Electrocardiogram Characteristics of Methadone and Buprenorphine Maintained Subjects

ABSTRACT There has been recent concern about the association between high dose methadone and prolongation of QTc in the electrocardiogram. QTc is the time from the beginning of the QRS complex to the end of the T have as measured on an electrocardiogram and corrected for heart rate. To date, no association has been made between methadone and buprenorphine in commonly used doses and prolonged QTc. Electrocardiograms were performed on groups of methadone (n = 35, mean daily dose ± standard deviation, 69 ± 29 mg) and buprenorphine (n = 19, mean daily dose 11 ± 5 mg) subjects and a group of non-opioid dependent controls (n = 17). Mean QTc did not differ (p = 0.45) between methadone, buprenorphine, or controls. Methadone subjects were significantly (odds ratio of 7.8) more likely to have U waves than buprenorphine and controls combined. Methadone subjects with U waves were maintained on higher (p = 0.004) doses (89 ± 29 mg/day) than methadone subjects without U waves (60 ± 24 mg/day). Methadone subjects taking...