What side effects are associated with methadone?
The side effects of methadone are similar to other Mu agonists and include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, clouding of consciousness, and pruritus. Methadone is less sedating than morphine. Q: Can methadone be safely used in the elderly with cancer pain? A: Methadone should be used with caution to treat pain in the elderly because of delayed clearances, psychogenic pain and intolerance of low doses of opioids. Q: What recommendations do you have for a physician new to methadone prescribing? A: Dose conversion between opioids and methadone is complex, but improves with experience. No conversion ratio can be effective for every patient, so frequent observation and personalized titration are required. When administered in proper doses and intervals, methadone is a very safe drug for both inpatients and outpatients.
