Effect of Severe Alcoholic Liver Disease on the Disposition of Methadone in Maintenance Patients

摘要: We studied methadone disposition in 11 maintenance patients with alcoholic liver disease of such severity that biopsy was contraindicated. Nine methadone-maintained recent alcohol abuse but minimal or no evidence served as controls. Most kinetic indices, including the apparent oral clearance and area under concentration-time curves, were similar Although terminal half-life longer (p = 0.04) disease, peak plasma level lower 0.03). None had signs symptoms overdosage abstinence at time study. Six one control flattened curves. hypothesize that, severe damage to hepatic drug-metabolizing systems is offset by capacity store release unchanged methadone. The usual dose may be continued stable cirrhosis.