Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Telaprevir and Methadone.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013 Mar 11;
van Heeswijk R, Verboven P, Vandevoorde A, Vinck P, Snoeys J, Boogaerts G, De Paepe E, Van Solingen-Ristea R, Witek J, Garg V

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody is present in most patients enrolled in methadone maintenance programs. Therefore, interactions between the HCV protease inhibitor telaprevir and methadone were investigated. The pharmacokinetics of R- and S-methadone were measured after administration of methadone alone, and after 7 days of telaprevir (750 mg q8h) co-administration in HCV-negative subjects on stable, individualized methadone therapy. Unbound R-methadone was measured in pre-dose plasma samples before and during telaprevir co-administration. Safety and symptoms of opioid withdrawal were evaluated throughout the study. In total, 18 subjects were enrolled; 2 discontinued prior to receiving telaprevir. Cmin, Cmax, and AUC24h for R-methadone were reduced by 31%, 29%, and 29%, respectively, in the presence of telaprevir. The AUC24h ratio of S-/R-methadone was not altered. The median unbound percentage of R-methadone increased by 26% in the presence of telaprevir. The median (absolute) unbound Cmin of R-methadone, was similar in absence (10.63 ng/mL) and presence of telaprevir (10.45 ng/mL). There were no symptoms of opioid withdrawal, and no discontinuations due to adverse events. In summary, exposure to total R-methadone was reduced by approximately 30% in the presence of telaprevir, while the exposure to unbound R-methadone was unchanged. No symptoms of opioid withdrawal were observed. These results suggest that dose adjustment of methadone is not required when initiating telaprevir treatment.
HubMed – Methadone

The economic cost of heroin dependency and quality of life among heroin users in Taiwan.

Psychiatry Res. 2013 Mar 7;
Lin SH, Chen KC, Lee SY, Hsiao CY, Lee IH, Yeh TL, Chen PS, Lu RB, Yang YK

Heroin dependence may attract a huge cost and has an impact on quality of life (QOL). However, assessments of economic cost are scarce and the relationship between economic cost and QOL is unclear in the Asian population. In the present study, an established questionnaire was modified to assess the economic cost and its association with QOL. A total of 121 volunteer subjects in a methadone maintenance therapy programme and 157 normal controls were enrolled. The total economic cost of heroin dependency is US$ 18,310 per person-year. The direct cost is US$ 11,791 per person-year (64% of the total cost), mostly consisting of the cost of heroin and other illegal drugs. The indirect cost is US$ 6519 (36% of the total cost) per person-year, most of which arises from productivity loss caused by unemployment and incarceration. The QOL of heroin-dependent patients is poorer than that of healthy controls in all domains. The overall QOL is negatively related to direct cost and total cost. The economic cost of heroin dependency is huge, equal to 1.07 times the average gross domestic product per capita. Reduction of the economic cost to society and the economic burden for heroin users is important.
HubMed – Methadone

I’m the only one- – Dedicated to M.E. Music by Alicia Keys. I DO NOT OWN ANY RIGHTS OF MUSIC OR PIX, XCEPT MY OWN!

Find More Methadone Clinics Information…

Comments are closed.