Methadone

From IDWiki

Dosing

Initiation

St. Paul's Protocol

Day Dose
Protocol 1
1 20 mg TID or 15 mg QID + 3h post-dose assessment
2
3
4 70 mg daily + 10 mg q3h prn x2 doses
5 Day 4 dose, titrated every 3-4 days
Protocol 2
1 30 mg TID + 10 mg q3h prn x3 doses + 3h post-dose assessment
2
3
4 70 mg daily + 10 mg q3h prn x2 doses
5 Day 4 dose, titrated every 3-4 days

St. Michael's Protocol

  • Start methadone 40 mg and titrate up by 10 mg daily until 70 mg, then hold for 3 days
Day Methadone Morphine
1 40 mg 30-50 mg po q2h while awake + 30-50 mg po q3h prn for mild withdrawal + 20 mg IM for severe withdrawal
2 50 mg at 10:00 As above + 50% of total Day 1 requirements as Kadian at 16:00
3 60 mg at 10:00 Kadian Day 2 dose at 10:00; switch standing morphine to prn
4 70 mg at 10:00 Kadian Day 2 dose + 50% of additional morphine Day 3 dose; continue prn
5 70 mg at 10:00 Kadian Day 4 dose
6 70 mg at 10:00 Kadian Day 5 dose + 50% of additional morphine Day 5 dose
7 85 mg at 10:00 Kadian Day 6 dose