Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Opiods, Pain Research / 06.11.2017
Methadone As First Line Opioid in Cancer Pain Management
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Sebastiano Mercadante, MD
Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit and Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit
La Maddalena Cancer Center
Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care & Emergencies
University of Palermo
Palermo, Italy
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: There are many clinical experiences suggesting that methadone, when optimally used by skilled physicians, has invaluable properties in the management of cancer pain. Methadone used as first opioid may provide interesting advantages due to the low tendency to induce tolerance, while providing a clinical profile similar to that of other opioids. Moreover, methadone possesses other extra-opioid effects that can be of interest.
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