A systematic review of the cardiotoxicity of methadone

Authors

  • Samira Alinejad Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences,Birjand, Iran
  • Toba Kazemi Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences,Birjand, Iran
  • Nasim Zamani Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  • Robert S. Hoffman Division of Medical Toxicology, Ronald O. Pereleman Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
  • Omid Mehrpour Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences (BUMS), Pasdaran Avenue, Birjand, 9713643138 Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2014-553

Keywords:

methadone, toxicity, heart, ECG, torsade de pointes, QT interval

Abstract

Methadone is one of the most popular synthetic opioids in the world with some favorable properties making it useful both in the treatment of moderate to severe pain and for opioid addiction. Increased use of methadone has resulted in an increased prevalence of its toxicity, one aspect of which is cardiotoxicity. In this paper, we review the effects of methadone on the heart as well as cardiac concerns in some special situations such as pregnancy and childhood. Methods: We searched for the terms methadone, toxicity, poisoning, cardiotoxicity, heart, dysrhythmia, arrhythmia, QT interval prolongation, torsade de pointes, and Electrocardiogram (ECG) in bibliographical databases including TUMS digital library, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. This review includes relevant articles published between 2000 and 2013. The main cardiac effects of methadone include prolongation of QT interval and torsade de pointes. Other effects include changes in QT dispersion, pathological U waves, Taku-Tsubo syndrome (stress cardiomyopathy), Brugada-like syndrome, and coronary artery diseases. The aim of this paper is to inform physicians and health care staff about these adverse effects. Effectiveness of methadone in the treatment of pain and addiction should be weighed against these adverse effects and physicians should consider the ways to lessen such undesirable effects. This article presents some recommendations to prevent heart toxicity in methadone users.

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Published

2015-05-05

How to Cite

Alinejad, S., Kazemi, T., Zamani, N., Hoffman, R. S., & Mehrpour, O. (2015). A systematic review of the cardiotoxicity of methadone. EXCLI Journal, 14, 577–600. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2014-553

Issue

Vol. 14 (2015)

Section

Review articles

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