Is Methadone Harmful For Medication-Assisted Treatment Patients With HIV/AIDS?
Research with patients in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) shows that methadone does not make HIV infection or AIDS worse, nor does methadone interfere with treatment for these conditions. Studies in MAT patients have shown that methadone is not harmful, and may even help in recovery from HIV infection. In one investigation (see graph), MAT patients with HIV infection were compared with HIV-infected former injection-drug users (IDUs) not in treatment, and with individuals currently injecting illicit drugs. In the methadone-maintained patients the progression of HIV disease was one-third of that in the current IDUs, and also less than in the opioid-free former IDUs not in MAT. Importantly, over time, 10 persistent IDUs died of heroin overdoses, and 2 drug-free former IDUs relapsed and died. There were no such deaths in MAT patients. Although methadone does not appear to be damaging in people with HIV infection, or to interfere with anti-HIV treatment, two conclusions should be noted:
