Opioid addiction has led millions of people to lose their lives over decades of use. But while treatment options were very limited in the past, science has helped create a variety of medical treatments. Methadone and Suboxone are two of the leading treatments suggested to people with opioid addiction problems. The two treatment methods are the most preferred for decreasing the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
These two methods of treatment react differently with the body and mind. They both have advantages and disadvantages, and understanding them can enable you to easily choose the method that’s most effective for you. In this article, we share with you subtle points to help you decide between methadone. So, should you hop into the nearest methadone clinic Louisville ky, or opt for a Suboxone treatment? And, are there methadone clinics in Louisville Kentucky we can recommend? Read on to learn more.
The Differences between These Two Substances
So, how does methadone treatment differ from Suboxone? Understanding how these two substances work in treating addiction is important if you want to choose between the two. It also ensures you end up with the best treatment that meets your needs. Let us start with methadone, which is the most common and well-known of the two drugs.
The use of methadone in treating opioid addiction dates back to the early 1960s. It refers to a synthetic substance that forms part of opiate agonists drugs. It means that the substance stimulates parts of the brain that the opiate addiction has affected. The medication is taken once in 24 hours and works by helping eliminate the physical withdrawal symptoms and at the same time stopping craving for harmful opiates, like morphine and heroin.
When carefully monitored, methadone can be effective in gradually eliminating the cravings for opioids.
Suboxone is an alternative for methadone treatment. It is designed for people for whom methadone doesn’t react well or those that want to try a different approach in treating addiction.
Suboxone is a relatively new opiate addiction treatment that works on two levels. The substance is a blend of opioid agonists, and antagonists. Agonists are usually Buprenorphine, while the most common antagonist is Naloxone. Combining these two substances helps to make your withdrawal symptoms less severe and also gives the substance the ability to cause repulsive reactions in case you use opiates.
Both Suboxone and methadone are addictive substances. After you have used them and now want to discontinue their usage, you will most likely experience withdrawal symptoms just like opioids.
Advantages and Disadvantages Of Methadone
The main perk of methadone is that it’s been well-studied and researched. It is 50 years and counting since the drug was first used to treat opioid addiction. During that time, the efficacy of the drug has been tested many times. It means that scientists thoroughly understand how it affects the body than they do Suboxone. This means medical experts can find a safe and healthy dose quickly and easily without experimenting.
Also, due to its well-known nature, methadone is widely accepted in treating opiates addiction. This also means it is cheaper and there are high chances that your insurance covers it and not other medications or treatments. Even if you do not have insurance, you will be happy to learn that many methadone clinics in Louisville Kentucky offer the treatment on a sliding scale depending on your income.
Also, methadone treatment tends to be longer-lasting and more highly structured. In any top Methadone clinic Louisville ky, each patient gets a single dose on a strictly monitored schedule. This way, people that are trying to recover from addiction are given a focus that’s easy to follow and understandable. Also, it may give these patients the motivation and drive to succeed.
But like any treatment, methadone is not without some concerns. One of the potential drawbacks of using this substance to treat addiction is that some people can use opioids even when using them. This means that people suffering from severe addiction find it more difficult to recover successfully.
Also, the use of methadone is linked to a few non-serious side effects, like weight gain, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. However, it is an effective, safe, and manageable method of treating opioid addiction. The few concerns are easy to manage when you have the right focus and determination. Talk to your methadone clinic in Louisville KY in case you have more serious symptoms.
What are the Pros and Cons of Suboxone?
Some opioid addiction patients praise Suboxone for its two-pronged approach that also detoxifies the body. The part-agonist ensures that patients don’t experience the kind of emotional and physical distress that leads to more difficult withdrawal and recovery. On the other hand, the antagonist component of the medication makes it harder to use other opioids while you are under medication, which makes relapse less likely. The fact you cannot use opiates is a big plus to people struggling with addiction.
Also, Suboxone works faster than methadone. It takes longer to wear off of opiates when you use methadone. But when you use Suboxone, you usually can vanquish physical withdrawal in as little as one week.
But the biggest problem with Suboxone is that it leads to several side effects. These include nausea, headaches, dizziness, depression, drowsiness, and decreased sex drive, to mention but a few.
Also, Suboxone can create reactions when taken with sedatives, tranquilizers, and alcohol. To avoid these reactions, you must avoid using these substances.
Another concern is that Suboxone is relatively new. It’s not as widely tested or known as methadone. Because it is a relatively new treatment, it is way more expensive than methadone. Even though some clinics use a sliding scale for Suboxone, only a few of them can afford the option.
Conclusion
Generally, both two methods can help you stay safe from opiates productively and safely. However methadone treatment just about edges Suboxone. It is widely known, has been tested for longer, and is infinitely cheaper than Suboxone. Also, many insurance providers are more likely to accept it. If you are struggling with addiction, we would recommend going to a top methadone clinic in Louisville KY for addiction treatment.