Methadone Treatment Alternatives

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While addiction in any form can be difficult to overcome, long-term opiate use can leave the brain in a state of chemical dysfunction for months or years after a person stops using. Methadone, a long-standing treatment for chronic opiate addiction, works well to stabilize damaged brain functions and is often used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) recovery programs.

Still, the medication does have its drawbacks. In cases where methadone proves ineffective or harmful, methadone treatment alternatives can improve upon some of its negative effects.

Methadone Pros and Cons

Methadone treatment is a long-standing MAT medication, and there is ample research and practical application to back up its effectiveness. As a treatment drug, methadone delivers up to 24 hours of relief from withdrawal and drug craving effects, which goes a long way toward helping recovering addicts maintain ongoing abstinence.

Methadone treatment drawbacks have to do with the drug’s mechanism of action. In effect, methadone works like other addictive opiates, which means it stimulates the release of neurotransmitter chemicals. The difference is that methadone doesn’t produce “high” effects. That being said, a person can still use other addictive opiates while on methadone treatment. The medication also requires individuals to frequent designated methadone clinics daily to receive their dose of the medication. This is not only time-consuming, but it can wear away at a person’s self-esteem, considering the social stigma attached to such clinics.

You can learn more about methadone treatment by calling 800-934-1582(Sponsored) .

Methadone Treatment Alternatives

Subutex

Subutex, one of two brand names for buprenorphine, produces similar effects to methadone treatment. However, Subutex has a built-in ceiling effect that prevents users from abusing the drug, which is possible with methadone. Whereas methadone holds a Schedule II drug classification, Subutex belongs to the Schedule III class and comes with fewer government regulatory controls. As a Schedule III drug, Subutex can be administered by authorized physicians on an out-of-office basis, so patients don’t have to frequent a daily clinic.

Suboxone

Suboxone is an effective methadone treatment alternative.

Suboxone is the second brand-name buprenorphine drug. It contains two active ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. Naloxone acts as an anti-abuse agent.

Suboxone comes in pill form and should be taken as is. Since attempts to abuse opiate treatment drugs typically involve crushing up the pill and injecting it in solution form, naloxone’s effects come into play whenever Suboxone’s physical form is altered in this way. Naloxone’s undesirable effects manifest as withdrawal symptoms, such as agitation, sweating, and anxiety.

Lofexidine

Unlike methadone treatment and buprenorphine-based agents, lofexidine acts as an alpha-2-adrenergic agonist. This means it works with a completely different bodily system than the other two methadone alternatives. As an adrenergic drug, lofexidine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a central role in the body’s fight or flight response. These effects enable the body to better handle stress. As an addiction treatment drug, lofexidine helps reduce the severity of withdrawal effects, particularly during the detox stage of recovery.

Considerations

Each person’s body responds differently to the effects of long-term opiate use and some methadone treatment alternatives will likely work better for some people than others. Ultimately, the severity of a person’s addiction as well as his or her overall drug abuse history determine which methadone treatment alternative will work best. For more advice on finding the right treatment for you, call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) .

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