An Overview on Methadone-Intoxicated Patients

Abstract

© 2016 All rights reserved. Methadone was first manufactured in Germany in 1937. However, it was not really used until the 1960s when Dr. Vincent P. Dole, Dr. Marie Nyswander, and Dr. Mary Jeanne Kreek used it for the treatment of heroin addiction. A peak in the number of deaths due to methadone was detected by the end of the twentieth century. The number of drug-poisoning deaths involving methadone increased from 784 deaths in 1999 to 5518 deaths in 2007. Although methadone use accompanies a high rate of development of complications and even death, it is probably the best medication given for the treatment of heroin addiction (as a part of methadone maintenance therapy). In this chapter we aim to review the epidemiology, pharmaco- and toxicokinetics, clinical manifestations, and treatment of methadone toxicity.