Treatment for Opioid Addiction Using Buprenorphine or Methadone

Buprenorphine and Methadone are therapies for the treatment for opioid addiction. Opioids are substances that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects; medically, they are primarily used for pain relief, including anesthesia. These drugs can decrease pain, particularly from injuries or surgery, making them addictive. As a result, they are popular medications for the treatment for opioid addiction.

Medication for opioid addiction is done primarily in a recovery center( Search) or a Suboxone Doctor. People in recovery frequently use Methadone and Suboxone during medication. These drugs can help alleviate withdrawal and block the high that makes opioids so addictive.

 

What are some forms of treatment for opioid addiction?

 

Opioid addiction can be used to distract oneself from any issues or sometimes maybe just to overcome an issue. But when it comes to overcoming addiction people at first do not go for a treatment for opioid addiction but try to DIY it. This leads to taking more time in getting over the issue. Mentioned below are some of the treatment for opioid addiction:

Drug Addiction Treatment 

 

While evaluating treatment alternatives for opioid addiction, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is one of the widespread programs. MAT has a beneficial option for many individuals, and there are two fundamental medications used in such programs – Buprenorphine and Methadone.

Both treatments are proven beneficial in treating opioid use disorder. We will break down the benefits, risks, and side effects of these two. This evaluation might help you choose the more adequate for you.

 

What Are the Benefits of Methadone vs.Buprenorphine?

 

Both Methadone and Buprenorphine are successful addiction medications, although they can become addictive, as well. As for ease of usage, Buprenorphine may be commenced without a doctor’s maintenance. Most doctors can specify it within or outside a reliable drug addiction program. However, it compels a higher dosage than Methadone for treatment, and it is less beneficial in preventing opioid relapses.

Methadone is also simpler to use in adjustable dosing. Flexible and take-home dosing can make it simpler for patients to keep up with their treatment plan and prevent relapse.

 

What are the Risks of Methadone vs. Buprenorphine?

 

Methadone is more addictive than Buprenorphine. Withdrawal indications from Methadone can heighten dependence on the medication. Some people stay on Methadone for a lifetime to stay away from opioids. 

Buprenorphine’s chemistry renders it less addictive. It does not result in as intense a high as Methadone, either. Buprenorphine overdose is also less familiar than methadone overdose. Unlike Methadone, its consequences taper off after a specific dosage quantity called the ceiling effect. The ceiling effect enables one to prevent seizing too much Buprenorphine.

But Buprenorphine addiction and overdose are still feasible. People early to opioids and who blend medications are at increased risk of overdose from Buprenorphine.

 

What are the Side Effects of Buprenorphine and Methadone?

Side effects can occur during short and long-term use of Methadone and Buprenorphine. They can be constipation, nausea or vomiting, drowsiness, shallow breathing, dizziness, trouble concentrating, and sexual problems.

Medications like Methadone and Buprenorphine/Naloxone are part of the more extensive treatment for opioid addiction. They can enable people to stop using opioids initially. Keeping away from opioids after addiction always requires family support, therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

What should you choose b/w Buprenorphine and Methadone?

Severity of dependency 

 

Many factors are relevant when selecting the accurate agent for opioid detoxification or maintenance, such as patient or clinician’s tendencies and local actions. However, the patient’s degree of opiate dependency is a key characteristic. Due to its vulnerable potency, Buprenorphine is probably best prohibited to those with mild-moderate addiction, whereas Methadone can be utilized with all degrees of dependence.

 

Risk of divergence 

 

If the risk of divergence is deemed high with a patient, then one should evaluate a methadone medication due to the formerly highlighted problems governing the consumption of Buprenorphine.

 

Precipitated withdrawal 

 

Buprenorphine’s high affinity for the mμ receptor implies that it will supersede any prevailing circulating opioids, which illustrates an unusual problem when commencing buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence. It’s known as the phenomenon of precipitated withdrawal. Therefore, inducting heroin users compels caution, and transporting patients from Methadone operates a particular danger of an extensive precipitated withdrawal syndrome because of Methadone’s extended half-life. So much so that prescribing approaches do not approve shifting patients on greater than 60mg of Methadone to Buprenorphine. Instead, the Department of Health proposes that the dosage of Methadone should be no more than 30mg methadone per day. This dose is adequate for opioid addiction treatment.

 

Special considerations 

 

The security of opioid replacement for the supervision of heroin dependence in pregnancy is a crucial issue given the probable adverse impacts on the fetus of the prescribed solvent or continued illicit drug usage. Buprenorphine is not licensed for this objective and, given the significant experience of its use in pregnancy, Methadone remains the opioid of selection for many clinicians in these situations.
That said, there is thriving evidence for the safety of Buprenorphine in pregnancy correlated to Methadone. It is also reported by detox doctors to be correlated with fewer neonatal withdrawal indications.

 

Conclusion

Despite the apparent advantages conferred by the ceiling effect, buprenorphine medications have neglected to surpass Methadone. Therefore, it appears that other problems are more significant. There is substantial evidence showing that adequate treatment effects are related to high activity at the mμ receptor. For example, the narcotic blockade is attained with high quantities of Methadone. 

Therefore, it appears likely that Buprenorphine’s weaker action accounts for its lower performance related to Methadone in clinical trials. Buprenorphine is possibly the safer agent. However, its comparative advantage over Methadone in these safety areas is somewhat tempered by the arising evidence of complicated diversion and the dangers linked with the intravenous use of crushed pills.