Zaman Muhammad Adnan, Amir Amna, Mastrine Lou
Department of Internal Medicine, Conemaugh Health System, Johnstown, PA, USA.
Department of Cardiology, Conemaugh Health System, Johnstown, PA, USA.
Heart Views. 2024 Oct-Dec;25(4):275-279. doi: 10.4103/heartviews.heartviews_124_24. Epub 2025 May 10.
Methadone is considered relatively safe when compared to other opioids. Methadone, however, can cause respiratory depression and QT prolongation. Among patients on methadone maintenance therapy, the rate of cannabis use is high. Multiple hypotheses, including the 'exit hypothesis' or 'the cannabis association with reduced opioid use,' need validation and further research. In this article, we present an interesting case of a 29-year-old female on methadone maintenance therapy for fifteen years who presented with methadone toxicity likely induced by systemic infection and cannabis co-ingestion. The patient had multiple cardiotoxic effects, including prolonged QT interval managed by antiarrhythmic medications, ST-segment elevation, and stress-induced cardiomyopathy managed conservatively. In this case report, the authors want to highlight the possible effects of methadone and cannabis co-injection, methadone toxicity induced by systemic infections, and increased awareness of these potentially catastrophic cardiotoxic effects in patients on high-dose methadone maintenance therapy.
与其他阿片类药物相比,美沙酮被认为相对安全。然而,美沙酮可导致呼吸抑制和QT间期延长。在接受美沙酮维持治疗的患者中,大麻使用率很高。包括“退出假说”或“大麻与减少阿片类药物使用的关联”在内的多种假说需要验证和进一步研究。在本文中,我们介绍了一个有趣的病例,一名29岁女性接受美沙酮维持治疗15年,出现了可能由全身感染和同时摄入大麻诱发的美沙酮中毒。该患者有多种心脏毒性效应,包括通过抗心律失常药物治疗的QT间期延长、ST段抬高以及保守治疗的应激性心肌病。在本病例报告中,作者想强调美沙酮与大麻联合注射的可能影响、全身感染诱发的美沙酮中毒,以及提高对大剂量美沙酮维持治疗患者这些潜在灾难性心脏毒性效应的认识。