Sublingual Methadone for the Management of Cancer Breakthrough Pain

Inclusion Criteria:

• > 18 years of age
• Experiences episodes of breakthrough pain which respond to opioid therapy
• Controlled baseline pain
• Cognitive status sufficient for accurate completion of assessment form
• Willing to provide written informed consent
• Ability to hold a volume of 1 cc of water under the tongue for 5 minutes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently or has received methadone during the previous week
• Recent history of substance abuse
• Severe respiratory impairment or other contraindications to opioids
• Recently received therapies that had the potential to alter pain intensity or response to analgesics
• Symptomatic anemia