Table 1. Patient Background (n = 25).

From: The Adequateness of Methadone for Japanese Terminal Cancer Patients Can Be Determined Earlier than 7 Days: A Preliminary Retrospective Study

Age (years), mean ± SD (range) 68.3 ± 2.8 (39-87)
Sex, male, n (%) 8 (32.0)
BMI (kg/m2), median (IQR) 19.0 ± 2.8
ECOG PS, n (%)
   4 3 (12.0)
   3 14 (56.0)
   2 5 (20.0)
   1 3 (12.0)
   0 0 (0.0)
Primary cancer site, n (%)
   Colon 5 (20.0)
   Pancreas 4 (16.0)
   Breast 3 (12.0)
   Uterine 3 (12.0)
   Bone 2 (8.0)
   Lung 2 (8.0)
   Others 6 (24.0)
Metastases, n (%) (including duplicate answers)
   Lung 11 (44.0)
   Bone 9 (36.0)
   Liver 9 (36.0)
   Lymph node 5 (20.0)
   Peritoneal 4 (16.0)
   Muscle 3 (12.0)
   Brain 2 (8.0)
   Pancreas 2 (8.0)
   Subcutaneous tissue 2 (8.0)
   Others 8 (32.0)
   None 1 (4.0)
Type of pain, n (%) (including duplicate answers)
   Somatic pain 17 (68.0)
   Visceral pain 13 (52.0)
   Neuropathic pain 21 (84.0)
Opioids before switching to methadone, n (%)
   Fentanyl 8 (32.0)
   Oxycodone 8 (32.0)
   Tapentadol 5 (20.0)
   Morphine 2 (8.0)
   Tramadol 1 (4.0)
   Naive 1 (4.0)
MEDD (mg/day), mean ± SD (range) 135.4 ± 118.9 (0-500)
Heart disease, n (%) 8 (32.0)
Concomitant medications (including duplicate answers), n (%)
Acetaminophen 8 (32.0)
NSAIDs
   Loxoprofen 7 (28.0)
   Celecoxib 5 (20.0)
   Diclofenac 1 (4.0)
   Flurbiprofen 1 (4.0)
   Meloxicam 1 (4.0)
   None 12 (48.0)
Adjuvant analgesics
   Corticosteroids 12 (48.0)
   SNRI 3 (12.0)
   Anti-arrhythmic drugs 2 (8.0)
   Anticonvulsants 2 (8.0)
   None 11 (44.0)
Table 2. Reasons for Discontinuing Administration or Changing the Dose of Methadone.

From: The Adequateness of Methadone for Japanese Terminal Cancer Patients Can Be Determined Earlier than 7 Days: A Preliminary Retrospective Study

Patient number Reasons for discontinuing administration
or changing the dose of methadone
Duration since the start of methadone Outcome Dose of methadone (Before) Dose of methadone (After)
1 Alternative administration route 3 days Discontinuation 15 mg/day 0 mg/day
2 Side effects (nausea) 2 days Decrease 15 mg/day 10 mg/day
3 Analgesic inefficacy 5 days Increase 30 mg/day 45 mg/day
4 Side effects (respiratory depression) 3 days Discontinuation 15 mg/day 0 mg/day
5 Alternative administration route 5 days Discontinuation 15 mg/day 0 mg/day
Table 3. Laboratory Values before Methadone Administration.

From: The Adequateness of Methadone for Japanese Terminal Cancer Patients Can Be Determined Earlier than 7 Days: A Preliminary Retrospective Study

Before methadone administration After methadone administration P-value
AST (U/L), median (IQR) 21 (14-58) (n = 17) 30 (11-64) (n = 11) 0.36
ALT (U/L), median (IQR) 17.5 (5-64) (n = 16) 15 (7-91) (n = 11) 0.86
γ-GTP (U/L), mean ± SD 98.5 ± 85.6 (n = 8) 101.9 ± 80.5 (n = 8) 0.94
Scr (mg/dL), median (IQR) 0.525 (0.36-1.95) (n = 16) 0.550 (0.30-1.99) (n = 12) 0.76
eGFR (mL/min), mean ± SD 89.2 ± 30.6 (n = 14) 86.0 ± 40.4 (n = 11) 0.82
BUN (mg/dL), mean ± SD 12.9 ± 5.7 (n = 16) 16.7 ± 4.2 (n = 12) 0.23
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