Methadone Overdose & Sudden Death: Understanding the Risks

Question
If a person died from taking methadone prescribed for pain- within the first 24 hours of starting the methadone and they were found looking like they just went to sleep but they had a brownish froth in their mouth - would this indicate that they just went to sleep and quit breathing or had an acute myocardial infraction? or both? or neither?
Thank you
Terry

Answer
Hi Terry,
That's hard to say. Sudden death can be from a number of things. It may have been respiratory supression and subsequent failure from the narcotic; pulmonary edema is also possible with the "froth" issue. Myocardial infarction is not likely but a fatal arrhythmia is possible.