Suboxone and Methadone: Differences to Be Aware Of

Understanding Methadone

Methadone is also a medication that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat opioid dependence, and the prescribing information also reports that it can be used to treat pain as an analgesic. The pain-relieving component of methadone wears off much more quickly than the central nervous system depressant effects; therefore, it is not generally a first-line treatment for pain management. Instead, methadone is commonly prescribed through federally regulated clinics as part of a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program for opioid addiction.
As an opioid drug, methadone binds to certain receptors in the brain and blocks pain sensations. It also increases levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, thus altering its chemical makeup. Dopamine helps to regulate movement abilities, moods, and sleep functions. High levels of the chemical messenger can make a person feel happy, mellow, sleepy, and sluggish. Opioids are also central nervous system depressants that slow down autonomic functions such as breathing and pulse.
Methadone is prescribed in tablet form, as an oral or liquid solution, and as a dispersible tablet that is dissolved in liquid, the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) publishes. Methadose and Dolophine are brand names for methadone. The DEA reports that in 2013, there were close to 4 million prescriptions of methadone dispensed in the U.S.

Suboxone or Methadone?

Both methadone and Suboxone can be beneficial as part of an opioid addiction treatment program. There are pros and cons to both; therefore, there can be times when one might be preferable over the other. The opioid antagonist component of Suboxone makes it a great medication for helping people stay off illicit opioids long-term, but that same component can precipitate withdrawal if taken too early in treatment. For this reason, methadone or pure buprenorphine is typically preferred during an opioid detox program until full opioid agonists are completely out of the system.
Both methadone and Suboxone may be abused. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicates that 0.3 percent of the American population misused a buprenorphine product in 2016 while 0.1 percent misused methadone. Suboxone is likely misused less than single buprenorphine products due to the addition of naloxone.
The risk for overdose when abusing methadone is slightly higher than that of buprenorphine since methadone is a full opioid agonist as opposed to a partial one. While methadone may be abused as an opioid drug for the associated euphoric high, Suboxone is more apt to be misused in an attempt to avoid withdrawal between other opioid doses or for a slight buzz.
Suboxone has been dubbed “prison heroin,” as it has been known to be smuggled into jails and prisons taped to the pages of children’s books or coloring pages. Both Suboxone and methadone are tightly controlled and regulated as potential drugs of abuse with addictive potential.