BACKGROUND: Methadone, being an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor antagonist, may have a potential role in the treatment of neuropathic pain. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of methadone in the treatment of neuropathic pain and to estimate the possible dose ranges needed for pain control. METHODS: Methadone was offered as a treatment option to consecutive cancer and noncancer patients with neuropathic pain. Pain intensity was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-10 cm where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain). Mechanical allodynia and paroxysmal (shooting) pain were assessed clinically. All assessments were collected prospectively before treatment and once a stable dose of methadone was reached. RESULTS: A total number of 18 patients met our inclusion criteria. The mean pretreatment VAS +/- SD was 7.7+/-1.5 cm and this dropped significantly to 1.4+/-1.7 cm on a stable dose of methadone (P<0.0001). Nine of 13 patients (70 %) had a complete resolution of mechanical allodynia and all eight patients (100%) with shooting pain reported a complete response. The median stable dose of methadone was 15 mg per day. CONCLUSION: Methadone at relatively low doses seems to be useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
BACKGROUND:Methadone, being an N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor antagonist, may have a potential role in the treatment of neuropathic pain. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of methadone in the treatment of neuropathic pain and to estimate the possible dose ranges needed for pain control. METHODS:Methadone was offered as a treatment option to consecutive cancer and noncancer patients with neuropathic pain. Pain intensity was measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) (0-10 cm where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst possible pain). Mechanical allodynia and paroxysmal (shooting) pain were assessed clinically. All assessments were collected prospectively before treatment and once a stable dose of methadone was reached. RESULTS: A total number of 18 patients met our inclusion criteria. The mean pretreatment VAS +/- SD was 7.7+/-1.5 cm and this dropped significantly to 1.4+/-1.7 cm on a stable dose of methadone (P<0.0001). Nine of 13 patients (70 %) had a complete resolution of mechanical allodynia and all eight patients (100%) with shooting pain reported a complete response. The median stable dose of methadone was 15 mg per day. CONCLUSION:Methadone at relatively low doses seems to be useful in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Authors: D E Moulin; A J Clark; I Gilron; M A Ware; C P N Watson; B J Sessle; T Coderre; P K Morley-Forster; J Stinson; A Boulanger; P Peng; G A Finley; P Taenzer; P Squire; D Dion; A Cholkan; A Gilani; A Gordon; J Henry; R Jovey; M Lynch; A Mailis-Gagnon; A Panju; G B Rollman; A Velly Journal: Pain Res Manag Date: 2007 Impact factor: 3.037
Authors: Taylor Harrison; Sachiko Miyahara; Anthony Lee; Scott Evans; Barbara Bastow; David Simpson; Ian Gilron; Robert Dworkin; Eric S Daar; Linda Wieclaw; David B Clifford Journal: Pain Med Date: 2013-04-08 Impact factor: 3.750
Authors: Dwight Moulin; Aline Boulanger; A J Clark; Hance Clarke; Thuan Dao; G A Finley; Andrea Furlan; Ian Gilron; Allan Gordon; Patricia K Morley-Forster; Barry J Sessle; Pamela Squire; Jennifer Stinson; Paul Taenzer; Ana Velly; Mark A Ware; Erica L Weinberg; Owen D Williamson Journal: Pain Res Manag Date: 2014 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 3.037