Methadone vs. Suboxone

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It’s a Personal Choice Drug addiction is an ever growing problem in the United States. Opiate addiction is a big part of this drug problem. While there is no miracle cure for opiate addiction there are options to aid in its treatment. Suboxone and methadone are two of the most popular treatment methods used for opiate addiction. They are used as a step toward the recovery process. Although both medications are used to treat addiction and withdrawal, they produce similar effects. Methadone is a synthetic opiate, while suboxone contains only low levels of opiates. Therefore, methadone has more of a potential for addiction with higher risk factors if abused. Some of these factors include, respiratory problems, stomach problems, impaired judgment, and overdose that could potentially lead to death. When the person using these treatment methods wants to discontinue his/her use a tapering method is used. This is where the dose is lowered gradually over a period of time, to lessen the chance of withdrawal. If the dosage of these treatments is stopped abruptly, withdrawal symptoms are very likely. Withdrawal symptoms are much more severe from the abrupt discontinued use of methadone than suboxone. Methadone withdrawal symptoms are similar to the effects of the common flu; nausea, diarrhea, cold sweats, muscle aches, and insomnia are only a few examples of these symptoms. Both treatment methods can be and are often abused. Because of what methadone is made of, it is more susceptible to abuse and is recommended for people with a more severe addiction. Methadone is easily and commonly abused. For these reasons, it is controlled in a clinical setting. Patients using methadone maintenance as treatment must travel to a clinic daily to receive his/her dose. Each patient’s dose, the amount of methadone given each day, is determined by the severity of his/her opiate

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