Methadone Vs Suboxone: Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects

Did you know both Methadone and Suboxone are effective treatments for people who suffer from misuse of opioids such as oxycontin, percocet, hydromorphone, heroin and fentanyl? They are similar but have some important differences. Read on to learn more about each and the difference between them.

What is Methadone?

Methadone is a single prescription medication and an opioid agonist. It is a long-acting drug used to replace short-acting opioid drugs people may be addicted to. Long-acting means that the drug acts more slowly in the body and for a longer period of time. The effects of methadone last for 24 to 36 hours. In contrast, a person using short-acting opioids to avoid withdrawal must use three to four times a day. This is known as methadone maintenance which is a type of opioid agonist therapy.

Methadone stimulates opioid receptors in the brain and binds very tightly to them, blocking other opioids from being able to bind to these receptors. It acts on the same parts of the brain without causing the high.This can ease symptoms of withdrawal from opioids.

Due to this reaction, methadone decreases the risk of feeling the effects of other opioids and possibly overdosing. This is key as many people say that painful withdrawal symptoms are the main reason for returning to opioid misuse.

The length of treatment varies from one to two years to 20 years or more. If the person and their doctor agree to end taking methadone the dose is tapered down gradually over many weeks to months, easing the withdrawal process.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is the brand name of a medication that eases the symptoms of withdrawal from opioids. It’s made of two different drugs, naloxone and buprenorphine.

Burpenorphone is an opioid partial agonist and stimulates opioid receptors in the brain. It has a ceiling effect, unlike other opioid medications. Taking more won’t deliver a larger effect. This can help reduce symptoms of opioid cravings and withdrawal, similar to methadone.

Naloxone is an opioid agonist, meaning it reduces the ability of opioids to act on the brain’s opioid receptors. When taken appropriately under the tongue, it is an inactive medication and has no action in the body unless someone misuses it, such as by injecting it. It is also used to treat opioid overdoses when people use it intransally as the brand Narcan.

Suboxone acts on the same parts of the brain as methadone, but less strongly. It is usually taken under the tongue (sublingually). Naloxone is added because it can cause painful withdrawal symptoms if injected. This prevents people from misusing it.

Suboxone may be started without a doctor’s prescription. Suboxone’s chemistry makes it less addictive than methadone. And it doesn’t cause as intense a high as methadone.

Side Effects Compared

Side effects can happen during use of methadone and suboxone. They include (from University of Illinois and Healthline.com) [1]:

Common Side Effects	Methadone	Suboxone
Lightheadedness	Y	Y
Dizziness	Y	Y
Fainting		Y
Sleepiness	Y	Y
Nausea and vomiting	Y	Y
Sweating	Y	Y
Constipation	Y	Y
Stomach pain	Y
Numbness in mouth		Y
Swollen or painful tongue		Y
Redness in mouth		Y
Trouble paying attention		Y
Faster or slower heart rate		Y
Blurry vision		Y

Serious side Effects	Methadone	Suboxone
Addiction	Y	Y
Severe breathing problems	Y	Y
Hear rhythm problems	Y
Problems with coordination		Y
Severe stomach pain	Y
Seizures	T
Allergic reaction	Y	Y
Opioid withdrawal		Y
Low blood pressure		Y
Liver problems		Y