Can Suboxone Addiction Be Treated with Methadone?

While Suboxone contains naloxone in order to minimize the likelihood of abuse, the buprenorphine present in the drug “is capable of producing significant euphoria” and many individuals all over the world still abuse and, sometimes, become addicted to it (Drug Enforcement Administration). The treatment options for Suboxone addiction are similar to other types of opioid drug addiction, and in some instances, methadone may be utilized as a beneficial method of treatment.

When Should Methadone Be Used to Treat Suboxone Addiction?

Methadone may be useful as a treatment for Suboxone addiction when a person has been addicted to opioids for a long period of time and has a severe physical dependence on these drugs. Because optimal-dose methadone is more beneficial for the treatment of severe withdrawal and dependence, it could be extremely helpful in this case. Usually, when individuals begin to abuse Suboxone, they are already severely addicted to opioids and will try to find any drug that can get them the high they seek.

Those who were taking Suboxone as a treatment for their addiction and instead wound up abusing the drug may also benefit from methadone. This is partly because methadone is a stronger medication that, in its most optimal doses, will cause them to experience fewer withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and other issues that may lead to relapse. The treatment method can also be helpful in this instance because it can only be obtained from a clinic where it is administered by medical professionals, as opposed to Suboxone and other buprenorphine-based drugs that can be obtained from a doctor’s office and taken home for self-administration.

Methadone as a Secondary Treatment Option

Methadone can help reduce Suboxone withdrawal symptoms.

Many people who begin abusing Suboxone do so because they are already seriously addicted to opioids and have often attempted recovery with this particular medication and been unsuccessful. Therefore, methadone can be a beneficial choice in this case because

It is stronger than buprenorphine.
It is more heavily regulated than buprenorphine.
Most methadone clinics have well-rounded treatment programs for patients that do not end with merely dispensing medication.

Methadone can be helpful to those who need a more controlled treatment option and who still require a pharmacological intervention (often due to serious withdrawal symptoms and cravings that occur when the individual does not have access to the drug).

Should I Attend Methadone Maintenance for My Suboxone Addiction?

Methadone is not for everyone, but according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, it “has been used for decades to treat people who are addicted to heroin and narcotic pain medications.” If your Suboxone treatment ended in abuse, this program could be helpful to you, as methadone is more regulated and controlled and the drug itself is stronger for the treatment of severe addiction. You may want to consider attending methadone maintenance for your Suboxone addiction, depending on whether or not the program can meet your needs.