Methadone overdose

Methadone is a very strong painkiller. It is also used to treat opioid addiction. Methadone overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine. This can be by accident or on purpose.

Methadone overdose can also occur if a person takes methadone with certain painkillers. These painkillers include oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), or morphine.

This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with has overdosed, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Methadone is an extremely powerful medicine that can cause very deep sleep and breathing to stop.

Where Found

Medicines with these brand names contain methadone:

Dolophine
Methadose
Physeptone

Other medicines may also contain methadone. The ones above include methadone products that are swallowed or injected into a vein, muscle, or under the skin.

Symptoms

Below are symptoms of a methadone overdose in different parts of the body.

EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT

Tiny pupils

STOMACH AND INTESTINES

Constipation
Nausea and vomiting
Spasms of the stomach or intestines

HEART AND BLOOD

Low blood pressure
Weak pulse

LUNGS

Breathing problems, including slow, labored, or shallow breathing
No breathing

NERVOUS SYSTEM

Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness)
Confusion
Disorientation
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Fatigue
Muscle twitches
Weakness

SKIN

Blue fingernails and lips
Cold, clammy skin

Home Care

Seek medical help right away. Do not make the person throw up unless poison control or a health care provider tells you to.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including methadone, and is often available to the general public without prescription. If Naloxone is available, follow all state and federal guidelines and regulations regarding its use.

If you give someone Naloxone, always seek medical help right away, and always stay with them until emergency help arrives.

Before Calling Emergency

Have this information ready:

Person's age, weight, and condition
Name of the medicine (strength, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed
If the medicine was prescribed for the person

Poison Control

The local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also get online poison help now at Poisonhelp.org. Just enter the product, poison, or medicine to get expert help.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

Your provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure.

Tests that may be done include:

Treatment may include:

Activated charcoal
Breathing support, including tube through the mouth into the lungs and connected to a breathing machine (ventilator)
Fluids through a vein (by IV)
Laxatives
Medicine to reverse the effects of the methadone (an antidote) and to treat other symptoms

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well someone does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster medical help is given, the better the chance for recovery.

If an antidote can be given, recovery from an overdose begins right away. However, since methadone's effects can last for about a day, the person often stays in the hospital overnight. They may receive several doses of the antidote.

People who take a large overdose may stop breathing. They may have seizures if they do not get the antidote quickly. Complications such as pneumonia, muscle damage from lying on a hard surface for a long time, or brain damage from lack of oxygen may cause permanent disability.

Death can occur in severe cases.

References

Aronson JK. Opioid receptor agonists. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs. 16th ed. Waltham, MA: Elsevier; 2016:348-380.

Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.

Nelson LS, Calello DP. Acute poisoning. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 96.

Nikolaides JK, Thompson TM. Opioids. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 151.

Theobald JL, Corcoran JN. Poisoning. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 94.

Review Date 10/14/2025

Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.