Methadone for cancer pain

Abstract

Based on low-quality evidence, methadone is a drug that has similar analgesic benefits to morphine and has a role in the management of cancer pain in adults. Other opioids such as morphine and fentanyl are easier to manage but may be more expensive than methadone in many economies.

Opioid analgesics for nociceptive cancer pain: A comprehensive review

“…Opioids are the most commonly used treatments for cancer pain management, and, although we might have assumed that there were placebo‐controlled trials to support this widespread practice, our findings highlight that the evidence is largely lacking 25–31,51 . There was an absence or paucity of placebo‐controlled trials for some of the most commonly used opioid analgesics for cancer pain, including morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and tramadol.…”

Opioid analgesics for nociceptive cancer pain: A comprehensive review

“…Opioids are the most commonly used treatments for cancer pain management, and, although we might have assumed that there were placebo‐controlled trials to support this widespread practice, our findings highlight that the evidence is largely lacking 25–31,51 . There was an absence or paucity of placebo‐controlled trials for some of the most commonly used opioid analgesics for cancer pain, including morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and tramadol.…”

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Analgesic Effect of the Combination of Methadone With Morphine for Cancer Related Pain

“…In the present study a very low dose of methadone, according to Salpeter et al,4 was used, that is, ≤15 mg/d. The dose used was similar to that of some studies of literature, 5 mg/d 8,18. Other authors reported doses of 10 mg/d10 and 15 mg/d 9.…”

The use of methadone in pediatric cancer pain – A retrospective study from a Governmental Cancer Center in India

“…This is in line with previous studies in children with advanced cancer[ 20 29 ] and well tolerated with few side effects and in the majority of cases a decreased level of pain. [ 12 13 28 ] Pain assessment was unfortunately not done, or not available, in almost half of the patients in this study. However, some children were on prescription with methadone during a long period of time, a year or more.…”

Opioid analgesics for nociceptive cancer pain: A comprehensive review

“…Opioids are the most commonly used treatments for cancer pain management, and, although we might have assumed that there were placebo‐controlled trials to support this widespread practice, our findings highlight that the evidence is largely lacking 25–31,51 . There was an absence or paucity of placebo‐controlled trials for some of the most commonly used opioid analgesics for cancer pain, including morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and tramadol.…”

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Analgesic Effect of the Combination of Methadone With Morphine for Cancer Related Pain

“…In the present study a very low dose of methadone, according to Salpeter et al,4 was used, that is, ≤15 mg/d. The dose used was similar to that of some studies of literature, 5 mg/d 8,18. Other authors reported doses of 10 mg/d10 and 15 mg/d 9.…”

The use of methadone in pediatric cancer pain – A retrospective study from a Governmental Cancer Center in India

“…This is in line with previous studies in children with advanced cancer[ 20 29 ] and well tolerated with few side effects and in the majority of cases a decreased level of pain. [ 12 13 28 ] Pain assessment was unfortunately not done, or not available, in almost half of the patients in this study. However, some children were on prescription with methadone during a long period of time, a year or more.…”

Opioid analgesics for nociceptive cancer pain: A comprehensive review

“…Opioids are the most commonly used treatments for cancer pain management, and, although we might have assumed that there were placebo‐controlled trials to support this widespread practice, our findings highlight that the evidence is largely lacking 25–31,51 . There was an absence or paucity of placebo‐controlled trials for some of the most commonly used opioid analgesics for cancer pain, including morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and tramadol.…”

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Analgesic Effect of the Combination of Methadone With Morphine for Cancer Related Pain

“…In the present study a very low dose of methadone, according to Salpeter et al,4 was used, that is, ≤15 mg/d. The dose used was similar to that of some studies of literature, 5 mg/d 8,18. Other authors reported doses of 10 mg/d10 and 15 mg/d 9.…”

The use of methadone in pediatric cancer pain – A retrospective study from a Governmental Cancer Center in India

“…This is in line with previous studies in children with advanced cancer[ 20 29 ] and well tolerated with few side effects and in the majority of cases a decreased level of pain. [ 12 13 28 ] Pain assessment was unfortunately not done, or not available, in almost half of the patients in this study. However, some children were on prescription with methadone during a long period of time, a year or more.…”