Oral methadone for managing chronic nonmalignant pain.

Five patients with chronic nonmalignant pain were transferred from other analgesics to oral methadone. The method of transferring to oral methadone is described and issues of cost effectiveness, convenience, improved analgesia, and adverse effects are discussed. Oral methadone may provide a cost-effective alternative to other opioid analgesics and may provide improved pain control in certain patients, even when compared with other opioids administered parenterally.