Diskets Dispersible

1 What is Diskets Dispersible?

Brand: Diskets Dispersible, Dolophine, Methadone HCI Intensol, Methadose

Generic: Methadone (Oral Route)

Diskets Dispersible is used to treat moderate to severe pain when around-the-clock pain relief is needed for a long period of time. This medication should not be used to treat pain that you only have once in a while. Methadone is also used together with medical supervision and counseling to treat opioid addiction.

Methadone is an opioid (narcotic) analgesic (pain medication). It acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to alleviate pain.

This medication is only available with your doctor’s prescription.

This medication is available in the following forms:

  • Tablet for suspension
  • Liquid
  • Solution
  • Tablet

2 What to know before using

Before using Diskets Dispersible, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it.

As with all medicines, the risks must be compared to how much a medication will help you. This is a decision that you and your doctor will make together. For this medication, there are many things that need to be considered:

Allergies:

Inform your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any other medications. It is also important to inform your doctor of any non-medicine allergies such as foods, dyes, preservatives or animals.

Pediatric:

No appropriate studies have been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of this medication in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric:

No appropriate studies have been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of this medication in elderly patients. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, heart, liver or lung problems, which may require an adjustment in dose.

Pregnancy:

This medication is listed as Pregnancy Category C. This means that animal studies have shown an adverse effect and no studies have been performed on pregnant women OR there are no adequate studies on pregnant animals and pregnant women.

Breastfeeding:

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions:

Certain medications should not be used together. However, in certain cases, two medications may be used together, even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change your dose
or take other precautions. When taking this medication, it is important that you inform your doctor if you are taking any of the medications listed below. The following interactions were selected on the basis of
potential significance and are not all-inclusive.

Using this medication with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, or change some of the other medications you take:

  • Amifampridine •Bepridil •Brofaromine •Cisapride •Clorgyline •Dronedarone •Fluconazole •Furazolidone •Iproniazid •Isocarboxazid •Itraconazole •Ketoconazole •Lazabemide •Linezolid •Mesoridazine •Moclobemide •Naltrexone •Nelfinavir •Nialamide •Pargyline •Phenelzine •Pimozide •Piperaquine •Posaconazole •Procarbazine •Rasagiline •Selegiline •Sparfloxacin •Terfenadine •Thioridazine •Toloxatone •Tranylcypromine •Ziprasidone

Using this medication with any of the following medication is not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases.

Your doctor may make the decision not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medications you take:

  • Acepromazine •Alfentanil •Almotriptan •Alprazolam •Amiodarone •Amisulpride •Amitriptyline •Amoxapine •Amprenavir •Anagrelide •Anileridine •Apomorphine •Aripiprazole •Arsenic Trioxide •Artemether •Asenapine •Astemizole •Azithromycin •Baclofen •Bedaquiline •Benperidol •Boceprevir •Bromazepam •Buprenorphine •Buserelin •Buspirone •Butorphanol •Carbinoxamine •Carisoprodol •Carphenazine •Ceritinib •Chloral Hydrate •Chlordiazepoxide •Chloroquine •Chlorpromazine •Chlorzoxazone •Ciprofloxacin •Citalopram •Clarithromycin •Clomipramine •Clonazepam •Clorazepate •Clozapine •Codeine •Crizotinib •Cyclobenzaprine •Dabrafenib •Dasatinib •Degarelix •Delamanid •Delavirdine •Deslorelin •Desvenlafaxine •Dexmedetomidine •Dezocine •Diacetylmorphine •Diazepam •Dichloralphenazone •Difenoxin •Dihydrocodeine •Diphenhydramine •Diphenoxylate •Disopyramide •Dofetilide •Dolasetron •Domperidone •Donepezil •Doxylamine •Droperidol •Duloxetine •Enflurane •Escitalopram •Estazolam •Eszopiclone •Ethchlorvynol •Ethopropazine •Ethylmorphine •Fentanyl •Fingolimod •Flecainide •Flibanserin •Fluoxetine •Fluphenazine •Flurazepam •Fluspirilene •Fospropofol •Gatifloxacin •Gemifloxacin •Gonadorelin •Goserelin •Granisetron •Halazepam •Halofantrine •Haloperidol •Halothane •Hexobarbital •Histrelin •Hydrocodone •Hydromorphone •Hydroxychloroquine •Hydroxyzine •Ibutilide •Idelalisib •Iloperidone •Imipramine •Isoflurane •Ivabradine •Ketamine •Ketazolam •Ketobemidone •Lapatinib •Leuprolide •Levofloxacin •Levomilnacipran •Levorphanol •Lorazepam •Lorcaserin •Lumefantrine •Meclizine •Mefloquine •Melperone •Meperidine •Meprobamate •Meptazinol •Metaxalone •Methdilazine •Methocarbamol •Methotrimeprazine •Methylene Blue •Metronidazole •Midazolam •Mifepristone •Mirtazapine •Molindone •Moricizine •Morphine •Morphine Sulfate Liposome •Moxifloxacin •Nafarelin •Nalbuphine •Nicomorphine •Nilotinib •Nitrazepam •Nitrous Oxide •Norfloxacin •Nortriptyline •Octreotide •Ofloxacin •Olanzapine •Ondansetron •Opium •Opium Alkaloids •Orphenadrine •Oxazepam •Oxycodone •Oxymorphone •Paliperidone •Palonosetron •Panobinostat •Papaveretum •Paregoric •Pasireotide •Pazopanib •Peginterferon Alfa-2b •Pentazocine •Perazine •Perflutren Lipid Microsphere •Periciazine •Perphenazine •Piperacetazine •Pipotiazine •Piritramide •Prazepam •Procainamide •Prochlorperazine •Promazine •Promethazine •Propafenone •Propofol •Protriptyline •Quazepam •Quetiapine •Quinidine •Quinine •Ramelteon •Ranolazine •Remifentanil •Remoxipride •Safinamide •Salmeterol •Saquinavir •Sertindole •Sevoflurane •Sodium Oxybate •Sodium Phosphate •Sodium  hosphate, Dibasic •Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic •Solifenacin •Sorafenib •Sotalol •Sufentanil •Sulpiride •Sunitinib •Suvorexant •Tacrolimus •Tapentadol •Telavancin •Telithromycin •Temazepam •Tetrabenazine •Thiethylperazine •Thiopropazate •Tilidine •Tizanidine •Tolonium Chloride •Toremifene •Tramadol •Trazodone •Triazolam •Trifluoperazine •Trifluperidol •Triflupromazine •Trimeprazine •Trimipramine •Triptorelin •Tryptophan •Vandetanib •Vardenafil •Vemurafenib •Vilazodone •Vinflunine •Vortioxetine •Zaleplon •Zolpidem •Zopiclone •Zotepine

Using this medication with any of the following medications may increase your risk of side effects. However, using both medications may be the best treatment for you. If both medications are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you take one or both medications:

  • Abacavir •Atazanavir •Desipramine •Didanosine •Efavirenz •Etravirine •Fluvoxamine •Fosamprenavir •Lopinavir •Nevirapine •Peginterferon Alfa-2a •Rifampin •Rilpivirine •Risperidone •Ritonavir •Stavudine•St John's Wort •Telaprevir •Thiotepa •Tipranavir •Voriconazole •Zidovudine

Other Interactions:

Certain medications should not be used while eating, or while eating certain foods in case of negative interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain mediations may also cause negative interactions. Talk
with your doctor about the use of your medication with food, alcohol or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems:

Pre-existing medical problems may affect the use of this medication. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Alcohol abuse
  • Brain tumor
  • Breathing or lung problems (i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], corpulmonale, hypercapnia, hypoxia, apnea)
  • Depression
  • Drug dependence, especially narcotic abuse or dependence
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Head injuries
  • Heart disease (i.e. cardiac hypertrophy)
  • Heart rhythm problems (i.e. arrhythmia, long QT syndrome)
  • Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood)
  • Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood)
  • Increased pressure in your head
  • Stomach or bowel problems
  • Weakened physical condition - Use with caution. May increase risk for more serious side effects.
  • Asthma, acute or severe
  • Paralytic ileus (intestinal blockage)
  • Respiratory depression (very slow breathing) - Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure)
  • Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
  • Seizures, history of - Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease - Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

3 Proper usage

To use Diskets Dispersible properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. Do not take more, less or for a longer or shorter period of time than your doctor tells you.

This medication comes with a patient information brochure. It is very important that your read this information. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not break, crush, chew or dissolve it.

Dosing:

Different patients will be given a different dose of this medication based on the strength of the medication. The number of doses you take each day, the time between doses and the length of time you take this medication depends on the reason you are taking this medication. The following information only includes the average dose of this medication. If your dose is different, do not change it without first speaking to your doctor.

Tablets:

For pain:

For patients using this medication as the first pain medication:

  • Adults - Start with 2.5mg every 8-12 hours. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. Do not take more than your prescribed dose in 24 hours.
  • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For patients switching from another opioid to this medication:

  • Adults - Dose must be determined by your doctor based on the previous dose of opioid medication. The dose is taken every 8-12 hours. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. Do not take more than your prescribed dose in 24 hours.
  • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For opioid addiction:

  • Adults - Start with 20-30mg taken as a single dose per day. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed. The dose is not normally more than 40mg per day. Do not take more than your prescribed dose in 24 hours.
  • Children - Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose:

If you miss a dose of this medication, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your normal dosing schedule. Do not double dose.

Storage:

Store this medication in a closed container at room temperature. Keep it away from heat, moisture and direct light. Do not freeze.

Keep our of the reach of children.

Do not keep expired medication or medication you no longer need. Ask your doctor how to dispose of any medication you do not use.

This medication can cause serious side effects if taken by adults who are not used to strong narcotics, children or pets. Be sure to store the medication in a safe, secure place to prevent others from getting to it.

Flush any unused tablets down the toilet.

4 Precautions to take

Before using Diskets Dispersible, there are some precautions you must take.

It is very important that your doctor checks in with the you often while you are receiving this medication to make sure that it is working properly.

Do not take other prescription or over-the-counter medications without asking your doctor.

This medication may add to the affects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medications that make your drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or allergy medications, sedatives or sleeping medications, prescription pain medications or narcotics, medications for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants or anaesthetics. Inform your doctor if you are using any of the above while on this medication.

This medication may be habit-forming. If you fell the medication is not working as well, do not use more than your prescribed dose and call your doctor for instructions.

Long-term use of narcotics can cause severe constipation. Your doctor may tell you to take laxatives, drink lots of water or increase the amount of fibre in your diet to prevent this.

Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting may occur after you take this medication, especially when getting up suddenly from a laying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may lessen this problem. If you feel dizzy, lie back down so you do not faint. Sit for a few moments before standing to prevent the dizziness or lightheadedness from returning.

This medication may cause some people to become drowsy, dizzy or lightheaded. This is more likely to happen when you begin taking this medication, or when you increase the dosage. Make sure you know how you react to this medication before driving, using machinery or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Inform your doctor immediately if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You may feel dizzy or faint, have a fast, pounding heart or an uneven heartbeat. Be sure your doctor knows if you or a family member have ever had a heart rhythm problem such as QT prolongation.

If you have been using this medication for an extended period of time, do not suddenly stop using it without asking your doctor. You may be told to gradually reduce the amount you use before stopping treatment completely or to take another narcotic for a period of time to lessen the chance of withdrawal effects.

Using this medication while pregnant may cause neonatal withdrawal syndrome in your newborn baby. Inform your doctor immediately if you child has an abnormal sleep pattern, diarrhea, high-pitched cry, irritability, shakiness or tremors, weight loss, vomiting or failure to gain weight.

5 Potential side effects

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Diskets Dispersible.

Some side effects that may occur do not normally need medical attention. These may leave as your body becomes accustomed to treatment. Ask your doctor about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Ask your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

6 Related Clinical Trials

Top