What are methadones benefits and potential dangers?
Research demonstrates that methadone can be effective in treating some forms of neuropathic pain but also requires specific knowledge to use safely. Several states have recorded increases in accidental overdose deaths, many of them involving methadone. More research is needed into the exact reasons for the deaths, but at last some contribution appears to be tied to methadone prescribed for pain. There is difficulty in analyzing methadone’s distinct contribution because lethal blood levels may vary depending on the decedent’s degree of opioid tolerance, the severity of chronic pain and the action of polydrug combinations. Levels of methadone typically reported as a cause of death may actually be therapeutic in some chronic pain patients on long-term methadone therapy. Regardless, methadone does present some unique pharmacologic properties that need to be understood to utilize it safely. Q. What should a clinician know about methadone before prescribing it for pain? Pain experts typicall
