[Methadone as an analgesic].
Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist which has been available for more than 40 years. Although its main use has been in the maintenance therapy of opioid addicts, it has a number of unique characteristics including excellent analgesic effect, a high bioavailability, no known active metabolites, long duration of action during long-term treatment, high potency, and low cost. However, its use is limited by the complexity of the pharmacokinetics, with a risk of drug accumulation with toxic effects. Recent findings suggest that standard equianalgesic tables are unreliable, because methadone is much more potent when used for long-term treatment. Therefore methadone should be titrated carefully and increases in dosage should be performed every third or fourth day.
Kamp-Jensen
M
M
H:S Hvidovre Hospital, anaestesiologisk afdeling.
Clausen
T
T
Eriksen
J
J
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone