[BigBobD]

Methadone as treatment for multiple myeloma?

by BigBobD on Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:11 am

Is there any information available about the possibility of using methadone to treat multiple myeloma?

I am asking because I have heard some researchers suggest that methadone may work as a treatment for leukemia.

I am currently on maintenance therapy (Revlimid and dexamethasone) after being diagnosed in February 2016 with Stage 3 multiple myeloma. I am trying to find some sort of alternative to avoid the side affects and pain from all previous treatment I've received. I am not one to give up, but quality of life is pretty bad from the standpoint of having a "treatable, not beatable" cancer.

[Mike F]

Re: Methadone as treatment for multiple myeloma?

by Mike F on Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:47 pm

For what it's worth, a quick PubMed search of the terms "methadone" and "myeloma" returned only four hits and they were all related to using methadone for pain control rather than myeloma treatment. When I searched on leukemia and methadone, I did find an article discussing how methadone as well as other opioids can kill leukemia cells in test tubes. I didn't see anything indicating tests in people or animals have been done, but I didn't do a very in-depth search. It looks as though no one's really looked at using methadone for myeloma.treatment.

[tennispro]

Re: Methadone as treatment for multiple myeloma?

by tennispro on Sun Jul 01, 2018 8:26 pm

I know of a friend’s brother in Germany who has myeloma and is now in remission after being prescribed methadone in a clinical trial. He has had two stem cell transplants and is unable to take many of the standard medications anymore because of a liver issue. It is working for him in Germany. Don’t know of any studies in the United States using methadone as a treatment for myeloma though.