The difference between methadone and buphenorphine

bakowski · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 24

I have been addicted to heroin for a long time now, I have tried different detox programs, and I have been on methadone program and it worked well for me. I'm considering switching to buphenorphine therapy. What’s The difference between methadone and buphenorphine does buphenorphine create addiction too?

carberry · Newbie Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 13

Methadone therapy is being developed in the sixties. Methadone, heroin, morphine and other opiates function just like any other neurotransmitter in the brain and in order for them to show their effect they need to have specific receptors on the nerve cells. The basic idea behind methadone therapy was to replace heroin’s place in the receptors of the brain so that the molecules of heroine wouldn’t have anymore receptors to be attached to. That would cause heroin to lose its effect on the organism. But the main drawback of methadone therapy is that you get equally addicted on it, just like on heroin and you can't get off it. On the other hand, buphenorphine is less addictive, lower doses are used during treatment and you can stop being addicted to it with time by gradually reducing the doses. Other advantage is that you don’t have to take buphenorphine every day like methadone, usually you take it few times a week, it also has a stronger antagonistic effect towards heroin so that only high doses of heroin can “push out” buphenorphine, so it can't be misused – it provides physicians a greater control over the detoxication process of their patients. Buphenorphine is a narcotic just like any other it does create addiction but that addiction can be treated.

Guest · Guest

For the recovering addict, does suboxone work as well as methadone as far as the feeling you get or the cravings. Does it affect the recovering addict the same way? In other words, if a person is taking methadone right now and switches to suboxone will he feel a difference?

Guest · Guest

Guest · Guest

subutex and suboxone will get you jammed just as much as smack but less euphoria. it also will make you nausious and dizzy if you are not commijng off smack.

so yes, its just as powerful a high as herion the only difference being less euphoria.

If you can, get subutex. It dosnt have naloxone in it which I just don't trust at all.

Guest · Guest

please, if anyone has info on this let me know, i am under the care of a detox physican. i just wanted to talk to someone who actually went thru such a program, or close to one.
thank you

Guest · Guest

I've used both for "detox" purposes. Methadone at 40 mgs/day for 3 mos and Suboxone 16 mgs/day for 2 mos. First off, the amt of Suboxone I was taking regularly was way too much. Once stabilized you should be able to get by on 4-8 mgs of Suboxone every one or even two days. Don't learn the hard way like I did.

Methadone was better at COMPLETELY killing the craving to use dope. Where as Suboxone left me wanting more on some days. It's only a partial agonist and doesn't provide the euphoria and complete comfort that methadone can. Methadone was a little harder getting off of. Although they are both tricky and about the same. You don't get the monster physical w/d symptoms like dope, but it's no picnic and the symptoms last a lot longer. Took me close to a month to feel close to normal again with each. Insomnia and RLS are a pain in the ass. I wouldn't expect to sleep much for the first couple weeks when getting these two.

Bottomline: If I had to do it all over again (please God, "no!"). I would do a real quick Sub detox (7-10 days). I've heard a lot of people do this with minimal w/d symps. I'd only do maintenance on either if I kept relapsing after short detoxes. I've been 98% clean for for four months following sub detox.

Guest · Guest

I'm on suboxone now -. The question is - I have a friend that needs to detox. How would they detox using suboxone for 7-14 days ?

The difference between methadone and buphenorphine

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