Treatment for opioid use disorder, or OUD, can help you work toward living the life you want. However, it doesn’t look the same for everyone. That’s why it’s important to explore the many available treatment options, such as medications for opioid use disorder.

There are several different forms of MOUD that can help people experiencing addiction. But two of the most common are buprenorphine and methadone.

Whether you’re starting your OUD treatment journey and are beginning a MOUD for the first time, or you’re thinking about switching from one to another, there are a few things that you should consider.

We’ll compare the two options before diving into what you should consider during the treatment planning process with your providers. Then we’ll discuss how buprenorphine is specifically used at Groups to help you work toward the life that you want.

The basics of buprenorphine versus methadone

Buprenorphine and methadone are both opioid agonists. They help to reduce and manage withdrawal symptoms, which include cravings. But they affect the body in different ways. By comparing the two, you’ll gain a better idea of which may work best for you and your recovery goals.

• Type of agonist

Buprenorphine and methadone are both long-acting. That means that they work on the body at a steady rate over a long period of time. But methadone is a full agonist, meaning that it fully attaches to the receptors in the brain. It activates them in the same way opioids do.

Buprenorphine is a partial agonist. By only partially attaching to the receptors, it doesn’t make you feel high. The “ceiling effect” allows respiratory depression to eventually level off. That makes it a potentially safer choice for many people.

• How it’s given

Buprenorphine is usually prescribed through a daily pill or film, taken at home, that dissolves under the tongue. But there have been recent breakthroughs for buprenorphine injections. They provide a steady dose over a period of time.

Medical supervision at a clinic is usually required while taking a dose of methadone. The daily medication can come in either a pill or liquid form.

• Side effects

Methadone tends to have a higher risk of respiratory depression and abnormal heart rate than buprenorphine because it’s a full agonist. You may also experience nausea, slow breathing, and constipation. However, buprenorphine can cause side effects such as dizziness and headaches.

3 treatment planning considerations for buprenorphine vs. methadone

Once you’ve decided to start your OUD recovery journey, you’ll work with your providers to determine the best medication for your treatment plan. If you’re trying to choose between buprenorphine and methadone, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Take a look at the circumstances of your everyday life

When it comes to treatment planning, the choice between buprenorphine or methadone isn’t always an easy one. You have to look at your lifestyle to see how they would be affected by each choice. You also have to see how the medication can be incorporated into your current situation. A big aspect of choosing a MOUD is timing and working the option into your calendar.

Buprenorphine needs to be taken daily at home or monthly by an injection in a clinic. Are you good at sticking to routines? Can you maintain a daily routine even during busy or stressful days? Or does a monthly injection work better for your busy schedule?

Methadone is both a time and effort commitment that requires a daily commute to a clinic for your dose. How close is the clinic? Does it cause too much disruption to your day?

These questions are what you should discuss with your provider.

• Switching is OK, when done safely

It’s not unusual to decide to switch from one medication to another if you think that there’s a better option. But it’s essential that it’s done safely under the guidance of a health care professional. It’s possible that you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms from the old medication once you start the new one. A provider can help manage those symptoms.

A small study showed success in patients with OUD who were gradually given increasing doses of buprenorphine alongside their current methadone dose. After one week, they were no longer given methadone. They successfully transferred to only buprenorphine with few withdrawal side effects.

It’s possible for a person to start a new MOUD after previously trying treatment but didn’t find the results they were looking for. If they’ve tried buprenorphine or methadone in the past to treat their symptoms, and they used again, then it might be worth trying the opposite option in their current treatment plan.

• Other medical conditions should be taken into account

Even though OUD is a medical condition, it may not be the only one that you’re living with. It’s possible to have co-occurring medical concerns that may be impacted by your choice of MOUD.

OUD is a mental health condition, as it’s a substance use disorder. But it’s also common for people with OUD to have other co-occurring mental health conditions as well. For example, more than 45% of people with OUD also have received a lifetime depression diagnosis. Buprenorphine and methadone aren’t prescribed as treatment for primary mental health conditions. But a study showed that buprenorphine can reduce opioid use in people with OUD who are also experiencing symptoms from a mental health condition.

Conditions that impact your liver or respiratory system should also be discussed with your provider. Buprenorphine can increase the enzyme levels in your liver. That can be an issue for people with pre-existing liver issues. It may also slow down your breathing, or make it more shallow, especially for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Be sure to share all of your medical history with your provider during treatment planning to reduce the risk of complications or long-term issues.

There are pros and cons to both MOUD options. Be sure to talk in depth with your provider about the different contributing factors to your decision.

Groups provides buprenorphine through Suboxone for OUD

Methadone and buprenorphine can both be effective ways of helping people with OUD move along their recovery journey. While we know how methadone is the right choice for some people, at Groups, we provide buprenorphine through Suboxone as one of the first courses of action.

Suboxone combines buprenorphine with naloxone. The second ingredient reduces the risk of misuse by steering away from snorting or injecting. We provide fast access to a prescription to help you through withdrawal and move toward recovery. It’s usually taken on a daily basis through a pill or film that dissolves under the tongue. However, buprenorphine is also available as a monthly injection in some of our locations.

We support all aspects of your recovery — physical, emotional, and behavioral. Beyond medication, our members attend weekly group sessions. They give you the space to open up about your experiences. You can gain insight from other people who can relate to what they’re feeling.

They also receive custom life goal assistance, which involves our Recovery Support Specialists helping them find the resources they need to achieve personal goals. This could include finding a job, buying a car, or starting a new hobby.

Give our Recovery Support Specialists a call today for more information or to begin your recovery. We provide treatment across the country — and we’re always expanding. See if we offer care in your state, either online or at one of our 130+ local offices. If Groups doesn’t offer treatment in your area, you can locate other treatment options here.