Treatment of Refractory Cancer Pain with Methadone

One-third of cancer patients currently experience cancer-related pain, significantly affecting their quality of life. Since the introduction of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s analgesic ladder, pain management has become increasingly standardised, facilitating more effective treatment strategies. Methadone, classified as a step 3 opioid analgesic on the WHO ladder, is primarily utilised for managing refractory cancer pain. This article explored the advantages and disadvantages of methadone in the context of refractory cancer pain, focusing on its metabolism and pharmacokinetic properties. In conclusion, methadone demonstrates significant advantages in pain relief for cancer patients. With ongoing research into its metabolic mechanisms and dosing strategies, methadone has the potential to become a safer and more widely used opioid in the treatment of refractory cancer pain in the future.