Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment
Background: Methadone is currently the most frequently used substance in the treatment of short-term and particularly long-term opiate dependence. Patients' beliefs about the adverse effects of methadone on function of organs, especially liver, have widely affected the use of this substance. Th...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2012-12-01
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| Series: | Addiction and Health |
| Online Access: | https://ahj.kmu.ac.ir/article_84576_ac5d025bf24c464577a14c425ab7ee3f.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797681876166508544 |
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| author | Mahin Eslami-Shahrbabaki Ali Akbar Haghdoost Azadeh Mashaiekhi Navid Khalili Zahra Amini-Ranjbar Alireza Ghayomi |
| author_facet | Mahin Eslami-Shahrbabaki Ali Akbar Haghdoost Azadeh Mashaiekhi Navid Khalili Zahra Amini-Ranjbar Alireza Ghayomi |
| author_sort | Mahin Eslami-Shahrbabaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Methadone is currently the most frequently used substance in the treatment of short-term and particularly long-term opiate dependence. Patients' beliefs about the adverse effects of methadone on function of organs, especially liver, have widely affected the use of this substance. This study aimed to determine the effects of methadone on liver enzyme levels in patients on methadone maintenance treatment. Methods: In a retrospective study, a total of 94 patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy were recruited from Shahid Beheshti Hospital (Kerman, Iran). Liver enzyme levels in all patients were tested every six months from the onset of treatment until 24 months. The relations between test results and age, gender, and methadone dose were then evaluated. Data was analyzed using logistic regression with random data plan. Findings: At the 24th month, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in 4 patients (4.3%) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in 3 patients (3.2%) were above normal. Among 46 patients (50%) who had normal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels after 24 months, 26 subjects were younger than 40 and 20 subjects were over 40 years of age. The mean age of subjects with abnormal ALP levels and the mean methadone dose were 39.9 years and 19.55 cc, respectively.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated the significant effect of methadone on ALP levels. These effects can account for cholestatic pattern liver injury (obstruction). Further prospective studies including greater samples of patients with heart and liver complications and encompassing other drugs are required to confirm our findings.Keywords: Methadone, Substance abuse, Liver, Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:51:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9be4c5d56eaf4a35b400dc76b3ab8715 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-4633 2008-8469 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:51:22Z |
| publishDate | 2012-12-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Addiction and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9be4c5d56eaf4a35b400dc76b3ab87152023-09-19T06:53:21ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesAddiction and Health2008-46332008-84692012-12-0143-411111684576Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance TreatmentMahin Eslami-Shahrbabaki0Ali Akbar Haghdoost1Azadeh Mashaiekhi2Navid Khalili3Zahra Amini-Ranjbar4Alireza Ghayomi5Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranAssociate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Health Modeling Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranPsychiatric Assistant, Shahid Beheshiti Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranPsychiatrist, Neuroscience Research Center, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranNurse, Shahid Beheshiti Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranNoor and Aliasghar Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranBackground: Methadone is currently the most frequently used substance in the treatment of short-term and particularly long-term opiate dependence. Patients' beliefs about the adverse effects of methadone on function of organs, especially liver, have widely affected the use of this substance. This study aimed to determine the effects of methadone on liver enzyme levels in patients on methadone maintenance treatment. Methods: In a retrospective study, a total of 94 patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy were recruited from Shahid Beheshti Hospital (Kerman, Iran). Liver enzyme levels in all patients were tested every six months from the onset of treatment until 24 months. The relations between test results and age, gender, and methadone dose were then evaluated. Data was analyzed using logistic regression with random data plan. Findings: At the 24th month, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in 4 patients (4.3%) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in 3 patients (3.2%) were above normal. Among 46 patients (50%) who had normal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels after 24 months, 26 subjects were younger than 40 and 20 subjects were over 40 years of age. The mean age of subjects with abnormal ALP levels and the mean methadone dose were 39.9 years and 19.55 cc, respectively.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated the significant effect of methadone on ALP levels. These effects can account for cholestatic pattern liver injury (obstruction). Further prospective studies including greater samples of patients with heart and liver complications and encompassing other drugs are required to confirm our findings.Keywords: Methadone, Substance abuse, Liver, Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatasehttps://ahj.kmu.ac.ir/article_84576_ac5d025bf24c464577a14c425ab7ee3f.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Mahin Eslami-Shahrbabaki Ali Akbar Haghdoost Azadeh Mashaiekhi Navid Khalili Zahra Amini-Ranjbar Alireza Ghayomi Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment Addiction and Health |
| title | Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_full | Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_short | Effects of Methadone on Liver Enzymes in Patients Undergoing Methadone Maintenance Treatment |
| title_sort | effects of methadone on liver enzymes in patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment |
| url | https://ahj.kmu.ac.ir/article_84576_ac5d025bf24c464577a14c425ab7ee3f.pdf |
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