The differential effect of methadone dose and of chronic pain on pain perception of former heroin addicts receiving methadone maintenance treatment.

Unlabelled: The reports on pain perception among former heroin addicts receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) vary with regard to pain and intolerance threshold, and perception of suprathreshold stimuli has not been previously evaluated. Our aim was to systematically assess perception of threshold and suprathreshold noxious and innocuous stimuli with special attention to the effect of MMT dose and the presence of chronic pain. Noxious and innocuous, thermal and mechanical thresholds and ratings of suprathreshold heat-pain stimuli were measured among 31 MMT subjects receiving high and low MMT dose, with and without chronic pain, and in 17 healthy controls.

Melatonin for perceived sleep disturbances associated with benzodiazepine withdrawal among patients in methadone maintenance treatment: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of melatonin in attenuating sleep difficulties during benzodiazepine (BDZ) withdrawal.

Design: Double-blind cross-over control study.

Setting: Methadone maintenance treatment clinic.