While all medications used in Medication-Assisted Treatment are completely safe and medically approved, they do come with their own sets of side effects. Buprenorphine, the medication that is most commonly used in MAT, comes with the following potential side effects:

• Irritability
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle aches
• Sleeping difficulties
• Constipation

Methadone, another medication used in MAT, has side effects such as headache, sweating, stomach pain, dry mouth, vomiting, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, reduces sex drive, and mood changes. While these symptoms may be uncomfortable, they do not require immediate treatment or attention. There are, however, some serious side effects of methadone that require treatment as soon as possible. If you take methadone as part of MAT and experience any of the following side effects, tell your medication provider or other medical professional:

• Seizures
• Rash
• Itching
• Hallucinations
• Swelling of the face
• Breathing difficulties
• Severe drowsiness

The final medication used in MAT, naltrexone, can also cause minor side effects such as headache, nervousness, diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty sleeping, and muscle or joint pain.