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Policy/Guideline/Standard: | Policy | ||
| Title: | Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Dispensing Policy | ||
| Published: | March/September 2006 | ||
| Revised and Approved by Council: | September 2010 | Review Date: | 2015 |
| Key Words: | methadone, opioid dependence, pain management | ||
| Related Topics: |  | ||
| Legislative references: | Drug and Pharmacies Regulation Act R.S.O. 1990, c. H.4; Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C., 1996, c. 19. | ||
| College Contact: | Professional Practice | ||
| Purpose: | To provide guidance to members who dispense methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence, and to outline the College’s expectation in this regard. | ||
SCOPE
This policy applies to members participating in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs and who employ any of the models of dispensing methadone for MMT. This policy consolidates the Interim Policy for Methadone (2006) and the Policy for Dispensing Methadone (2006). An appendix is attached which addresses methadone dispensing for pain management.
BACKGROUND
The College recognizes MMT as an effective form of treatment for opioid dependence and is committed to ensuring that Ontarians receive this treatment in a safe manner. The best MMT programs are done in partnership recognizing the unique role of the patient, physician, pharmacist and other health care providers in ensuring patient and public safety.
Methadone for the treatment of opioid dependence is regulated by Health Canada in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and the Ontario College of Pharmacists (OCP).
Physicians who wish to prescribe methadone must apply through Health Canada for exemption under section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Exemptions can apply to either methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for opioid dependence or to the treatment of malignant and chronic non-malignant pain. Physicians who wish to provide methadone for both MMT and pain must obtain separate exemptions. Physicians may also seek authorization through CPSO to delegate the administration component of MMT in a medical office or clinic to qualified health care professionals under a “delegation exemption”. CPSO’s Policy: Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Opioid Dependence.
Pharmacists in an accredited pharmacy are permitted to dispense methadone in individually labeled and fully diluted daily doses for the treatment of opioid dependence pursuant to a written prescription from an exempted physician. In order to enable the administration of methadone in a medical office or clinic, Health Canada has issued an exemption allowing pharmacists in Ontario to transfer custody of such doses, in a secure manner, to a physician or their delegate at the treatment location according to the policies and guidelines developed by both CPSO and OCP.
PRINCIPLES
Both OCP and CPSO concur with the following:
The ideal model for methadone maintenance treatment is one which supports the integration of the patient, physician and pharmacist within the community to ensure the availability of local and accessible solutions for patients requiring methadone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence.
The pharmacist practices in accordance with the provisions of the Drug and Pharmacies Regulations Act (DPRA), the Standards of Practice of the profession of pharmacy, the Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, OCP policies and guidelines, federal legislation, in particular the CDSA and the Narcotic Control Regulations.
The physician practices in accordance with CPSO policies and guidelines and meets the requirements of other relevant legislation for the prescribing, dispensing and storage of methadone in Ontario.
The pharmacist and the physician play an important and complimentary role in the interdisciplinary model of methadone maintenance treatment. This includes joint development of written policies and procedures to ensure continuity of patient care and secure custody and storage of methadone.
According to the Narcotic Control Regulations, the pharmacist, physician and his/her delegate must take all reasonable steps necessary to protect any quantities of methadone on the premises or under their control against loss or theft. When dispensing methadone, pharmacists are responsible for the safety and integrity of the drug until such time as they have dispensed directly to the patient or transferred its custody to an exempted physician or his/her delegate When the provision of methadone has been entrusted to a delegate, the accountability and responsibility for the administration of methadone doses continues to rest with the physician.
The role of the pharmacist is to optimize the patient’s drug therapy and establish a therapeutic pharmacist-patient relationship with all patients for whom s/he dispenses drugs. The pharmacist must be responsive to prescribed changes in the patient's methadone treatment and able to provide methadone in a timely manner.
The Designated Manager (DM) and all pharmacy staff employ the same respectful, professional approaches and attitudes towards MMT patients as they would toward any other patient of the pharmacy.
MODELS FOR DISPENSING METHADONE TO PATIENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OPIOID DEPENDENCE
The pharmacist prepares individually labeled doses of methadone pursuant to a prescription and diluted in approximately 100mls of a vehicle which does not lend itself to injection (e.g. TangŪ) and then the pharmacist either:
- Dispenses to patients in a pharmacy accredited by OCP pursuant to the DPRA;
- Transfers doses in a secure manner to a physician or his/her delegate for custody of and administration to patients; or
- Takes the doses to the patient at the treatment location and observes the ingestion by the patient.
COLLABORATION AND SEAMLESS CARE
Collaboration and regular communication between pharmacists and prescribers and other members of the MMT team have an important positive impact on patient care and safety. In order to ensure safe and uninterrupted treatment, pharmacists must communicate and collaborate intra-professionally with other pharmacists during their patients’ transitions into or out of institutions and when patients change pharmacies.
PATIENT AGREEMENT
A pharmacy – patient agreement is required for patients treated for MMT. Template agreements may be found in “Methadone Maintenance: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Treatment” from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Issues to be addressed in agreement may include:
- Expectations of all parties (i.e. pharmacy/clinic hours of operation, consequences of inappropriate behaviour of patient);
- Patient’s consent to access and share personal health information with other health professionals involved in their care;
- Notice to the patient that methadone dose will be withheld if the patient appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of other substances;
- Patient’s consent to provide identification, if requested, when picking up their medication; and
- Notice to the patient that missed, lost, stolen or wasted doses will not be replaced without a prescription.
REQUIREMENTS FOR DISPENSING METHADONE IN A PHARMACY
1. Written Prescription for Methadone
A prescription written by an exempted prescriber is required. The CPSO or Office of Controlled Substances (Health Canada) may be contacted to confirm that the prescriber has the appropriate methadone exemption (i.e. MMT or pain).
2. Preparation of Methadone
The methadone is prepared in a manner and form required for dispensing to a patient in accordance with the:
- CAMH guidelines: Methadone Maintenance: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Treatment;
- Prescriber's instructions;
- Standards of Practice;
- Drug and Pharmacies Regulations Act and Regulations; and
- Narcotic Control Regulations.
When preparing a methadone stock solution, a bulk-compounding log file must be maintained which includes:
- The date prepared;
- Name (printed) and signature of pharmacist and technician responsible for preparing the stock solution;
- The concentration of stock solution;
- Quantity and lot number of methadone used; and
- Final quantity of stock solution prepared.
2.2 Preparation of Final Dosage Form
Daily doses of methadone (drink and carries) must be diluted and dispensed in approximately 100 mL of a vehicle that does not lend itself to injection such as orange flavoured TangŪ or another suitable drink.
The use of an appropriate measuring device, such as a measuring pump, to ensure accuracy of dilution is strongly recommended. Syringes may have an error rate of up to 10%. The use of graduated cylinders is not recommended.
Methadone solution for carries must be dispensed with child-proof safety caps.
2.3 Labeling
Labels on all dispensed methadone must be in accordance with the DPRA, section 156. In addition the label of each unit dose of methadone, i.e. drink or carry, must include:
- The total dose in mg of methadone contained in the bottle;
- The date for ingestion for carries;
- “Keep refrigerated” auxiliary label for carries
- A notation: “Drink entire contents of bottle” and
- One of the following auxiliary labels must be used:
- Methadone may cause serious harm to someone other than the intended patient. Not to be used by anyone other than the patient for whom it was intended. MAY BE FATAL TO CHILD OR ADULT.
- Methadone may cause serious harm to someone other than the intended patient. MAY BE FATAL TO CHILD OR ADULT.
When pharmacists transfer custody of individually labeled doses of methadone, to a physician or his/her delegate, the physician or delegate must sign the patient manifest on a daily basis to confirm that they have received each correct dose.
Pharmacists must either directly hand the doses of methadone to the physician or his/her delegate, or use a method of transportation that ensures they are aware of and can track who has had custody of the drug at any given time to ensure safekeeping of the methadone while in transit (i.e. a chain-of-signatures and tamper proof boxes). All methadone must be transported in an accountable and secure manner, as described above, and in such a manner as to avoid extremes in temperature or delays in transport which could compromise the drug.
4. Administration of Methadone Dose
Refer to Methadone Maintenance: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Treatment (CAMH)
In all instances, the patient must be positively identified prior to observing the ingestion of methadone. After the daily dose of methadone is prepared, the pharmacist does one of the following:
- Observes the ingestion by the patient in the pharmacy;
- Observes the ingestion of the first dose of the maintenance prescription by the patient in the pharmacy and provides authorized carries to the patient;
- Takes the dose to the patient and observes the ingestion of the dose; or
- Takes the doses to the patient and observes the ingestion of the first dose of the maintenance prescription by the patient and provides authorized carries.
The observation of methadone ingestion is documented daily in the patient record so that it can be determined where each dose of methadone went, for both patient care and auditing purposes. Documentation of methadone ingestion must include the patient's name, daily dose, date, time and place where the administration was observed. When a physician or delegate administers the methadone, the dispensing pharmacist must be provided with copies of such records daily.
All documentation pertaining to methadone must provide an audit trail and be readily retrievable. This includes but is not limited to, records of compounding, dispensing with a cross-reference to stock solution used, administration, dates, storage conditions and handling.
6. Changes in Dosing
Any new doses or changes of methadone dose require a new prescription.
7. Unused Doses of Methadone
Unused individually labeled doses of methadone:
- Remain in the pharmacy and are managed in accordance with applicable laws, standards of practice, and OCP policy (where the patient did not attend the pharmacy for his dose, or where the patient was refused the dose because of safety concerns); or
- Are returned to the pharmacy by the physician or his/her delegate, preferably on a daily basis, signed for upon receipt, entered into the appropriate record, and destroyed in the pharmacy in accordance with applicable laws, standards of practice and OCP policy.
A daily reconciliation of the methadone dispensed to and received from a treatment location is conducted in such a manner that would allow for immediate detection of any losses or diverted quantities.
9. Maintaining Patient Confidentiality and Privacy
Patient administration of methadone in a pharmacy must be done in an area and manner which ensures patient confidentiality and privacy.
INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES
In those instances where a pharmacy provides methadone services to institutions such as long term care facilities, correctional institutions or hospitals, specific policies and procedures consistent with all of the above criteria must be established outlining how methadone is dispensed.
REPORTING TO THE COLLEGE
The owner/designated manager of a pharmacy that dispenses methadone for MMT must provide the College with the following information within seven days:
- Notification of the intention to dispense methadone for MMT;
- Whether they are accepting new patients;
- The names of pharmacists who are trained to dispense methadone;
- Hours of operation and days of the week the pharmacy is open, including holidays; and
- Any changes in this status.
Pharmacists dispensing methadone must be familiar with the principles and guidelines outlined in both the CAMH publication, Methadone Maintenance: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Treatment and the CPSO Methadone Maintenance Guidelines. The DM must be trained in methadone via the CAMH Opioid Dependence Treatment (ODT) Course or approved course within six months of beginning a methadone practice. In addition to the DM, within one year, at least one staff pharmacist must complete these training requirements. Training must be updated at a minimum of every 5 years. Ideally all pharmacists providing methadone services should participate in educational training in MMT. It is the DM’s responsibility to inform all pharmacists working in a pharmacy, including relief and casual pharmacists, if that pharmacy provides methadone services.
REQUIRED REFERENCES
Pharmacies dispensing methadone for MMT must maintain as a required reference the most recent edition of:
- Methadone Maintenance: A Pharmacist’s Guide to Treatment (CAMH) Methadone Maintenance Treatment Standards and Guidelines (CPSO)
- CPSO Policy: Methadone Maintenance Treatment for Opioid Dependence
- Canadian guideline for safe and effective use of opioids for chronic non- cancer pain
- OPA Pharmacy toolkit for Methadone Dispensing
APPENDIX
METHADONE DISPENSING FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT
Patients treated with methadone for pain are categorized in the following three groups by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO):
- Group I: Pain patients with no identified risk factors for dependence beyond that found in the general population.
- Group II: Pain patients with a past or active history of non-opioid drug or alcohol dependence.
- Group III:Pain patients with concurrent opioid dependence and their pain management should follow as closely as possible to Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) guidelines.
While policy and guidelines for dispensing of methadone for MMT must be strictly adhered to, the treatment of patients categorized as either Group I or II may present unique clinical situations where, for individual patients, with appropriate documentation, practice may vary according to professional judgment. The treatment of Group III patients should follow as closely as possible to MMT policy.
Although, there is no formal training, i.e. CAMH, ODT certification, required for dispensing methadone for pain, pharmacists need to be aware of the requirements regarding methadone. Pharmacists are expected to be familiar with the current Methadone for Pain Guidelines from CPSO. Pharmacists in all practice settings shall verify whether a prescriber holds an exemption to prescribe methadone for either MMT, Pain or both.
The owner/designated manager of a pharmacy that dispenses methadone for either MMT or Pain shall inform the College within seven days. (see MMT Policy)
With the exception of the differences outlined below, the same principles and policies apply to the compounding and documentation, dispensing, administration and labelling of methadone for both MMT and Pain management. For Groups I and II:
- Methadone may be dispensed in an aqueous form or as tablets rather than diluted in flavoured drink.
- Observed doses usually will not be necessary and to facilitate self administration, the pharmacist will provide the patient with appropriate measuring device (i.e. oral syringe) with capacity and accuracy to deliver prescribed doses and provide instructions on the use of such devices.
- Labels shall include directions for the frequency of the dosing as prescribed
- When methadone solution is dispensed, pharmacist shall label with expiry date and concentration.
Required References
- CPSO Methadone for Pain Guidelines
Other References
- Canadian Guideline for safe and effective use of opioids for chronic
non-cancer pain
Click here for a printable PDF document of this Policy
