Each methadone and buprenorphine bind to and activate the identical mu-opioid receptors within the mind as do different opioid medication. So, some folks might imagine they’re simply substituting one drug for an additional. Nevertheless, when taken as prescribed by folks with opioid use dysfunction, methadone and buprenorphine forestall drug cravings and withdrawal signs with out inflicting the extraordinary emotions of enjoyment (or “excessive”) that different opioid medication produce. This makes methadone and buprenorphine much less addictive.
Like many drugs, methadone and buprenorphine do produce dependence. When an individual all of a sudden stops taking their remedy abruptly, they might expertise withdrawal signs. Nevertheless, these results are milder than these produced by dependence on different opioid medication and will be managed by slowly lowering the remedy dose fairly than stopping it abruptly.
Each methadone and buprenorphine will be misused to realize rewarding results if injected as a substitute of taken by mouth as prescribed.2 Individuals with out an opioid use dysfunction may expertise a excessive when taking them orally. Research present that almost all of people that misuse buprenorphine accomplish that to manage withdrawal signs type different opioids, to not expertise a excessive.25, 26
Naltrexone shouldn’t be addictive. Though it additionally binds to the mu-opioid receptor, naltrexone blocks the receptor, fairly than prompts it.
