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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2005, 07, 4 (pages: 49 - 58)

Methadone serum concentration and its relationship to methadone dose revisited

Okruhlica L., Valentova J., Devinsky F., Formakova S., Klempova D.

Summary: The study sample included 64 patients, who were divided into two subgroups on the basis of their daily methadone dose: ´Group 1´: 29 patients with doses up to 80 mg; ´Group 2´: 35 patients with doses above 80 mg. The overall correlation in the whole group was: r = 0.570. A strong correlation was found between dose and serum concentration in ‘Group 1': r = 0.799. Non-significant correlation close to zero was found in ‘Group 2'. Our findings suggest that the linear relationship between methadone dose and its serum concentration in lower doses cannot be extrapolated to higher doses.