Date & Time of Session - 3/31/26 - from 12:00 - 1:00PM

Overview
Methadone is an effective therapy for pain management and opioid use disorder, but its potential to prolong the QTc interval raises concern for serious arrythmias, like torsades de pointes. Understanding the factors that contribute to QTc prolongation including dose, drug interactions, and patient-specific risks is essential to ensuring safe therapy. This presentation will review the clinical considerations associated with methadone use and its cardiac safety profile. Additionally, it will highlight practical strategies pharmacists can use to identify appropriate candidates for methadone therapy and provide evidence-based recommendations to optimize patient safety.

Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the key pharmacologic properties of methadone
2. Compare the key pharmacologic properties of methadone to the broader opioid medication class
3. Recognize methadone’s clinical utilization in pain management and opioid use disorder
4. Evaluate existing literature regarding the overall risks of QTc prolongation with a particular focus on methadone’s influence of QTc
5. Formulate patient specific recommendations and risk mitigation strategies for QTc monitoring at various stages of methadone treatment

    Target Audience
    Pharmacists, residents, and students

    Special Services
    If you require special assistance to attend this event, please call Megan Russell at (304) 550-0896.

    Speaker:
    Meghan Schick, PharmD
    PGY1 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Resident
    UK College of Pharmacy - Lexington, Kentucky

    Session date: 
    03/31/2026 - 12:00pm EDT to 05/29/2026 - 11:59pm EDT
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    • 1.00 ACPE

      In support of improving patient care, UK HealthCare CECentral is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

      This knowledge-based activity will award 1.00 contact hour(s) (0.100 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers. Course JA-UAN Number: JA0000312-0000-25-046-L01-P

    • 1.00 Participation
      UK Healthcare CECentral certifies this activity for 1.00 hour(s) of participation.
    Please login or register to take this course.
    Faculty List: 
    Speaker(s)

    Meghan Schick, PharmD

    has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.