blog) a user will need more because the Buprenorphine reduces the effects of the heroin, pushing the user into withdrawal. Not a bad business model were it not so immoral and illegal.

What damage does long term heroin use do to the body?

Regular use will, invariably, lead to major lifestyle and health problems. These can include, among other things: * impotence * disrupted menstrual cycles * Increased incidents of lung disease and pneumonia * damage to blood vessels that supply major body organs * loss of relationships, career, home, etc * risk of overdose * Chronic constipation * For injecting users: Risk of blood Borne viruses https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthy-living/heroin So what is Methadone? Methadone is what is known as a synthetic opioid agonist. In other words, it is works by opening up chemical channels and is made from chemicals. By using methadone, at sufficient doses, withdrawal symptoms can be eliminated. It acts on opioid receptors in the brain. The very same receptors that other opioids, such as heroin, morphine and medications that contain opioids, activate. Unlike other opioids, it does this more slowly than other opioids and for someone who is dependent on opioids, it does not provide the same level of euphoria. In the UK, it has been used for decades. .https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/how-do-medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction-work Many patients will tell you that It was invented by the Nazi’s. Well, that is . Legend has it that there were declining stocks of morphine held by the Axis forces during world war two. Hence why IG Farben were tasked to look for a cheap alternative that could be mass produced. There is a similar urban legend that the trade name of Methadone, Dolophine, was derived from Adolf Hitler’s first name. This also does not have any basis in fact. However, the trials were abandoned, and methadone was not examined again until after the war by the Americans. It is true that IG Farben has a dark history in relation to world war and slave labor. However, the potential of methadone for treatment in addictions was not actualized, or even considered, when it was first formulated. Like a lot of prescription drugs, it is licensed for a use for which it was never invented. What has never been decided is whether or not Methadone was first designed to be used for pain relief or to relieve spasms. When it was first marketed it’s pain relieving qualities were not realized. It was not until after the end of the war , when the Americans took over the production units, that the true potential of Methadone was discovered. It was the American pharmaceutical company, Eli-Lilley, who renamed it Dolophine. I have worked with several nurses who would openly tell patients that Hitler invented Methadone, especially in prison. Indeed, I have also witnessed very experienced nurses telling patients that methadone will rot their bones: It can’t. Sure, if a patient uses methadone over a very prolonged period, they may experience some mild low bone density, this is infinitely more acceptable than developing a deep vein thrombosis or bacterial endocarditis due to using dirty needles. I once had a patient who was totally adamant that the nurse had correctly informed them, so I asked him: “What is your favorite food? What is the one food item you are looking forward to on release from prison?” the answer was: “That’s an easy one! Double cheeseburger.” So, I asked him: “Do you eat a lot of these.” He eagerly replied “Yes! Every day”, using this I asked him: “Are your bones full of cheeseburgers?” The reply was “Don’t be stupid”, my answer “Precisely”. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7064036/ However, there will always be those who choose to carry on injecting. For those patients, the following advice is always given: When injecting, there is a risk of infection. This is because viruses and bacteria can enter the bloodstream through injecting usually because there is blood and other bodily fluids when sharing needles and general dirt and debris, especially if in a chaotic environment. We are With You, a major provider of statutory services, suggest the following steps be taken:

Choose a dry space, clean and warm with running water and soap and good lighting.

Wash your hands!

Clear away debris from previous use/other peoples use

Try and lay something clean down on the surface you are using (towel/newspaper).

Use an unused needle. These are available, for free, from community drug and alcohol centers. If not, use bleach and clean water to clean. Used boiled/cooled water.

Methadone is prescribed in a sugar free formula. Sure, it is acidic and can reduce saliva. However, all a patient needs to do is to drink water, use alcohol free mouthwash and/or use sugar free gum. Also, it is preferable to take methadone after tooth brushing https://www.nhsaaa.net/media/10190/mis12-016-gd-oral-health_methadone-know-the-facts.pdf The biggest problem with methadone is under prescribing. It is not effective until a dose of between, usually, 60 to 120 MG is taken. For the best outcome, a patient should be optimized, as quickly as it is safe to do so, on a dose that lasts for 25 hours. A patient should be able to wake up, read the paper and take the dog for a walk before experiencing withdrawal. If someone wakes up in withdrawal: Their dose is too low. The best way to explain this is to watch the internationally renowned expert (who trained me) Professor Adam Winstock: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=adam+winstock+methadone Once a patient is comfortable on methadone, ideally, they should stay on that dose for a year then come down very,very,slowly. The golden rule with methadone is start low, go slow. This should be extended to: coming down? Go slower! I have seen hundreds of patients, especially in prisons, who suddenly stop at 10,15, 20 MG, with disastrous effects. Whatever you stop at, you have stopped at 100% of your dose. Sure, there will be a small minority of patients who can, in prison parlance “ride it out” but this is not advisable. The British National Formulary https://bnf.nice.org.uk/ recommend 60-120MG of methadone a day. However, it is not uncommon for patients to need doses far more than this. Similarly, there are patients for whom, say, 30MG is more than enough. People, especially some healthcare professionals, get hung up on how many milligrams of methadone a patient is on a day: There is no need to do this. A patient is comfortable on Methadone when they tell you they are. Providing, around four hours after their dose, they are not displaying signs of overdose/toxicity then it is not necessary to be over concerned about dosage amounts. To assess toxicity, four hours after a dose, is very straightforward and takes seconds. What are the symptoms of withdrawal?

The severity of a person’s withdrawal symptoms will depend on how long they were using the medication, the dosage of opiates that they were using, and how suddenly they are coming off the medication. Withdrawal symptoms occur as a result of the body’s detoxification from the medication. Common symptoms include:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326223#symptoms Can Pregnant women use Methadone? Yes they can. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can, indeed, use methadone:Safely. Trying to withdraw, without medical intervention, while pregnant, is never a good idea, especially in the first or last trimester. When a woman withdraws from heroin, without treatment, the uterus can contract and this can bring on a premature birth of even a miscarriage. Therefore Methadone can prevent withdrawal symptoms and prevent risks to the mother and unborn child. Using Methadone, while pregnant, won’t cause birth defects, but some babies may go through withdrawal after birth. However, this does not mean that the baby is addicted. This does not happen immediately after birth and can start a few days later but may not present until a fortnight, or even a month, after birth. It is perfectly safe for a mother to breastfeed while taking Methadone. There is a plethora of research to show that the any risks are wholly mitigated as only a very small amount of Methadone passes in breast milk. Mothers taking methadone can still breastfeed. Research has shown that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the effect of the small amount of methadone that enters the breast milk. A woman who is thinking of stopping methadone treatment due to breastfeeding or pregnancy concerns should speak with her doctor first. https://psychiatry.uams.edu/clinical-care/cast/what-is-methadone/ Why Methadone for detox? Those who do not seek professional help may be putting themselves at risk. In 2011, a quarter of a million people in America attended a hospital emergency department due to the adverse effects of heroin use. More worryingly, twice this number attended hospital due to prescription opioid drug dependency. Withdrawing from Opioids can be very unpredictable, significantly uncomfortable and can even be very dangerous. The central nervous system can be affected and medical intervention can be necessary to regulate bodily functions. Using methadone, at a therapeutic level can eliminate withdrawal and allow the patient to be feel well enough to take on the psychological work necessary to get into long term recovery. Ignore the legends, the myths and the misinformation and get into treatment. It will not rot your teeth or get into your bones. Indeed, it might give you your life back.

Ignore the myths and get the facts
Methadone: Ignore the myths and get the facts.