Methadone effects

 Q: What are the few beneficial clinical effects of Methadone in hospitalized patients?

Answer: 

Methadone's use has seen an increased rise in the USA in hospitalized patients particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic due to the shortage of intravenous opioids and the high requirement of analgesics by COVID patients. Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist. It works by binding to mu-opioid receptors. Its main beneficial effects are: 

• prevents withdrawal symptoms for 24 hours or longer
• reduces the craving for opioids
• maintains high levels of opioid tolerance
• reduces the euphoric effects of subsequent illicit opioid use

In patients with prolong hospitalization, the daily dose of 30 mg can be utilized and can be continued during the course of hospital stay with clinicians and pharmacists' mutual coordination.

#pain

#pharmacology

References:

1. Shir Y, Rosen G, Zeldin A, Davidson EM. Methadone is safe for treating hospitalized patients with severe pain. Can J Anaesth. 2001 Dec;48(11):1109-13. doi: 10.1007/BF03020377. PMID: 11744587. 

2. Noska A, Mohan A, Wakeman S, Rich J, Boutwell A. Managing Opioid Use Disorder During and After Acute Hospitalization: A Case-Based Review Clarifying Methadone Regulation for Acute Care Settings. J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil. 2015;4(2):1000138. doi:10.4172/2324-9005.1000138