Methadone and torsade de pointes: case report and review of the literature.
Tenn Med
; 100(2): 35-7, 42, 2007 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17378505
ABSTRACT
Methadone, a synthetic opioid, has been used for more than 35 years to treat heroin addiction. It is also an effective therapy for chronic pain. An increase in the mean dose used nationally to treat these patients has been reported. There is an ongoing debate over whether it is necessary to screen patients with an ECG before and during therapy with methadone. We present a patient who developed QT prolongation and sustained ventricular arrhythmias after her methadone dose was increased. Previous literature, as well as the mechanism and risk factors, will be reviewed in this article. Recommendations will be given as to when an ECG is preferably to be performed.
Search on Google
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Torsades de Pointes
/
Methadone
/
Narcotics
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Guideline
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Tenn Med
Journal subject:
MEDICINA
Year:
2007
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Country of publication:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA