Methadone for Leukemia

"Researchers in Germany have discovered that methadone has surprising killing power against leukemia cells, including treatment-resistant forms of the cancer. Their laboratory study, published in the 1 August 2008 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggests that methadone holds promise as a new therapy for leukemia, especially in patients whose cancer no longer responds to chemotherapy and radiation."(Wiki)

Another Form

There are two forms of methadone, there is racemic which is the cheapest to make, and the most common, and there is laevorotary. The second form of methadone is extremely expensive to make, and is primarily marketed to Europe, and Asia. Levo-Polamidone, Polamidone, Heptanone, Heptadone, Heptadon are the brand names. The second form was, in 1994, placed on the market for opiate dependency in the Netherlands, though later it was removed from the market all over the world due to cardiac problems.

Cross Effects

The cross effects of methadone differ from the amount of the chemical that you take. 60-80 mgs can stop the euphoria that heroine and other opiates give the user while a low dosage can stop the effects a weaker opiates like hydrocodone. This is a nice thought for the people who work with recovering addicts since the worry of them leaving the clinic and doing more opiates.
A large misconception is that methadone can be used to help people get off of cocaine, alcohol, and meth, but this is not true. The fact that methadone can stop the effects of harder and more dangerous opioids is a huge saving grace in my opinion.

Pain Managment

Methadone is also used for pain managment, this is regarded as a good thing considering methadone is less dangerous compared to the stronger pain medications that have worse side-effects. As I have said before it has almost the same effect as morphine, and herione except it is less addictive and also a synthetic( which means proccessed). Though as everyone knows methadone has it's own short-comings including the side-effects it can have in a patient who has hepattits, and pneumonia. "In case of overdose patients will experience prior difficulty breathing, muscle spasms, small pupils, blushed hued skin and finernails, constipation, slowed heart-rate, lowered blood pressure, drowsiness, and eventually coma." (Pain Managment)

The Law

Methadone is a schedule II drug which means it can not be sold without approval from the DEA, and it's illegal to have without a prescription. It may be given for pain in the U.S. as well as a treatment for dependency. "Patients are usually given liquid methadone and are watched by the clinic nurses."(Erowid) As of January 2008 manufactures of methadone above 40mg can only sell the product to lincensed for drug rehabilitaion clinics, this is of course due to the DEA. As of May 22, 2008 the DEA issued a final rule about how many patients a rehab clinic can prescribe narcotics to. (The Final Rule)

Dangerous Side Effects

As with any pharmaceuticals, methadone has some scary side effects, many of which endanger the user. One of the biggest problem is respiratory depression, "this usually occurs when pain is abruptly relieved and the sedative effects of the opioids are no longer opposed by the stimulating effects of pain."(Respiratory Depression) The problem with respiratory depression is that it doesn't happen until hours, or even days later, and last much longer than the peak of the analgesic effects, this problem will usually happen to patients whom are new to the daily methadone dosing. Another major concern is cases of QT interval prolongation and arrhythmia, this is mainly a concern for people who are required to take large doses. "An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia the heart can beat too fast, and too slow, or with an irregular rhythm," the site goes on to say that arrhythmia's are primarily harmless, but sometimes they can be serious and even fatal.(Arrhythmia) As I have stated before, and as any doctor or person with common sense would tell you, methadone is dangerous, but if taken correctly, and always safely the less likely something will go wrong.