METHADONE CAN HELP ALLEVIATE PAIN

The article detailing the plight of Vincenzo Pizzi was quite interesting
(Gazette, Dec. 8, "Marijuana as medicine"). However, there was one very
important point left out: the benefits of using methadone to treat chronic
neuropathic pain, as well as non-cancer and cancer pain.

Recent articles have shown great promise in treating patients with very low
doses of methadone for neuropathic pain. Although methadone has been around
for more than 50 years, its primary usage has been for dependence
withdrawal. It is only in the last few years that methadone has caught the
eyes of many palliative-care physicians as well as pain-clinic specialists.

What should interest the government and Health Minister Allan Rock is that
methadone sells for a fraction of the cost of morphine and other strong
opioids. Where the government required Mr. Pizzi to try anti-inflammatory,
anti-convulsant and anti-depressant drugs, it should have had him try
methadone, prescribed by a specially licensed physician.

I feel sad for Mr. Pizzi and others who are suffering needlessly at home
and in hospitals and haven't been given the option to try methadone.
Physicians, pharmacists and, of course, patients need to be educated on its
benefits.

David Knecht

Montreal