In the growing world, medical scientists invent new brands of medicine for treating Opioid use disorder and ADHD in people. Naltrexone and Suboxone are the medicines that help people to cure these disorders. However, both drugs have different styles of treatment. This blog helps you to understand all the Naltrexone vs Suboxone differences.
So, let us start the blog!
Comparison: Naltrexone vs Suboxone Medicines
There are various differences between Naltroxene and Suboxone medicines, which include the following:
Definition:
Naltrexone is a medication drug that treats the symptoms of opioid disorders in individuals. It is also useful in the treatment of smoking cessation, fibromyalgia, alcohol use disorder, and trichotillomania.
The medicine Suboxone is used to prevent opioid disorders in people. It is a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone drugs. This drug is also used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in people.
Brand names:
The brand name of Naltrexone medicine is Vivitrol.
Zubsolv is the brand name of Suboxone medicine.
Dosages: Naltrexone vs Suboxone
Naltrexone and Suboxone medicines have different dosage strengths. Read the following dosage strengths of these medication drugs:
Naltrexone Medicine
Adults can take the dosage strength of this medication drug for the treatment of opioid disorders. This medicine is in the form of oral tablets and injections. The dosage strength of this medication drug is 50 mg for oral tablets and 380 mg for injections.
The starting recommended dose of this medication drug as per the doctor’s prescription is 25 mg. Doctors can increase the dosage strength of this medicine which is the maximum dose of this drug.
Suboxone Medicine
Suboxone medicine can be used by adults and children above 15 years of age. They take this medication drug in the form of the sublingual film when suffering from an opioid disorder in individuals.
This drug is available in the dosage strengths of suboxone 2 mg and Suboxone 8 mg. Oral tablets can be taken for less than 12 weeks in a day. Injection with the dosage strength of 380 mg can be taken every 4 weeks.
Functions and Half-life: Naltrexone vs Suboxone
Both medicines have the same function but half-life of these medication drugs is different. Read the following functions and half-life of Naltroxene and Suboxone drugs:
Naltrexone Medicine
Naltrexone drug acts as an opioid agonist in the Central Nervous System (CNS). The working of this medication drug is to protect from opioid intoxication which helps to reduce opioid disorders in individuals. This medicine has a half-life of 10 hours in an individual’s body.
Suboxone Medicine
Suboxone medicine works by blocking the opioid receptors in an individual’s brain. This reduces the opioid disorders in him or her. The half-life of this medication drug is 37 hours when they take this medication drug for the treatment of opioid disorder.
Drug Interactions:
Both drugs can interact with different medicinal drugs. Read the following drug interactions of Naltrexone and Suboxone medicines:
Naltrexone Medicine
There are various drugs that can interact with Naltrexone medicine. These can include Ketobemidone, Nalbuphine, Opium Alkaloids, Remifentanil, Tilidine, Tapentadol, Butorphanol, Anileridine, etc.
Suboxone Medicine
Suboxone medicine interacts with various medicinal drugs in some higher chances. These medicinal drugs are Benzphetamine, Brompheniramine, Canrenone, Schisandra Sphenanthera, Spironolactone, Tetrabenazine, Tolonium Chloride, and so on.
Side Effects of Suboxone and Naltrexone Medicine:
Both medicines have different side effects. Read the following side effects of Naltrexone and Suboxone drugs:
Naltrexone Medicine
The side effects of Naltrexone medicine are as follows:
- Diarrhea
- Decreased appetite
- Hoarseness
- Joint pain
- Abdominal pain
- Skin rashes, itching or hives
- Breathing problem
- Swelling in feet or lower legs
- Headache
- Dizziness or fainting
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Constipation
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Fever
- Hallucinations
- Blurred vision or swelling in the eyes
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Ischemic stroke
- Anxiety
- Lower back pain
- Redness, soreness, or swelling in the tongue
Suboxone Medicine
Suboxone medicine causes side effects in individuals. These are the following:
- Sweating
- Agitation (severe anxiety)
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Toothache
- Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
- Chest pain or tightness in the chest
- Fear or nervousness
- Chills
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Paresthesia
- Dysgeusia
- Fatigue
- Dryness in mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pharyngolaryngeal pain
- Heart palpitations
- Migraine
- Sore throat
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
- Sneezing
- Hoarseness
- Change in mood or behavior
- Jaundice (yellow eyes or skin)
Precautions for Naltrexone and Suboxone Drug:
- Women should not take these drugs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They must consult with the relevant doctor for the treatment of these health conditions.
- Do not share Naltrexone or Suboxone medicine with other person as it ia a misuse of this drug which can be harmful for him or her.
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice after taking any of these medication drugs. Drinking juice will delay the effect of Naltrexone or Suboxone medicine.
- An individual must avoid taking Naltrexone or Suboxone drug if he or she can use other medicinal drugs for the treatment of opioid disorder. Taking these medication drugs with other nitrate drugs can lower blood pressure in him or her.
- Drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes is strictly prohibited for an individual after taking these medication drugs. It can cause dizziness which can be harmful for him or her.
- Never avoid to take rest after consuming these drugs.
- It is important for an individual to take rest after taking Naltrexone or Suboxone medicine. Driving a car or performing any other activities after taking any of these drugs can cause drowsiness which becomes dangerous for him or her.
Conclusion:
So, at the end of this blog, we have seen the Naltrexone vs Suboxone comparison and understand how they differ from each other in some cases. It ensures people choose the best treatment course according to their needs. Hope, this blog will be helpful and informative to you!
