Suboxone® and methadone are medications prescribed for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for an opioid use disorder. Since neither medication is inherently better than the other, a medical professional will consider multiple factors when deciding when to prescribe each medication. This careful deliberation ensures that patients receive the medicine that best suits their needs and situation.
What Is Suboxone®?
Similar to methadone, Suboxone® is an opioid used to treat addictions to other opioids. This medication blocks pain receptors with endorphins, which eases withdrawal symptoms when you reduce or stop taking drugs.
Overall, this chemical reaction will reduce your cravings and make your recovery more manageable. Suboxone® comes in two forms — tablet and film. Both methods offer the same results and dissolve in your mouth.
Is Suboxone® Safe?
When prescribed by a medical professional and taken as directed, Suboxone® can be highly beneficial to patients with opioid use disorder. It’s less habit-forming than many other methods of recovery, so you’re less likely to become dependent on this medication during recovery.
Taking Suboxone® under medical supervision also increases your safety. Staff can monitor your symptoms in a controlled setting and ensure that you respond well to the treatment.
Suboxone® vs. Methadone
As two different medications for people with substance use disorder, both methadone and Suboxone® have characteristics that define them. Those factors make one option or the other better for certain people undergoing treatment. Some differences between methadone and Suboxone® include:
- Treatment methods: When prescribed methadone, a patient must remain under medical supervision because this opioid is only accessible through opioid treatment programs. A doctor can prescribe Suboxone® and monitor the beginning of the treatment. After the initial observation, you can take it at home.
- Affordability: Suboxone® is the brand name for buprenorphine/naloxone medication. As a generic opioid, methadone is a cost-effective alternative that medical professionals have used to treat opioid use disorder for more than 50 years.
- Side effects: Regardless of which medication your medical professional prescribes for treatment, it may have side effects. Methadone shares many side effects with Suboxone®, but some of the additional side effects of Suboxone® include trouble focusing, low blood pressure and swollen tongue.
- Consumption forms: While Suboxone® comes in a tablet and film, the most common forms of methadone are wafers and liquid.
Aside from their differences, methadone and Suboxone® have several similarities. Ultimately, both medications yield effective, long-lasting results when paired with other cornerstones of MAT, including counseling and personalized care. When you consult a medical professional about medication-assisted treatment, they will determine which medication will benefit your recovery the most.
Trust Our Personalized Treatment
When you work with our team at MedMark Treatment Centers, you’ll experience compassionate care. We strive to provide individualized and comprehensive treatment options that help you make meaningful progress toward recovery. After 50 years of treating people with opioid use disorders, we understand how to tailor our treatment to your needs and encourage an effective support system.
To learn more information about your medication-assisted treatment options, contact our team or find a MedMark location near you.
Other Topics About Methadone And Suboxone®
Methadone
- What Is a Methadone Clinic?
- Understanding the Forms of Methadone
- How Patients Take Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder
