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Methadone
From WikEM
Contents
Administration
- Type: opioid
- Dosage Forms:
- Routes of Administration: oral, IM/subcutaneous
- Common Trade Names:
Adult Dosing
- varies widely due to patient variability in ADME, tolerance, indication
- Usual doses:
- Opioid use disorder, maintenance: 40-120mg/day
- Pain: initial dose 2.5mg TID for opioid naive
Pediatric Dosing
safety/efficacy not established in pediatric patients
- 0.1-0.2mg/kg q6h
Special Populations
- Pregnancy Rating: Category C
- Lactation risk: infant risk minimal
Renal Dosing
- Adult: lower initial starting dose
Hepatic Dosing
- Adult: lower initial starting dose
Contraindications
- Allergy to class/drug
Adverse Reactions
Serious
- QTc prolongation
- torsades de pointes
- respiratory depression/acidosis/arrest
Common
- constipation, nausea/vomiting, sedation, dizziness, hypotension
Pharmacology
- Half-life: 8-59 hours
- Metabolism: mostly hepatic
Mechanism of Action
- synthetic opioid
