TRANSITION FROM METHADONE

What is Methadone?

Methadone is one of three medications that is FDA approved for the treatment of opioid use
disorder, as a Medication- assisted treatment (MAT).  It is the first of the MAT drugs (approved in the 1960’s) and is the most heavily researched.  Unlike the other two medications that are used in MAT, methadone is a full opioid agonist, which means it carries all the risks that any other opioid off the street would have.  These include euphoria, risk of respiratory depression, possibility of overdose, and hallucinations among other things.   Because of this, other MAT drugs such as Suboxone have now become more preferred due to its minimal side effect profile.  

 How Long Does Methadone Withdrawal Last?

If switching from Methadone to another MAT drug, such as Suboxone, it is first important to
decrease the amount of methadone one is on to 30 mg daily for at least one week.  Once stable on this dose, methadone is discontinued completely and suboxone started once mild- moderate withdrawal symptoms start to set in, which is usually after 36 hours but may vary depending on addiction severity.  After three to five days, withdrawal is usually complete and patient is now successfully on Suboxone.

The Family MD Specializes in Methadone Addiction and Withdrawal Treatment

We offer Medication- assisted treatment with Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) to help patients
overcome methadone addiction and withdrawal. Get started today by scheduling a virtual visit with one of our board- certified doctors.  Whether you’re at home, at work, or on lunch break, we’ve got you covered and are here to make recovery easy.  Click here to schedule now.  

How it works

It is important to first stop all methadone use. You must wait until you have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms (generally 12- 72 hours) before taking your first dose of Suboxone. If it is taken too early, it can force you into precipitated withdrawal, which is both very uncomfortable and may be dangerous.  Continue as directed by your doctor and that’s it. Generally 95% of our patient’s do not have any withdrawal symptoms after the first 5-7 days of starting Suboxone. You may also request additional medication to help ease withdrawal symptoms so that you can continue with your day to day activities (work, school, etc) without skipping a beat .