Methadone analgesia in the critically ill

• Published in: Journal of critical care Vol. 36; p. 296
• Main Authors: Lyaker, Michael R., MD, Elefritz, Jessica L., PharmD, Murphy, Claire V., PharmD, BCPS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2016; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Analgesia; Critical Care; Drug overdose; Intensive care; Intensive care unit; Methadone; Mortality; Narcotics; Pain; Pain management; Patients; mortality; critical care; intensive care unit; pain management; methadone; analgesia; Critical care; Analgesia; Methadone; Mortality; Intensive care unit; Pain management

Any patient who is discharged to an outpatient setting on methadone without a planned taper should be referred to a provider with experience using methadone in chronic pain management. Because the highest risk of death due to methadone therapy occurs around the time of initiation [7,9] (often due to...