Methadone for cancer pain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This is an updated review originally published in 2004 and first updated in 2007. This version includes substantial changes to bring it in line with current methodological requirements. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that presents some challenges in dose titration and is recognised to cause potentially fatal arrhythmias in some patients. It does have a place in therapy for people who cannot tolerate other opioids but should be initiated only by experienced practitioners. This review is one of a suite of reviews on opioids for cancer pain.

Objectives

To determine the effectiveness and tolerability of methadone as an analgesic in adults and children with cancer pain.

Search methods

For this update we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and clinicaltri

SUBMITTER: Nicholson AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6464101 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature