Levomethadyl Acetate Hydrochloride, Oral
What are other names for this medicine?
Generic and brand names: levomethadyl acetate hydrochloride, oral; ORLAAM
What is this medicine used for?
This medicine is taken by mouth to treat narcotic (opiate) addiction. It is available only through treatment programs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the appropriate state agency. This medicine is not usually the first choice to treat opiate addiction, but instead is used for people who don't respond to other therapies.
What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?
Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have any heart problems.
Females of childbearing age: Be sure to tell the treatment center health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
How do I take it?
Your dosage will be adjusted over time based on your response. You must go to the treatment center to receive your dose.
You must take your doses regularly in order for this treatment to be effective. Keep all your appointments.
Your treatment may be started with methadone and then switched to this medicine.
What should I watch out for?
This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your health care provider approves.
If you have withdrawal symptoms such as yawning, teary eyes, runny nose, sweating, flushing (red face), twitching, tremor, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, and loss of appetite, report to the treatment center immediately.
This medicine is a controlled substance. It is illegal for you to give it to anyone else.
What are the possible side effects?
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Teary eyes, runny nose, sweating, flushing (red face), twitching, tremor, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, loss of appetite, extreme drowsiness.
Other: Sleepiness, dizziness, sick feeling.
What products might interact with this medicine?
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:
- barbiturates
- birth control pills
- buprenorphine (Buprenex)
- butorphanol (Stadol)
- carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness)
- chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
- cimetidine (Tagamet)
- dezocine (Dalgan)
- diltiazem (Cardizem)
- disulfiram (Antabuse)
- divalproex (Depakote)
- erythromycins (medicine for infection)
- griseofulvin (Fulvicin)
- isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid)
- nalbuphine (Nubain)
- naltrexone (ReVia)
- other narcotics
- pentazocine (Talwin)
- phenylbutazone (Butazolidin)
- phenytoin (Dilantin)
- primidone (Mysoline)
- quinine (Quinamm)
- ranitidine (Zantac)
- rifampin (Rifadin)
- tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan)
- valproic acid (Depakene)
- verapamil (Calan).
Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
