Once used only as third-line therapy in the management of chronic pain states, methadone is now being used as firstand second-line therapy. Most risks and the stigma associated with methadone use have been known for years. Only over the past decade or so have the unique pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic properties and methods for conversion from other opioids to methadone been established. Pertin...

The ventilatory effects of single i.v. doses of morphine 0.1 mg kg-1, pethidine 0.67 mg kg-1 and methadone 0.1 mg kg-1 were compared after ophthalmic surgery in an open, randomized study in 30 children aged 3-8 yr. Ventilatory changes after each drug had distinctive profiles, with appreciable individual variation. Acutely, the decrease in ventilatory frequency was greater with pethidine and met...

This study examined the nature and extent of methadone- and buprenorphine-related morbidity through a retrospective analysis of ambulance service records (N = 243) in Melbourne, Australia. Cases in which methadone and buprenorphine were implicated are examined. Demographic and presenting characteristics, transport outcomes, and other substance use were explored. There were 84 buprenorphine-rela...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the initial dosage of methadone and factors affecting it in maintenance therapy. METHODS This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 157 individuals referring to a methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) clinic. The initial dosage of methadone was 20-45 mg which was adjusted during the treatment based on each patient's evaluation. T...

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity is usually altered by heroin use. In the present study we evaluated in one hundred twenty-one heroin addicts the effects of marijuana smoking on the normalization of HPA axis upon methadone treatment. The study showed that in heroin addicts who are chronic cannabis smokers a treatment with methadone lasting 12 months was able to normalize b...

The effects of repeated administration of morphine and methadone, followed by a challenge dose of either morphine or methadone were examined ex vivo in rat frontal cortical slices that were prepared 1 h after final drug administration. Morphine challenge dose (5 mg/kg), administered 14 days after the end of repeated morphine pretreatment (10 mg/kg, administered 7 times) decreased both the AMPA/...

Background. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) caused by opiate abuse or overuse has been well documented in the medical literature. Most documented case reports have involved either heroin or hydrocodone/acetaminophen. Recently, case reposts of methadone induced SSHL have been published. Case Report. We present the case of a 31-year-old man who developed SSHL after a methadone overdose i...

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS To estimate the number of deaths that would have occurred among patients receiving oral naltrexone for opioid use under the Special Access Scheme if these patients had received methadone. DESIGN AND METHODS We analysed mortality in cohorts treated with oral naltrexone and methadone. Data were from 1097 patients of in WA providing oral naltrexone for opioid use under the ...

UNLABELLED Methadone is one of the most popular synthetic opioids in the world with some favorable properties making it useful both in the treatment of moderate to severe pain and for opioid addiction. Increased use of methadone has resulted in an increased prevalence of its toxicity, one aspect of which is cardiotoxicity. In this paper, we review the effects of methadone on the heart as well a...

Cyclic AMP (cAMP) regulates a number of cellular processes and modulates cell death induction. cAMP levels are altered upon stimulation of specific G-protein-coupled receptors inhibiting or activating adenylyl cyclases. Opioid receptor stimulation can activate inhibitory Gi-proteins which in turn block adenylyl cyclase activity reducing cAMP. Opioids such as D,L-methadone induce cell death in l...