Fluoxetine addition to methadone in addicts: pharmacokinetic aspects.
It is possible that in some patients a moderate FX-MTD interaction occurs, resulting in increased plasma levels of MTD, but this interaction is certainly less marked than that between FLVX and MTD and unlikely to have clinical consequences.
Abstract
We report nine cases where fluoxetine (FX) (20 mg/day) was added to maintenance treatment with methadone (MTD) (dose range: 30-100 mg) in addicts with affective disorders. MTD plasma levels were measured before and after treatment with FX under steady-state conditions. Among the nine patients, two also received fluvoxamine (FLVX) at different times. Although it is possible that in some patients a moderate FX-MTD interaction occurs, resulting in increased plasma levels of MTD, this interaction is certainly less marked than that between FLVX and MTD and unlikely to have clinical consequences.