Background: The role of methadone in QTc prolongation, Torsades de Pointes (TdP) arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death has been debated. Because of widespread use of methadone in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) centers, we aimed to study dose-related effects of methadone on QTc prolongation. Methods: In a comparative observational study, 90 patients who were under MMT were evaluated. Patien...

BACKGROUND Methadone is a synthetic opioid and receptor agonist morphine; thus, its consumption has the effects and side effects of opioid. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is used as an alternative treatment for people who are suffering from substance abuse and do not have the ability to withdraw. Despite its benefits, this drug also has side effects. The purpose of this study was to inve...

BACKGROUND This study examined long-term improvement of quality of life amongst heroin users enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). METHODS The sample contained 553 heroin-dependent individuals from 4 hospitals in northern Taiwan who enrolled in MMT for an average of 184 days. Each patient signed a consent form and was assessed prospectively 3 times semi-annually. Quality of life ...

Heroin users are at high risk for suicide. However, the epidemiological profile of suicidal behaviors in Chinese methadone-maintained patients remains largely unknown. This study determined the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation among Chinese methadone-maintained patients. A total of 603 methadone-maintained patients were consecutively recruited from three methadone maintenance trea...

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is common but not often assessed in the routine clinical care among males on opiate substitute treatment. Objective: To determine the association between clinical variables and erectile dysfunction (ED) among men on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 108 participants who attended the Drug Clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur...

Acute aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce craving for cigarettes in smokers. Over 80% of patients enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs for opiate addiction are smokers and 29% suffer from diabetes. Many MMT counselors believe that regular physical exercise helps their patients to be successful in the program; however, there have been no previous studies demonstrating...

background: addiction to narcotics ‎can cause serious problems and ‎monetary losses. therapeutic ‎success can be predicted ‎through identifying lapse risk ‎factors.‎ objective: determining job risk ‎factor of lapse.‎ methods: this was a cross ‎sectional study on 351 addicts ‎visiting five methadone clinics. a ‎data collection sheet consisting ‎of questions on demographic ‎and job information wa...

The authors’ objective in this study was to identify determinants of time to discontinuation of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) across multiple treatment episodes. Population-level data on drug dispensations for all patients receiving methadone for opioid maintenance throughout the tenure of the British Columbia, Canada, methadone program to date (1996–2007) were extracted from an adminis...

The authors' objective in this study was to identify determinants of time to discontinuation of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) across multiple treatment episodes. Population-level data on drug dispensations for all patients receiving methadone for opioid maintenance throughout the tenure of the British Columbia, Canada, methadone program to date (1996-2007) were extracted from an adminis...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is correlated with sexual dysfunction in heroin-dependent men and to determine the prevalence and risk factors of sexual dysfunction among men on MMT. METHODS The study included a retrospective survey and a cross-sectional survey which contained interviews of 293 men who are currently engaged in MMT. The results of the two...