Switching From Methadone To Suboxone: Benefits And Risks

Opioid use disorder and addiction affect the lives of millions of people in the United States each year. One of the most effective treatments for opioid use disorder is medication-assisted treatment.

Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is a type of treatment that integrates behavioral therapy with certain medications proven to reduce the discomfort of withdrawal and improve recovery outcomes.

Methadone and Suboxone (buprenorphine) are the two most commonly used medications within this type of treatment program. During treatment, individuals may express a desire to switch from taking methadone to Suboxone.

Making the switch from methadone maintenance therapy to Suboxone-based treatment is possible. Here, you can find information about how to make the switch, risks and benefits of switching to Suboxone, and how to find Suboxone treatment options near you.

Why Switch To Suboxone?

Methadone and Suboxone are both used to treat opioid addiction. But this doesn’t mean they’re the same.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid drug. Like other opioids, it can be difficult to detox from. Unlike opioids such as heroin or oxycodone, methadone can reduce opioid cravings during treatment and lessen the severity of opioid withdrawal.

Suboxone contains the active ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone. It is chemically different from methadone. Suboxone can be the preferred treatment for opioid addiction, in part because it does not produce euphoric effects or any other unpleasant side effects of methadone.

Reasons someone may wish to switch to Suboxone:

• to lessen or get rid of side effects from methadone
• to feel less medicated
• to avoid daily clinic visits and wait times
• difficulty accessing methadone clinics (e.g long commute, clinic closures)

People may have a variety of reasons for wanting to switch from methadone to Suboxone, including those we just mentioned. Your prescribing provider will work with you to assess whether a transition is medically appropriate based on your treatment stability, history, and goals.

Expanded Access To Suboxone

As of January 2023, the federal X-waiver requirement for prescribing buprenorphine (Suboxone) for OUD was eliminated.

Any DEA-licensed healthcare provider with Schedule III prescribing authority can now prescribe Suboxone for OUD with no patient caps. This includes primary care physicians, urgent care providers, emergency physicians, and telehealth providers.

Eliminating the X-waiver dramatically expanded access to Suboxone and is an important factor to discuss with your doctor when considering the switch from methadone.

Making The Transition To Suboxone

Switching from methadone to Suboxone is not a risk-free or necessarily quick process.

Before making this switch, a doctor may assess the following factors:

• motivations for wanting to switch
• if you are currently stable on methadone
• pregnancy status
• potential risks of switching to Suboxone
• cost-effectiveness

You cannot stop taking methadone all at once and immediately switch to Suboxone. This can cause moderate to severe withdrawal. Switching to Suboxone requires a tapering process, by which a doctor gradually reduces your dose of methadone over time.

The amount of time it takes to complete your transition from methadone to Suboxone can vary. For some, it may take a few days. For those who are on higher doses of methadone, however, this process may take up to a couple of weeks.

Once you’ve reached a safe, low dose of methadone, you’ll need to stop taking it for at least 72 hours before beginning Suboxone.

Does Switching To Suboxone Come With Risks?

Switching to Suboxone from methadone during the course of treatment for opioid addiction can carry some risks. Your risk for experiencing adverse effects from this transition will be assessed by a doctor prior to switching medications.

Common risks assessed by doctors include:

• disruption to the stability of a person’s treatment
• methadone withdrawal symptoms
• motivations for wanting to switch
• risk for relapse

Many people can successfully make the switch from methadone to Suboxone with positive outcomes.

For people who are pregnant and stable on methadone, continuing methadone is often recommended to avoid disrupting a stable treatment plan. Both methadone and buprenorphine are considered acceptable treatments for OUD during pregnancy per ACOG guidance. Any transition during pregnancy should be carefully managed by a provider with experience in perinatal addiction medicine.

Benefits Of Switching To Suboxone

Within the context of an outpatient treatment program, Suboxone is not a medication that needs to be administered in a clinic, unlike methadone. Methadone maintenance programs are highly monitored.

Switching to Suboxone means you don’t have to visit a clinic every day to receive your treatment. Instead, you can receive a prescription that you can fill and take in the comfort of your own home.

Benefits of switching to Suboxone for opioid addiction can include:

• less travel
• avoiding the stigma associated with methadone clinics
• reduced side effects
• greater freedom
• lower risk of overdose
• lower risk of heart problems
• less severe withdrawal
• access to Suboxone via telehealth, including from home

The potential medical and personal benefits of switching to Suboxone can be best discussed with your doctor, who can provide recommendations for treatment based on your medical history, treatment progress, and other personal factors.

Finding The Right Medication-Assisted Treatment Plan For You

If you’re looking to find Suboxone therapy near you, one of our addiction specialists at AddictionResource.net may be able to help.

Call our helpline today to learn more about Suboxone therapy and how to find Suboxone treatment options near you.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff