Author/Authors :
Tam, Weng-Chio Department of Cardiology - Centro Hospitalar Conde São Januário, Macau, SAR, China , Lam, U-Po Department of Cardiology - Centro Hospitalar Conde São Januário, Macau, SAR, China , Mok, Toi-Meng Department of Cardiology - Centro Hospitalar Conde São Januário, Macau, SAR, China , Chang, Tou Department of Cardiology - Centro Hospitalar Conde São Januário, Macau, SAR, China , Ho, Wa Department of Cardiology - Centro Hospitalar Conde São Januário, Macau, SAR, China , De Brito Lima Evora, Mario Alberto Department of Cardiology - Centro Hospitalar Conde São Januário, Macau, SAR, China
Abstract :
Methadone is a well-tolerated drug that has been used for pain control and the treatment of opioid addiction. However, some fatal
cardiac side effects have been reported previously, including ventricular arrhythmia, stress cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery
disease. We reported a middle-aged woman receiving high-dose methadone whom was presented with QT prolongation and
torsade de pointes. We replaced the methadone with benzodiazepine and gave lidocaine use simultaneously. Thus, QT interval
was shortened within the normal limit. Methadone-induced torsade de pointes is a rare but serious event, and QT interval
should be monitored periodically to prevent this fatal adverse event, especially some patients with high-dose methadone use.
