Methadone maintenance treatment and St. John's Wort - a case report.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_33959DD0A326
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Case report (case report): feedback on an observation with a short commentary.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Methadone maintenance treatment and St. John's Wort - a case report.
Journal
Pharmacopsychiatry
Author(s)
Eich-Höchli D., Oppliger R., Golay K.P., Baumann P., Eap C.B.
ISSN
0176-3679
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2003
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
36
Number
1
Pages
35-7
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Case Reports ; Clinical Trial ; Letter ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't - Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
St. John's wort, a popular over-the-counter drug for treatment of depression, might reduce concentrations of drugs such as cyclosporin and indinavir and lead to drug resistance and treatment failure. No studies as yet have examined its influence on methadone plasma levels. The trough methadone plasma levels were measured in four patients (2 males, median age: 31 years; range 19 - 40 years) in methadone maintenance treatment just before the introduction of St. John's wort (900 mg/d) and after a median period of 31-day treatment (range 14 - 47). The study was proposed to addict patients about to start an antidepressant therapy. Introduction of St. John's wort resulted in a strong reduction of (R,S)-methadone concentration-to-dose ratios in the four median patients included, with a median decrease to 47 % of the original concentration (range: 19 % - 60 % of the original concentration). Two patients reported symptoms that suggested a withdrawal syndrome. Thus, prescription of St. John's wort might decrease methadone blood levels and induce withdrawal symptoms which, if not correctly identified and handled (by changing the antidepressant or by increasing the methadone dose), might cause unnecessary discomfort to the patient, lead to resumption of illicit drug uses, or be a risk factor for discontinuation of the methadone or antidepressant treatment.
Keywords
Adult, Analgesics, Opioid, Depressive Disorder, Drug Interactions, Drug Therapy, Combination, Humans, Hypericum, Male, Methadone, Plant Preparations, Substance-Related Disorders
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
10/03/2008 10:53
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:19
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