Methadone maintenance: effect of urinary pH on renal clearance in chronic high and low doses

The subjects were 12 male patients stabilized on methadone for many months or years. A comparison was made of the plasma levels and renal clearance of methadone between patients on "high" doses (80 to 110 mg/day) and those on "low" doses (15 to 40 mg/day). A general trend to higher renal clearance was seen in the "high" -dose group, but on more detailed examination there was a direct correlation only when the patients were categorized by urinary pH. At low pHs, there was nearly a 3-fold increase in renal clearance which was associated with a decreased major metabolite to methadone ratio. No evidence for a difference in rate of metabolism between the two groups was found nor were there differences in hepatic function. It was concluded that urinary pH was a major factor in renal clearance of methadone.