Clinical efficacy of methadone in patients refractory to other μ-opioid receptor agonist analgesics for management of terminal cancer pain. Case presentations and discussion of incomplete cross-tolerance among opioid agonist analgesics

Abstract

Methadone is a potent opioid analgesic that demonstrates incomplete cross-tolerance with other mu-opioid receptor agonist analgesics. Conversion of the opioid-tolerant patient with cancer-related pain to methadone may represent an important therapeutic option in the management of patients with this difficult problem.