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Compare Methadone vs. Butrans

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Methadone (Methadose, Methadone HCl Intensol) and buprenorphine (Butrans) are both opioids used for pain relief, but they have some key differences. Methadone is a full opioid agonist, while buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means it may have a lower risk of misuse and dependence. Methadone is available as tablets and liquids taken by mouth and an injection, whereas buprenorphine comes as a patch that you apply to your skin once a week. Methadone is used for long-term pain and opioid use disorder, often requiring supervision at a clinic, while buprenorphine is used for chronic pain and can be applied at home. Methadone is a Schedule II controlled substance, indicating a higher potential for abuse, while buprenorphine is Schedule III, suggesting a lower risk. Both medications can cause serious side effects like slow breathing and heart problems, but buprenorphine's patch form requires you to avoid heat sources to prevent overdose.

  • Methadone
    Buprenorphine patch (Butrans)
  • Methadone
    Buprenorphine patch (Butrans)

  • Summary of Methadone vs. Butrans

    Summary for Opioid
    Prescription only

    Methadone is an opioid medication. It's used to treat adults with long-term pain that's not relieved by non-opioid pain medications. Methadone is also used with counseling and support programs for opioid use disorder (or opioid addiction). When it's used for opioid use disorder, it's first given at a methadone clinic under the supervision of a healthcare professional (HCP). Methadone is available as tablets, liquids, and dissolvable tablets that are taken by mouth. It's common to have side effects like lightheadedness, dizziness, and sleepiness.

    Summary for Opioid partial agonist
    Prescription only

    Buprenorphine patch, also known by its brand name Butrans, treats people with severe chronic (long-term) pain that isn't relieved with other treatment options. It works as an opioid partial agonist to help with pain. Buprenorphine patch (Butrans) is applied onto the skin once per week. This transdermal patch comes in many strengths. The pain specialist will decide on the dosage based on how severe your pain is and whether you were taking opioid pain medication before starting buprenorphine patch (Butrans). Side effects include nausea, dizziness, and headache.

  • Indications of Methadone vs. Butrans

    Indications for
    •Long-term pain that isn't relieved by non-opioid pain medications alone - except for Methadose brand name and its generics)
    •Treatment and maintenance of opioid use disorder (OUD) - all brand names and generics
    Indications for
    •Severe chronic pain that isn't relieved with non-opioid pain medications

  • Pros and Cons of Methadone vs. Butrans

    Pros and Const for Opioid
    Pros
    •Comes as a tablet and liquid that are taken by mouth
    •Available as a lower-cost generic version
    Cons
    •Can cause life-threatening slow breathing, especially if it's mixed with alcohol
    •Has potential to be habit-forming
    Pros and Const for Opioid partial agonist
    Pros
    •Applied on the skin once per week
    •An option for people who can't swallow pills
    Cons
    •Has many serious risks, like dangerously slow breathing, misuse, and addiction
    •Doesn't treat sudden breakthrough pain
    •Not the best choice for people who need to take large doses of opioids (greater than 80 mg of oral morphine equivalents per day)

  • Common Side Effects of Methadone vs. Butrans

    Common Side Effects for
    •Lightheadedness
    •Dizziness
    •Sleepiness
    •Nausea
    •Vomiting
    •Sweating
    Common Side Effects for
    •Nausea (21%)
    •Itching at the application site (15%)
    •Dizziness (15%)
    •Headache (14%)
    •Sleepiness (13%)
    •Constipation (13%)
    •Vomiting (9%)

  • Warnings of Methadone vs. Butrans

    Common Side Effects for
    •Potential for misuse and addiction
    •Dangerously slow breathing (respiratory depression)
    •Risk for opioid overdose
    •Difficulty concentrating and extreme sleepiness
    •Life-threatening heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation)
    •Drug interactions
    •Harm to newborn babies
    •Serotonin syndrome
    •Low blood pressure
    •Low adrenal hormone levels
    •Seizures
    •Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
    •Withdrawal symptoms
    Common Side Effects for
    •Potential for addiction and misuse
    •Dangerously slow breathing (respiratory depression)
    •Risk for opioid overdose
    •Difficulty concentrating and extreme sleepiness
    •Harm to newborns when taken during pregnancy
    •Serious risks with patch exposure to high temperatures (e.g., heat, high fever)
    •Low adrenal hormone levels
    •Low blood pressure
    •Liver damage
    •Withdrawal symptoms
    •Seizures
    •Life-threatening heart rhythm problems (QT prolongation)

  • Prices with our coupons for Methadone vs. Butrans

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    Learn more about Buprenorphine patch

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