Table 2.
Methadone dosing, duration, and side effects in 41 young patients with hematology/oncology
| Starting dose,* mg/kg/d | n = 37 |
|---|---|
| Mean | 0.53 |
| Median | 0.32 |
| Range | 0.06–3.8 |
| SD | 0.67 |
| Duration of treatment† | n = 31 |
| Mean | 9.1 weeks |
| Median | 8.0 |
| Range | 1 week to >6 months |
| SD | 7.4 |
| Side effects | n = 41 (percent) |
| None | 14 (34.1) |
| Sedation | 10 (24.4) |
| Other | 6 (14.6) |
| Nausea | 5 (12.2) |
| Constipation | 5 (12.2) |
| Confusion | 1 (2.4) |
| Respiratory depression | 0 |
| Pruritus | 0 |
Abbreviation: N/A: not applicable.
*
Not known for four patients first prescribed methadone by outside providers.
†
Analyzed for 31 patients who did not expire during treatment and for whom prescription dates were known.
Data were censored at 6 months.