When it comes to stopping opioid abuse, Suboxone and methadone are two popular options. Both of these drugs are similar in that they help people overcome opioid addiction by mitigating withdrawal symptoms. However, they’re also different in a number of ways. Let’s take a look at Suboxone vs methadone, and which one is right for you.
Suboxone vs Methadone
Methadone and Suboxone are both synthetic opioids. Also, doctors use both as a way to help people gradually stop taking illegal opioids such as heroin.
How Does Suboxone Work?
Suboxone is an analgesic and similar to opioids such as heroin and morphine. However, it doesn’t produce the same euphoric effect, which means that it’s easier to quit.
The drug contains buprenorphine, which works as a partial opiate agonist in the brain. It fills the brain’s opiate receptors, which keeps people from experiencing withdrawal after stopping opioids.
Suboxone also contains naloxone. This medication isn’t active when people use the drug correctly. However, if they attempt to crush or inject Suboxone, the naloxone becomes active. The users immediately start feeling the effects of withdrawal, deterring them from Suboxone abuse.
How Does Methadone Work?
Methadone, on the other hand, is a full opioid agonist. It binds to the opiate receptors and mimics the endorphins of real opioids. Mimicking real opioids keeps people from experiencing painful withdrawal symptoms.
Limiting withdrawal is one of the best ways to keep people from relapsing. Methadone, while still addictive, can lessen withdrawal, making it easier to stop using opioids. However, methadone can cause people to experience withdrawal if they don’t take it properly.
Which One Is Right for You?
Both medications have their pros and cons. It’s important to note, however, that they also have the potential for abuse when people don’t use them correctly. Methadone has a slightly higher chance of abuse, which is why people must visit a detox center to get it. Suboxone, however, is a drug that doctors can prescribe for people to use at home.
In some cases, people can experience methadone and Suboxone withdrawal. Experts recommend that they always take these drugs correctly. They should also avoid mixing them with other medicines.
Get the Help That You Need to Overcome Addiction at Crestview Recovery
At Crestview Recovery, we focus on helping you overcome addiction. We can even teach you everything you need to know about Suboxone vs methadone. After completing detox, we invite you to enroll in one of our many addiction rehab programs such as:
- Residential rehab
- Intensive outpatient rehab
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Aftercare
Don’t let yourself or a loved one battle addiction alone. Learn what it takes to beat addiction with our help. Contact us at 866.262.0531 to find out what life in sobriety can be like.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
