Key result
Oral methadone use for pain management is associated with a significant increase in adverse events and fatalities, particularly cardiotoxicity.
Why the study?
What are the cardiotoxic side effects of oral methadone when used as an analgesic, and what are the protocols for safe prescribing?
What are the cardiotoxic side effects of oral methadone when used as an analgesic, and what are the protocols for safe prescribing?
This review highlights the significant cardiotoxic risks associated with oral methadone use for pain management and emphasizes the need for safe prescribing protocols.
Supports cautious oral methadone use for pain; leaves open optimal safe-prescribing protocols from higher-level evidence.
Methadone is a synthetic opiate primarily used in the detoxification and maintenance of patients who are dependent on opiates particularly heroin. Though within last 10–15 years methadone is increasingly used to manage neuropathic and cancer pains. Unfortunately, with increased methadone use for pain is coincided with significant increase in adverse events and fatalities. Cardiotoxicity is one of the major adverse effects reported with the use of oral methadone. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the cardiotoxicity of methadone, when used as an oral analgesic and protocols for safe prescribing of methadone to help physicians recognize situations where this drug offers the greatest advantage as an analgesic.
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Pramod Kumar (2010) conducted a review in Pain management (neuropathic and cancer pains). Oral methadone was evaluated on Cardiotoxicity and adverse events. Oral methadone use for pain management is associated with a significant increase in adverse events and fatalities, particularly cardiotoxicity.
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