Opioid abuse and addiction are real problems for millions of people in the United States. For that reason, treatment centers offer many options to help them recover. Medication-assisted treatment is a standard method during detox, Most of the time, facilities prescribe methadone and Suboxone.
What Is Methadone?
As a synthetic opioid, methadone is a generic drug that doctors use to treat moderate to severe pain. However, they also use it to manage opioid withdrawal. Since it’s also an opioid, it works on the same receptors as heroin and morphine to stabilize withdrawal symptoms.
In fact, methadone works a lot like morphine. It changes how the brain and central nervous system react to pain signals. Usually, people can only get this drug legally from a methadone detox center.
What Is Suboxone?
As a brand name, Suboxone contains two prescription medications. The buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that blocks the receptors in the brain to reduce cravings. The naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects that opioids cause.
Because of this combination, Suboxone can prevent the symptoms that people with addiction feel when they quit using opioids. On the other hand, the naloxone can trigger withdrawal symptoms if they try to inject the drug.
How Are These Drugs Different?
Although methadone and Suboxone can both treat opioid withdrawal, there are differences between the two. For starters, methadone is a Schedule II substance, while Suboxone is a Schedule III substance. The reason for this difference is that methadone has a more habit-forming effect. Because of that, detox centers usually prefer to prescribe Suboxone. Another difference is that doctors only use Suboxone to treat opioid dependence. Also, the process for using these medications differs.
When people start treatment with methadone, they can only get the medication from a methadone maintenance clinic. Doctors monitor their doses until they’re stable enough to take it at home between visits. However, they don’t allow everyone to do that. Although there’s no set treatment duration with methadone, most people use it for maintenance for at least a year. Doctors carefully track how their bodies respond and gradually reduce the dose until they can stop taking it. This tapering approach prevents withdrawal.
With Suboxone, people don’t have to go to a special clinic for treatment. Their doctors can provide a prescription and closely monitor the dose. In some cases, suboxone addiction treatment centers require frequent visits to get the medication before allowing people to take it home. After some time, though, they could allow people to manage their own treatment.
The Risk of Methadone and Suboxone Use
Since methadone and buprenorphine are both opioids, they have the potential for abuse and addiction. However, methadone produces stronger euphoric effects than Suboxone. For this reason, close supervision is necessary during any medication-assisted treatment.
We Can Treat Opioid Abuse
If you have opioid use disorder on any level, help is available at Serenity House Detox & Recovery. We offer opioid treatment at both of our Florida facilities. Some of the programs that might fit your needs include:
Don’t hesitate to get help with your opioid abuse or addiction. Seek a new beginning for your life with our life-changing programs. Call Serenity House Detox & Recovery at 866-294-5306 to learn more about methadone and Suboxone use.