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Annals of Oncology 6:841-843, 1995
© 1995 European Society for Medical Oncology

research-article

Rectal methadone in cancer patients with pain

A preliminary clinical and pharmacokinetic study

C. Ripamonti1,, E. Zecca1, C. Brunelli3, E. Rizzio2, L. Saita1, F. Lodi2 and F. De Conno1

1Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Division, National Cancer Institute
2Department of Forensic Toxicology, Universiry of Milan
3Statistician of the Psychological Research Division, National Cancer Institute Milan, Italy

Correspondence to: Carla Ripamonti, M.D. Pain Therapy and Palliative Care Division National Cancer Institute via Venezian, 1 20133 Milan, Italy

Background: Cancer pain can be treated in most cases with oral analgesics. However, during their clinical history, 53% to 70% of patients will need alternative routes of opioid administration. The rectal administration of opioids is a simple alternative route for many patients. There are no data in the literature regarding the pharmacodynamics and pharmaco-kinetics of rectal methadone

Patients and methods: We evaluated the analgesia, toler-ability and absorption profile of methadone hydrochloride in six opioid-naive cancer patients with pain. A blood sample was collected before administration of a single dose of drug (10 mg) and then again after fixed times. At these fixed times the patients were asked about pain, nausea and drowsiness by means of a visual analogue scale of 0–100 mm (VAS)

Results: Pain relief was statistically significant as early as 30 minutes and up to eight hours after methadone administration. None of the patients reported significant side effects. The parmacokinetics of rectal methadone showed rapid and extensive distribution phases followed by a slow elimination phase

Conclusions: Rectal methadone can be considered an effective analgesic therapy for patients with cancer pain for whom oral and/or parenteral opioids are not indicated or available

cancer, methadone hydrochloride, pain, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, rectal route


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