Methadone is difficult to dose because metabolism can vary so widely between patients. I use it as often as I can and find it to be an excellent pain killer. I usually start my patients at ¼ of the dose of Oxycodone or MS Contin and work up from there. As to Astrid’s question about overdosing on methadone you are correct. It can accumulate in the body because of slow metabolism and cause an overdose. This usually happens slowly during the first 3 or 4 days of dosing that’s why you have to start with very low doses. As to the addictive qualities I would say that they are probably the same as other opiates. I would classify a deadbeat welfare cheat who as been on methadone for 14 years as a drug addict the same as a heroin addict who was on heroin for 14 years.