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Methadone; NAC
Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist that binds to mu opioid receptors in the central nervous system, while NAC (N-acetylcysteine) is an antioxidant that replenishes glutathione and may modulate opioid-related neurotoxicity.
Methadone is a synthetic opioid agonist that binds to mu opioid receptors in the central nervous system, while NAC (N-acetylcysteine) is an antioxidant that replenishes glutathione and may modulate opioid-related neurotoxicity. Used for Opioid use disorder maintenance treatment, Chronic pain management.
At a glance
| Generic name | Methadone; NAC |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Taichung Veterans General Hospital |
| Drug class | Opioid agonist with antioxidant adjunct |
| Target | Mu opioid receptor (methadone); glutathione synthesis pathway (NAC) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Pain Management, Substance Use Disorder |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Methadone acts as a long-acting mu opioid receptor agonist, providing sustained analgesia and opioid replacement therapy. NAC is included as an adjunctive agent to reduce oxidative stress and potentially mitigate some adverse effects associated with chronic methadone use, such as neurotoxicity and organ damage. This combination approach aims to optimize pain management or opioid dependence treatment while reducing harm.
Approved indications
- Chronic pain management
- Opioid use disorder / opioid maintenance therapy
Common side effects
- Constipation
- Sedation
- Respiratory depression
- QT prolongation
- Nausea
Key clinical trials
- Deep Brain Stimulation of the Bilateral Nucleus Accumbens for Patients With Methadone Maintenance Treatment (NA)
- Compare Methadone Combined With N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) and Methadone Alone for Opioids Astaining (PHASE4)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Methadone; NAC CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Methadone; NAC updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Taichung Veterans General Hospital portfolio CI