Evaluation of a Novel Patient-Centered Methadone Restart Protocol

Are individualized higher methadone restart doses after a gap in daily dosing associated with safety and effectiveness?In this cohort study, a new clinical protocol that individualized methadone restart doses by accounting for maintenance of opioid tolerance after a gap in methadone treatment was associated with significantly higher restart doses without any changes in opioid-related harms or treatment retention.These results suggest that more individualized methadone restart dosing that accounts for maintenance of opioid tolerance may promote higher restart doses that are closer to therapeutic levels without increased patient harm.

Corresponding Author: Paul J. Christine, MD, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12631 E 17th Ave, 8th Floor, Academic Office 1, Mailstop B180, Aurora, CO 80045 (paul.christine@cuanschutz.edu).

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