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Methadone is an option to treat cancer pain in carefully selected patients

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Abstract

Methadone’s pharmacological properties and its numerous routes of administration can make it a useful analgesic option in adults and children with cancer pain. However, careful patient selection and monitoring is needed, especially if methadone is co-administered with agents that induce or inhibit hepatic CYP enzymes, and/or prolong the QTc interval. Prescribing methadone in either opioid-naïve, especially elderly, patients or those switching from other opiates requires a conservative approach to dosage.

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  1. Springer Nature, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand

    Caroline Fenton & Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson

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  1. Caroline Fenton
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  2. Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson
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Correspondence to Katherine A. Lyseng-Williamson.

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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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C. Fenton is a contracted employee of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature and declares no relevant conflicts of interest. K.A. Lyseng-Williamson is a salaried employee of Adis International/Springer Nature, is an editor of Drugs & Therapy Perspectives, was not involved in any publishing decision for the manuscript, and has no other conflicts of interest to declare. Both authors contributed to the review and are responsible for the article content.

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Fenton, C., Lyseng-Williamson, K.A. Methadone is an option to treat cancer pain in carefully selected patients. Drugs Ther Perspect 36, 502–508 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-020-00772-4

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