Methadone-maintenance treatment clinics are strategically appealing sites for provision of directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected injection drug users (IDUs). We initiated an ongoing DAART protocol at a university-associated methadone clinic in April 2001, which continues to enroll participants. Participants ingested antiretr...

BACKGROUND Methadone may cause respiratory depression and fatalities. Concomitant use of benzodiazepines in methadone-treated patients for chronic pain or as maintenance therapy for opiate abuse is common. However, the exact contribution of benzodiazepines to methadone-induced respiratory toxicity remains debatable. METHODS We investigated the respiratory effects of the combination diazepam (...

PURPOSE Methadone is a prescription drug used to help individuals overcome withdraws from highly addictive illicit substances, such as heroin, but it has detrimental oral health effects. This manuscript reviews the oral health manifestations of methadone maintenance therapy, and considers its implications to oral care. It hopes to raise awareness among health care professionals, regulating bodi...

Background: Use of opioids is associated with hypoactive sexual desire, erectile and orgasmic dysfunction. 16-30% of patients in methadone-maintained Therapy (MMT) may develop erectile dysfunction (ED). Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Bupropion (an antidepressant which can improve sexual function) in treatment of Methadone induced sexual dysfunction. Method: Patients recruited from 3 Met...

Injection drug use is an important factor in the spread of HIV infection, and strategies to enhance adherence to HIV therapeutics are critically important to controlling viral transmission and improving clinical outcomes. To this end, the authors sought (1) to enhance adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among methadone-maintained injection drug users (IDUs) using modified ...

CONTEXT Effective alternatives to long waiting lists for entry into methadone hydrochloride maintenance treatment are needed to reduce the complications of continuing heroin dependence and to increase methadone treatment entry. OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of interim methadone maintenance with that of the usual waiting list condition in facilitating methadone treatment entry and red...

Once used only as third-line therapy for chronic pain management, methadone is now being used as first- and second-line therapy in palliative care. The risks and stigma associated with methadone use are known, but difficulties with dosing methadone and lack of an established conversion protocol from other opiates have limited the access for patient populations who could potentially benefit from...

BACKGROUND Methadone maintenance therapy is a treatment of choice for opiate addiction. Understanding opiate dependents' experiences of patients' treatment is a key to continue the treatment and can provide help to revise the standards of methadone centers and improve the quality of treatment. This study aimed to describe the essence and structure of opiate dependents' experiences with methadon...