Suboxone vs Methadone: Choosing The Best Option for Opioid Use Disorder

The cases of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) have been significantly rising these days because opioids are highly vulnerable to dependency even when taken as part of a prescription. There are various options available to choose from for dealing with this harmful disorder. Suboxone and Methadone are one of those drugs that have been quite efficient in dealing with this disorder. But both these drugs have the same function, which might confuse us while choosing the appropriate one. So in this blog, we will focus on Suboxone vs Methadone to understand more about their differences to help us choose the best.

Before moving on to the difference between these two drugs, let’s have a short overview of Suboxone and Methadone.

What is Suboxone?

The combination of buprenorphine and naloxone forms Suboxone. The presence of both these products makes Suboxone one of the widely used drugs to treat opioid use disorder. The potential for getting addicted to this drug is less because the presence of naloxone stops it from happening. Suboxone comes in the form of a thin strip, which is to be placed under the tongue or in the cheeks, where it will dissolve slowly. Before starting on Suboxone, it is important to check certain factors to ensure that you are eligible for the drug. The factors are:

• Experiencing Opioid cravings
• Suffering from Opioid withdrawal
• Other medications are not very effective

What is Methadone?

The drug Methadone is used in people addicted to narcotics like Heroin. It is also known for its use to manage opioid use disorder. Methadone can show its effectiveness in the withdrawal in less than a month and can also be used by individuals for the rest of their lives. This drug comes in the form of a tablet and a solution and must only be taken by mouth. Methadone comes under the category of a Schedule II drug, for which it must only be used under a doctor’s supervision.

There are certain conditions under which Methadone shouldn’t be taken. They are:

• Alcohol use
• Bowel blockage
• Diabetes
• Head injury
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Seizures
• Pregnant
• Breastfeeding

What Is The Difference Between Suboxone And Methadone?

Since both drugs have the same use, you might be wondering are suboxone and methadone the same thing? The answer is no, they are not the same. Various other aspects make these drugs different from each other. Now, let’s look into all those factors to help us understand better.

Factors	Suboxone	Methadone
Composition	Buprenorphine and Naloxone	Methadone Hydrochloride
Brand Names	Suboxone	Methadose/Dolophine
Available Forms	Sublingual film	Tablet, Oral solution, Injectable liquid
Onset	20 to 60 minutes	30 minutes
Half-Life	24 to 42 hours	24 hours
Schedule Category	Schedule III	Schedule II
Potential for abuse	Low as compared to Methadone	Very high
Cost	Expensive	Low compared to Suboxone

Which Is Stronger, Methadone or Suboxone?

Methadone is considered to be much stronger as compared to Suboxone due to its mechanism of action. Methadone fully activates the brain receptors because it is a full opioid opioid agonist. Suboxone, on the other hand, is a partial agonist that provides a ceiling effect. This can also be the reason why Methadone can be considered a better option for those who have high opioid tolerance, while Suboxone can be used by people having a lower tolerance level.

Suboxone vs Methadone Side Effects

There are various side effects noticed in individuals taking Suboxone or Methadone. These effects can range from mild to severe based on the drugs. Let’s look into the effects of each of the drugs.

Side Effects of Suboxone

• Headache
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Swelling
• Body aches
• Inflammation
• Burning sensation
• Sleepiness
• Diziness
• Coordination problem
• Addiction

Side Effects of Methadone

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure
• Lightheadedness
• Confusion
• Agitation
• Serotonin syndrome

Drug Interactions

Certain drugs must not be taken together with Suboxone or Methadone to avoid harmful reactions in the body. This phenomenon is often termed drug interactions. It is better to be aware of such drugs beforehand to avoid combining them and causing harm to the body.

Drug Interaction of Suboxone

• Abilify
• Alprazolam
• Ambien
• baclofen
• buspirone
• clonazepam
• clonidine
• Cymbalta
• gabapentin
• Hydroxyzine
• Klonopin
• Lamictal
• Lexapro
• lisinopril
• Lyrica
• propranolol
• Prozac
• Seroquel
• Trazodone
• Vyvanse
• Wellbutrin XL
• Xanax
• Zoloft

Drug Interactions of Methadone

• Fluconazole
• ciprofloxacin
• Fluoxetine
• Phenytoin
• Carbamazepine
• Buprenorphine
• Pentazocine
• Nalbuphine
• Alcohol

What Happens If You Take Suboxone And Methadone Together?

We have already discussed that both these drugs can be used for opioid use disorder. So, can you take suboxone and methadone at the same time? If you are thinking of doing something like this, then it’s better to drop that plan because this will lead to severe overdosing, which will be harmful. Although Naloxone can stop overdosing up to a certain degree but if the amount is higher, then severe sedation will occur, which can even lead to coma. In certain rare cases, if the doctor has prescribed you Suboxone and Methadone together, then the dose must be very less and the time duration will also be less than 7 days to avoid dependency. There is also a higher chance of getting an allergic reaction to the ingredients of each drug.

Other Alternatives To Suboxone and Methadone

People can choose various other alternative options available in the market if Suboxone or Methadone does not help much for their condition. These alternatives might be more effective for them and help them get relief faster.

Suboxone Alternatives

• Buprenorphine
• Methadone
• Naltrexone
• Vivitrol
• Zubsolv
• Brixadi

Methadone Alternatives

• Suboxone
• Naltrexone
• Zubsolv
• Subutex
• Sublocade
• Bunavail
• Cassipa
• Probuphine

Conclusion

At the end of this blog, we can conclude that choosing between Suboxone and Methadone depends on your health condition. Some people may find relief with Suboxone and some with Methadone. Both these drugs are equally effective, and it’s important that you use them wisely to get the best results from these drugs. Do not be in a hurry and follow all the instructions carefully with patience to achieve the best result.