Electrocardiogram characteristics of methadone and buprenorphine maintained subjects

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dc.contributor.authorAthanasos, P.
dc.contributor.authorFarquharson, A.
dc.contributor.authorCompton, P.
dc.contributor.authorPsaltis, P.
dc.contributor.authorHay, J.
dc.date.issued2008
dc.descriptionCopyright © 2008 Haworth Press, Inc.
dc.description.abstractThere has been recent concern about the association between high dose methadone and prolongation of QTc in the electrocardiogram. QTc is the time from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T have as measured on an electrocardiogram and corrected for heart rate. To date, no association has been made between methadone and buprenorphine in commonly used doses and prolonged QTc. Electrocardiograms were performed on groups of methadone (n = 35, mean daily dose +/- standard deviation, 69 +/- 29 mg) and buprenorphine (n = 19, mean daily dose 11 +/- 5 mg) subjects and a group of non-opioid dependent controls (n = 17). Mean QTc did not differ (p = 0.45) between methadone, buprenorphine, or controls. Methadone subjects were significantly (odds ratio of 7.8) more likely to have U waves than buprenorphine and controls combined. Methadone subjects with U waves were maintained on higher (p = 0.004) doses (89 +/- 29 mg/day) than methadone subjects without U waves (60 +/- 24 mg/day). Methadone subjects taking 60 mg and above had higher (p = 0.02) QTc (405 +/- 29 milliseconds) than methadone subjects taking less than 60 mg per day (381 +/- 27 milliseconds). Although an association is thought to exist between high methadone doses and elongated QTc, methadone and buprenorphine, at commonly used daily doses, remain safe agents for opioid substitution therapy.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityPeter Athanasos; Aaron L. Farquharson; Peggy Compton; Peter Psaltis and Justin Hay
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Addictive Diseases, 2008; 27(3):31-35
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/10550880802122596
dc.identifier.issn1055-0887
dc.identifier.issn1545-0848
dc.identifier.orcidPsaltis, P. [0000-0003-0222-5468]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/48017
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherHaworth Press Inc
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/10550880802122596
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectLong QT Syndrome
dc.subjectOpioid-Related Disorders
dc.subjectMethadone
dc.subjectBuprenorphine
dc.subjectNarcotics
dc.subjectElectrocardiography
dc.subjectLong-Term Care
dc.subjectRisk Factors
dc.subjectDose-Response Relationship, Drug
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.titleElectrocardiogram characteristics of methadone and buprenorphine maintained subjects
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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