Opioid pharmacotherapy uses a prescribed, long-acting medicine to help people who are dependent on opioids feel stable and take back control of their lives. If you are looking for a methadone doctor in Clayton, or a Suboxone doctor in Melbourne’s south east, some of our GPs and our AOD Nurse Practitioner at Mediclinic in Clayton South prescribe methadone and buprenorphine.
Pharmacotherapy is sometimes called opioid replacement therapy or opioid agonist treatment. It can help whether your opioid use involves heroin, prescription pain medicines or other opioids.
How pharmacotherapy helps
Methadone and buprenorphine act on the same receptors in the brain as other opioids, but they work slowly and last a long time. A steady daily dose can:
- reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings
- lower the risk of overdose compared with ongoing use of unprescribed opioids
- give you space to focus on health, relationships, work, study and housing
- reduce the need to inject, and the health risks that come with it
Pharmacotherapy is not a quick fix. Many people stay on treatment for months or years, and some later choose to slowly reduce their dose with their prescriber’s support. There is no right or wrong timeframe.
Methadone or buprenorphine?
Methadone is a liquid you swallow once a day. It has been used in Australia for many years.
Buprenorphine is usually a film or tablet that dissolves under the tongue. Suboxone is a common form that combines buprenorphine with naloxone, which helps discourage injecting. Buprenorphine is also available as a long-acting weekly or monthly injection.
Each medicine has possible side effects, such as constipation, sweating, drowsiness or changes in sleep. Mixing them with alcohol, benzodiazepines or other sedating drugs can be dangerous. Your prescriber will help you choose the option that suits your health, your history and your lifestyle. Suitability is always assessed individually.
Finding a methadone doctor in Clayton: who prescribes at Mediclinic
Pharmacotherapy at Mediclinic is provided by some of our practitioners, including Dr Ernesto Andrada and our AOD Nurse Practitioner, Buddika (Bas). Our team also includes Dr Vivian and Dr Robina Hanafi, who have a special interest in addiction medicine. Some of our prescribers are involved in the MATOD (Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid Dependence) mentorship program.
Availability for new patients changes over time. Please call reception on (03) 9544 1555 to check current availability for new pharmacotherapy patients. If we can’t take you on, the DirectLine service finder can help you find a prescriber.
Starting pharmacotherapy
Call reception
Ask about current availability and book a long appointment. Let us know if you are transferring from another prescriber.
Assessment
Your prescriber will ask about your opioid and other drug use, your physical and mental health, and your medicines. You may need a urine drug screen or blood tests.
Choose your medicine and pharmacy
Together you will decide between methadone and buprenorphine, and pick a community pharmacy for dosing. The first doses are planned carefully for your safety.
Regular reviews
You will see your prescriber often at first while your dose is adjusted, then on a regular schedule once you feel stable.
Your medicine is usually given at a community pharmacy that you choose. Early on, doses are generally taken under supervision at the pharmacy. Over time, some people become eligible for take-away doses, depending on their stability and Victorian program rules. Ask your pharmacy about any costs for dosing.
Program expectations at Mediclinic
To keep your care safe and avoid gaps in your medicine, our pharmacotherapy program has a few rules.
Pharmacotherapy program patients
- Face to face at least every 3 months. You need to be seen in person at least once every 3 months. Telephone consults are only available if you have been seen at the practice in the past 3 months.
- Book your next appointment after each consult. If your script has an end date, book your next appointment before you leave the clinic.
- Book at least 1 week before your script ends. Prescription appointments must be made at least 1 week before the script expires, so you don’t miss a dose.
- Cancel with notice. If you can’t make it, call us as early as you can so we can rebook you and offer the time to someone else.
Mediclinic is a mixed-billing practice. Bulk billing is at the practitioner’s discretion for some eligible patients, such as concession card holders. See our fees for current consultation fees.
Staying safe
Overdose risk is higher if you use other opioids on top of your dose, mix with alcohol or sedatives, or start using again after a break, when your tolerance is lower. Naloxone is a medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist about having naloxone at home. Family members and friends can carry it too.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, tell your prescriber. Don’t stop your medicine suddenly. Your prescriber will help you plan safe care.
Need help right now?
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department. These free services are available 24 hours a day:
- Lifeline — 13 11 14 (crisis support and suicide prevention)
- DirectLine — 1800 888 236 (alcohol and drug counselling, Victoria)
- Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467
- 13YARN — 13 92 76 (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people)
Frequently asked questions
Can I start pharmacotherapy at Mediclinic straight away?
Availability for new pharmacotherapy patients changes. Please call reception on (03) 9544 1555 to check current availability before booking. If we can’t help right now, DirectLine (1800 888 236) can help you find a prescriber.
Can I transfer my care to Mediclinic from another prescriber?
Possibly. Call reception to check availability first. If we can take you on, we will need details from your current prescriber and pharmacy so there is no break in your treatment.
Can I have telehealth appointments?
Pharmacotherapy patients must be seen face to face at least once every 3 months. Telephone consults are only available if you have been seen at the practice in the past 3 months.
What happens if my script is about to run out?
Book your appointments at least 1 week before your script ends, and book the next one before you leave each visit. If you are close to running out, call reception straight away.
Can I travel while on methadone or buprenorphine?
Often, yes, with planning. Talk to your prescriber well before you go, because arrangements with pharmacies take time to set up.
Is Suboxone better than methadone?
Neither is better for everyone. Each has different benefits and side effects. Your prescriber will help you decide which one suits you.
To ask about starting or transferring pharmacotherapy, call reception on (03) 9544 1555.