Very-high-dose methadone with minimal toxicity and inadequate pain control in a hospice patient with cancer

Natalie M Latuga; Robert G Wahler

doi:10.3109/15360288.2013.786011

Very-high-dose methadone with minimal toxicity and inadequate pain control in a hospice patient with cancer

J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother. 2013 Jun;27(2):143-9. doi: 10.3109/15360288.2013.786011. Epub 2013 May 6.

Authors

Natalie M Latuga¹, Robert G Wahler

Affiliation

¹ The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 225 Como Park Boulevard, Cheektowaga, NY 14227, USA. nlatugarx@gmail.com

PMID: 23646910
DOI: 10.3109/15360288.2013.786011

Abstract

A case is reported of a 48-year-old Caucasian male who was admitted to hospice care with metastatic cancer of the larynx. The patient required very high methadone doses and experienced little opioid toxicity. The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of methadone are discussed in the context of this patient experience.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Hospice Care / methods
Humans
Laryngeal Neoplasms / complications*
Laryngeal Neoplasms / pathology
Male
Methadone / administration & dosage
Methadone / adverse effects
Methadone / therapeutic use*
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pain / drug therapy*
Pain / etiology

Substances

Analgesics, Opioid
Methadone