Methadone has been used to treat opioid addiction for more than 50 years. Methadose is the most well-known brand, but there are others, as well as generic versions of methadone.
There are no clinical differences between the various types or brands of methadone. All versions use the same active ingredient and carry the same methadone side effects and methadone drug interactions. The milligram total of medication is what is important. Some patients prefer one type over another due to taste or consistency, but clinics usually do not offer more than one form of methadone.
Is methadone a brand name?
Brand Names for Methadone
Methadose, Dolophine, Methadone HCl Intensol (UK), Diskets (UK)
Street Names for Methadone
Fizzies, Amidone, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Dolls, Metho, Juice, Wafer, Maria
What is Methadose?
Methadose is a brand name for cherry-flavored methadone that is ten times more concentrated than previously used methadone mixed with juice or Tang.ⓘ
The manufacturer (Mallinckrodt) also offers:
- Methadose Sugar-Free: An unflavored, dye-free and sugar-free option
- Methadose Soluble Tablet: 40 mg tablets that dissolve in liquids like juice and can be divided into half or quarters
What is the difference between Methadose and methadone?
The difference between methadone and Methadose liquid is that Methadose is ten times more concentrated and dispensed undiluted. This makes Methadose easier to take and distribute than other types of methadone. But, because you take a smaller volume of medication, exact doses for methadone is more critical.
Instead of drinking a glass-sized amount for dosing, Methadose is more of a shot-sized amount. Though, most patients prefer the taste of the juice-mixed version better.
Typical Methadone Glass (Orange) vs. Methadose Syrup (Red)
- There is a generic version of methadone that comes in the same concentrated form as Methadose too.
Do methadone clinics use Methadose?
Some methadone clinics use Methadose. It’s attractive to clinics because it doesn’t require mixing, but many patients do not like the taste. And, there is no clinical difference between the generic Methadone or brands like Methadose. Methadone clinics use whatever medication type works best for their clinic (tablet, concentrate or liquid) and what’s available from their distributors. Usually, clinics do not offer more than one type or brand of methadone.
How do you take Methadose?
You take Methadose daily, usually at a methadone clinic. Typically, a nurse gives you the medication in a cup to drink orally. The laws around taking the medication outside of a clinic were relaxed during COVID-19, but most methadone clinics limit taking home the medication to just a day or a few days under specific circumstances because of the obvious risk of abuse.ⓘ
What is Dolophine?
Dolophine is a U.S. brand of methadone that comes in the form of a dissolvable tablet which is typically mixed with a liquid (usually juice) before being administered to patients at a methadone clinic. Dolophine is the original form of methadone in the U.S., introduced in 1947.
Dolophine Tablet Photos
- The most common liquids for mixing methadone tablets like Dolophine are orange juice, apple juice, Tang, citrus-flavored Kool-Aid, Crystal Light or just water.
Dolophine FAQs
Yes, Dolophine is methadone hydrochloride tablets available in 5 mg and 10 mg doses.
No, Dolophine does not contain morphine. Dolophine is methadone.
Here is where the confusion may come from:
- Methadone is a treatment for morphine addiction and may occasionally be given to chronic pain patients instead of a medication like morphine.
- The “phine” in Dolophine comes from the Latin word for “end.” Together with “dolo”, Dolophine translates to “pain end”.
Is there generic methadone?
Yes, there is generic methadone. Generic methadone is available in tablet, concentrate and liquid versions from several different manufacturers. That said, a methadone clinic usually chooses just one type of methadone. You can’t request generic methadone at a clinic to save money like with other medications at a pharmacy.
Is there a methadone pill?
Yes, generic methadone comes in pill form, but pills are not used in the treatment of opioid addiction.
Methadone pills are only used for the management of severe, chronic pain, often for terminally ill patients when other pain medications don’t work or aren’t well tolerated.
By using methadone only in liquid form, opioid addiction patients aren’t tempted to hide the pill in their cheek or inject any take-home doses.
Is there a methadone patch?
There is not a methadone patch currently available, though research from 2017 showed the promising potential of this delivery method.ⓘ
International Methadone Brands
What is Intensol?
What is Diskets?
Diskets is a methadone hydrochloride 40 mg dispersible tablet of methadone that gets dissolved in liquids like juice. Diskets is also manufactured by the UK company Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC.
What does methadone Diskette look like?
Diskette is a pink or peach square-shaped dissolvable tablet with 54 883 imprinted on one side.
Diskette Tablet Photos
Accessing Methadone in the U.S.
Methadone requires a special license and monitoring by the DEA. In Illinois and Texas, Symetria could be a great option for you. Otherwise, call the number on the back of your insurance card or try the national SAMHSA Opioid Treatment Program directory.
43 Comments
After four years, my pharmacy recently changed the manufacturer and this methadone doesn’t work. I have breakthrough symptoms, and if I want to be free of symptoms I need to increase the dose. My question is, what manufacturers make methadone tablets 5mg?
There shouldn’t be any clinical differences between suppliers. But, to answer your question, the round white 5mg tablets are distinguished by the imprint.
Pharmacies usually have agreements with specific suppliers. You can find another pharmacy that has a different generic supplier or switch from a generic to a brand name.
Martindale Pharma
I’m in Australia. I’ve been on methadone maintenance for nearly 30 years (a gap here & there). We have methadone tablets of 5mg & 10mg doses. It’s called Physeptone. A small white tablet,scored in the center. I don’t know why Nth America doesn’t have. Other countries do.
Shane, we do have 5 and 10MG methadone pills here in America. Right before I discharged from my clinic, I was on the 10mg pills that I would cut in half and then in 4ths while tapering. The issue is that some clinics don’t carry them. But American pharmacies make them.
In the article, both those pills 54 142 and the 54 549 are 10mg methadone tablets, just different brands. Misinformation about the mgs could be deadly.
You’re correct that 54 142 is 10mg generic methadone. However, the photo shows 54 162, which is 5mg strength Dolophine brand methadone. Your point is very important though – just one number on the imprint separates double the dosage! Always be sure you know what you’re taking.
What are the name of the brands for this medicine?
The most common brand names for methadone are: Methadose, Dolophine, Intensol (UK), Diskets (UK)
I have chronic pain neck surgery knee surgeries scoliosis. I have neuropathy I was taking Suboxone to stop taking pain meds, but I can’t tolerate the pain anymore would it be good for me to go to a methadone clinic or seek pain management?
For any addicts that are struggling…methadone has saved mine & hundreds of thousands of lives…you won’t go through withdrawals so it’s not scary. You will get your life back & stop living an opioid user life. Methadone got me to stop seeking every day because I got my daily dose of methadone. I don’t wait around all day sick to meet with my dealer to give him all my money. You will have money in your bank account. You will be a better boyfriend, girlfriend, parent or whatever. You will be the person you used to be. As a fellow addict, I encourage you to get into a clinic & put this behind you. We can all agree that being an addict never helped any of us. I wish you nothing but success. And, when you dig yourself out (because you will) just remember the people that are still on the streets & struggling & give them a helping hand any way you can…it matters.
I’m on methadone and it saved me as well. There are people who stereotype us, and that’s not fair. Most of us have jobs, kids, homes, and responsibilities that without methadone it was hard to obtain. My addiction started with a car accident, regardless of how I became an addict. We are judged horribly and yes with anything there are the few who are not doing what they should do to better their lives but we are not all like that.
Mike and Ashley….you guys are doing great! It’s very hard to get through the stigma that’s placed on our heads because we were essentially victims of the very drugs we thought would help us! My addiction started with a back injury that lead me to a pain clinic, that essentially lead me to addiction. Thankfully MMT saved my entire life, and my job! I work as a RN, initially I took a medical retirement when I became addicted, but getting into MMT, I was able to successfully return back to work. A lot of people think that nurses and doctors can’t work because of addiction, and being on MMT! Working as an addict, no…working as a recovering addict on MMT, yes! It is possible, but always be honest with your employer, because most hospitals will drug screen you. I been in my position while in MMT for over 8 years now. It saved my life, family, and career! Good luck Ashley, and Mike!