Recommend Starting Low and Going Slow If Patients Switch To Methadone
You'll see more caution about using methadone for chronic pain.
Methadone is more risky than other opioids because of its long and variable half-life...interactions...risk of QT prolongation, etc.
And it needs to be given every 8 to 12 hours for pain...but its effects on respiratory depression may occur later and last longer.
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