Correlation between high methadone doses and methadone serum levels in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relation between high methadone doses and methadone serum levels in MMT patients.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-one steady methadone-dose patients were evaluated for methadone serum levels using GCMS. Urine samples during the month prior to the study-day were analysed and defined as positive if any sample was positive for any drug.


RESULTS
Methadone dose correlated with methadone serum levels (Pearson R = 0.36, P < 0.0005). In 53 patients with no drug abuse, correlation was stronger (R = 0.53, P < 0.0005) than in 98 patients with any drug abuse (R = 0.25, P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
We extended the well-established correlation between methadone doses and serum levels in patients receiving low or moderate (60 to 120 mg/day) to high methadone doses (up to 290 mg/day).
Adelson
Miriam
M
Tel-Aviv Elias Sourasky Medical Center, 6, Weizman St, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Peles
Einat
E
Bodner
Gershon
G
Kreek
Mary Jeanne
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone