The distribution of methadone in man

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Abstract
The distribution of methadone and its metabolite, 1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenyl-2-ethylidene pyrrolidine, in man, postmortem, is presented. Quantitative data for methadone and the metabolite in blood, bile, urine, liver, kidney, spleen, lung and brain samples show that methadone blood concentrations range from 0·22–3·04 μg/ml and are less than in bile and urine. The metabolite is found particularly in bile and urine. The liver and kidney concentrations are approximately equivalent unless the survival time is reduced by the presence of another CNS-depressant drug. Lung tissue is the richest source of methadone and brain the poorest. Chromatographic data for three other methadone metabolites are included.