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(RS)-methadone

File:Methadone_enantiomers_labelled.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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(RS)-methadone

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Also known as (+-)-methadone, (±)-methadone, DL-methadone, 6-dimethylamino-4,4-diphenyl-3-heptanone, methadone

Methadone, sold under the brand names Dolophine and Methadose among others, is a potent synthetic opioid used medically to treat chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Prescribed for daily use, the medicine relieves cravings and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal management using methadone can be accomplished in less than a month, or it may be done gradually over a longer period of time, or simply maintained for the rest of the patient's life. While a single dose has a rapid effect, maximum effect can take up to five days of use. After long-term use, in people with normal liver function, ef

AI overview

Methadone is a powerful synthetic opioid medication used to treat chronic pain and help people overcome opioid addiction by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It's typically taken daily and can be used for short-term withdrawal management or as a long-term maintenance treatment, though it takes up to five days of use to reach its full effectiveness.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Drug.Verifiedfields
changed
Drug.Watchedfields
changed
Drug.verifiedrevid
420419989
Drug.image
Methadone enantiomers labelled.svg
Drug.image_class
skin-invert-image
Drug.width
350
Drug.caption
Skeletal formula of methadone's enantiomers. (S) corresponds to the D-enantiomer, and (R) corresponds to the L-enantiomer.
Drug.imageL
Dextromethadone ball-and-stick model from xtal 1958.png
Drug.image_classL
bg-transparent
Drug.widthL
175
Drug.altL
Ball-and-stick model of the less active dextromethadone.
Drug.imageR
Levomethadone-xtal-1974-ball-and-stick.png
Drug.image_classR
bg-transparent
Drug.widthR
175
Drug.altR
Ball-and-stick model of the more active levomethadone.
Drug.tradename
Dolophine, Methadose, Methatabs, others
Drug.MedlinePlus
a682134
Drug.DailyMedID
Methadone

via Wikipedia infobox

Chemical data

Formula
C21H27NO
Molecular weight
309.4 g/mol
IUPAC name
6-(dimethylamino)-4,4-diphenylheptan-3-one
SMILES
CCC(=O)C(CC(C)N(C)C)(C1=CC=CC=C1)C2=CC=CC=C2
InChIKey
USSIQXCVUWKGNF-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
3.9
Polar surface area
20.3 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
2
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

~34 min read

Encyclopedic overview

30 sections
Contents
  • Medical uses
  • Opioid addiction
  • Pain
  • Adverse effects
  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • Physical symptoms
  • Cognitive symptoms
  • Black box warning
  • Overdose
  • Tolerance and dependence
  • Driving
  • Mortality
  • Pharmacology
  • Mechanism of action
  • Metabolism
  • Route of administration
  • Chemistry
  • Detection in biological fluids
  • Conformation
  • History
  • Society and culture
  • Brand names
  • Economics
  • Regulation
  • United States and Canada
  • Methadone clinics
  • Other countries
  • Veterinary use
  • References
  • External links

Methadone, sold under the brand names Dolophine and Methadose among others, is a potent synthetic opioid used medically to treat chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Prescribed for daily use, the medicine relieves cravings and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal management using methadone can be accomplished in less than a month, or it may be done gradually over a longer period of time, or simply maintained for the rest of the patient's life. While a single dose has a rapid effect, maximum effect can take up to five days of use. After long-term use, in people with normal liver function, effects last 8 to 36 hours. Methadone is usually taken by mouth and rarely by injection into a muscle or vein.

Side effects are similar to those of other opioids. These frequently include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, and sweating. Serious risks include opioid abuse and respiratory depression. Abnormal heart rhythms may also occur due to a prolonged QT interval. The number of deaths in the United States involving methadone poisoning declined from 4,418 in 2011 to 3,300 in 2015. Risks are greater with higher doses. Methadone is made by chemical synthesis and acts on opioid receptors.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “(RS)-methadone” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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