How To Wean Off Methadone Slowly Without Any Side Effects?

Posted on Mon, 23 Mar 2015

Question: Hi! I have been on methadone for a least 20 yeArs. I do not do any illegal drugs, and methadone lets me be a productive member of society. I am thinking of detoxing from it because I have to go to the clinic 2x's a week and it causes problems when I want to go to my condo in florida. I have been hearing about syboxin don't think I am spelling it correctly. I would like to know what is the success rate of that drug and how would I go about getting it prescribed for me and is it the correct thing to do for myself? I need help in this major life changing decision.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Suboxone is equally efficacious to Methadone in de-addiction treatment

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

Methadone and Suboxone (Buprenorphine+Naloxone) both are used in opioid dependence for easy de-addiction treatment. Suboxone is a newer drug and is better tolerated drug as compared to methadone.

If we compare efficacy of Suboxone with Methadone then Suboxone is found to be equally efficacious or in some studies more efficacious to Methadone in maintaining withdrawal state. Suboxone is relatively better tolerated than Methadone if we compare side effects. But in term of cost effectiveness Suboxone is a little costlier than Methadone.

As you are already taking Methadone with proper prescription then you can consult your psychiatrist or doctor again and can ask for Suboxone (or Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment) prescription. Gradual tapering and withdrawal from Suboxone is easier compared to Methadone, so as per my opinion this would be better decision.

Thanks, hope this helps you. Please ask again for more doubts.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj