Wednesday September 23, 1998 - Question 12

A 27 year-old male presents to the emergency department complaining of nausea, nervousness, and agitation.  The patient is receiving methadone maintenance and has been doing well with 80 mg methadone once daily, until a few days ago.  It is determined that the patient is being treated for tuberculosis and was placed on rifampin shortly before these symptoms began.

Which of the following statements regarding the above case is true?

A. Opioids are not metabolized appreciably by CYP-450 enzymes.
B. Rifampin may induce the metabolism of methadone.
C. Rifampin may inhibit the metabolism of methadone.
D. Methadone may increase the clearance of rifampin.
E. Methadone may reduce the clearance of rifampin.
 
 

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