Difference Between Methadone and Suboxone

The key difference between methadone and suboxone is that the methadone is an important drug to treat people with opioid dependence and it is a painkiller whereas suboxone is an important drug that we can use to treat opioid use disorder, but not used as a painkiller.

Both these drugs are very useful to treat the people suffering from opioid dependence. Moreover, methadone is used as a painkiller as well. However, suboxone is not recommended for this purpose. Both these drugs have side-effects as well. Let us discuss more details on them.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Methadone
3. What is Suboxone
4. Side by Side Comparison – Methadone vs Suboxone in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What is Methadone?

Methadone is an opioid medication that is useful for opioid maintenance therapy. It helps with tapering the effects of opioid dependence and it acts as a painkiller as well. Therefore, a single dose of this drug has a rapid effect on patients. Similarly, we can see a maximum effect after five days of use. The painkiller properties are similar to that of morphine. The trade name of this drug is Dolophine. The routes of administration of this drug include; via the mouth, intravenous, insufflation, sublingual and rectal.

The chemical formula of the drug is C₂₁H₂₇NO. Its molar mass is 309.45 g/mol. The adverse effects of this drug include sedation, diarrhoea, flushing, sweating, heat intolerance, dizziness, weakness, chronic fatigue, dry mouth, etc. An overdoes may cause miosis, vomiting, drowsiness, even death.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is the trade name of the drug that contains a combination of Buprenorphine/naloxone. It is available in two forms; the medication is given under the tongue or in the cheek. Its purpose is to treat opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine is an opioid medication.

Difference Between Methadone and Suboxone

Figure 01: Suboxone Tablets

On the other hand, naloxone blocks the effects of opioid medication such as a feeling of well-being which can lead to opioid abuse. Therefore it is not suitable as a pain reliever. The side effects of this drug include respiratory depression (decreased breathing), small pupils, sleepiness, and low blood pressure.

What is the Difference Between Methadone and Suboxone?

Methadone is an opioid medication, which is useful in opioid maintenance therapy. The chemical formula of this drug is C₂₁H₂₇NO. More importantly, it is an important drug that is used to treat people with opioid dependence and as a painkiller. Further, the adverse effects of methadone include sedation, diarrhoea, flushing, sweating, heat intolerance, dizziness, weakness, chronic fatigue, dry mouth, etc. Whereas, suboxone is the trade name of the drug which contains a combination of Buprenorphine/naloxone. It is an important drug which we can use to treat opioid use disorder, but not useful as a painkiller. This is the key difference between methadone and suboxone. Also, there are side effects of suboxone which includes respiratory depression (decreased breathing), small pupils, sleepiness, and low blood pressure.

Summary – Methadone vs Suboxone

Both methadone and suboxone are important to treat opioid use disorder. The difference between methadone and suboxone is that the methadone is an important drug that is helpful to treat people with opioid dependence and as a painkiller whereas suboxone is an important drug that we can use to treat opioid use disorder, but not useful as a painkiller.