Methadone Pain Control Changes in Breathing and Heart Beat. FDA has received reports of death and life-threatening side effects in patients taking methadone. These deaths and life-threatening side effects have occurred in patients newly starting ‘methadone’ for pain control and in patients who have switched to methadone after being treated for pain with other […]
Methadone Pain Control Changes in Breathing and Heart Beat. FDA has received reports of death and life-threatening side effects in patients taking methadone. These deaths and life-threatening side effects have occurred in patients newly starting ‘methadone’ for pain control and in patients who have switched to methadone after being treated for pain with other strong narcotic pain relievers.
Methadone can cause slow or shallow breathing and dangerous changes in heart beat that may not be felt by the patient.
Prescribing methadone is complex. Methadone should only be prescribed for patients with moderate to severe pain when their pain is not improved with other non-narcotic pain relievers. Pain relief from a dose of ‘methadone’ lasts about 4 to 8 hours. However ‘methadone’ stays in the body much longer, from 8 to 59 hours after it is taken.
As a result, patients may feel the need for more pain relief before ‘methadone’ is gone from the body. Methadone may build up in the body to a toxic level if it is taken too often, if the amount taken is too high, or if it is taken with certain other medicines or supplements.
To prevent serious complications from methadone, health care professionals who prescribe methadone should read and carefully follow the ‘methadone’ (Dolophine) prescribing information PDF document
FDA is issuing this public health advisory to alert patients and their caregivers and health care professionals to the following important safety information:
FDA recently approved new prescribing information for ‘methadone’ products approved for pain control. The information in the new prescribing information is based on a review of the scientific literature completed by FDA. A Medication Guide for patients is planned.
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