Suboxone® vs Methadone in Chicago: Which Is Right for You?

You aren’t looking for a textbook explanation when you’re exploring Suboxone® (buprenorphine-naloxone) versus methadone in Chicago. You’re looking for something more personal. You may have questions about how long you will need medication, or you may wonder why you haven’t been able to complete a treatment plan before. 

Suboxone and Methadone are both FDA-approved for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). These medications can help you manage your opioid withdrawals and use. 

But they’re very different in their chemical composition, and the effect they have on your brain. Learn more about Suboxone and methadone, and which is the best option for you. 

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health or treatment options. Individual results may vary.

What Is Methadone?

Methadone is one of several FDA-approved medications used to treat opioid use disorder. It’s dispensed at licensed clinics called Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs), and there are roughly 2,000 across the country. But access is still a real challenge: 80% of U.S. counties don’t have a single OTP. 

Research published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that among individuals who survived a nonfatal opioid overdose, methadone treatment was associated with a 59% reduction in opioid-related mortality. This highlights that methadone treatment programs reduce harm and help you build your life.  

What Is Methadone Used For?

Methadone is one of the approved Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), or Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) options, if you’re following an OUD plan. With MOUD, you’ll experience a lowered response to withdrawal symptoms and the euphoric effects of opioids. 

As a long-acting medication, methadone stays active in your system for at least 24 hours. This steady, continuous relief from use and withdrawal symptoms can be a deciding factor when you are weighing methadone versus Suboxone for your treatment in Chicago. Methadone can also be a helpful option when your history includes long-term use of opioids, and if you’ve tried a treatment program before. 

What Happens in Your Brain When You Take Methadone?

Drugs like fentanyl and heroin activate your opioid receptors, and methadone works as a full opioid agonist. It targets the same receptors in your brain as opioids, so it helps manage withdrawal symptoms and discomfort without the dangerous effects of unregulated opioids. 

What Are the Ingredients in Methadone?

The primary active ingredient in methadone is methadone hydrochloride, a synthetic opioid developed for medical use. Opioid treatment programs commonly dispense methadone as a liquid. Inactive ingredients vary depending on the manufacturer and formulation.

Is Methadone Safe?

Safety is a top priority for Chicagoans comparing Suboxone versus methadone. Medical experts consider methadone safe when you take it as prescribed. Because methadone works similarly to opioids in your brain, careful dose monitoring by your provider is essential to keep you safe. Inform your care team of health concerns and other medications you’re on before treatment starts. 

How Long Do You Stay on Methadone?

There is no recommended maximum duration for MOUD; treatment should continue as long as it is beneficial. The process should be gradual and medically supervised if you’re considering tapering your methadone treatment. 

Does Methadone Cause Intoxication?

At a stable, medically supervised dose, methadone is not intended to produce euphoria. If you notice any side effects, it’s important to let your care team know right away. Common side effects include: 

• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Sedation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sweating
• Constipation

There are more possible side effects, and being aware of them before your treatment starts can help you manage them more effectively. Because of how methadone works in your body, your care team will keep a close eye on a few important things. One is your heart rhythm. 

In some cases, methadone can cause changes that show up on a heart test called an electrocardiogram (ECG). Your provider may recommend this test depending on your dose and health history. It’s also important to let your care team know about any other medications you’re taking, especially sedatives like benzodiazepines. Combining them with methadone can increase the risk of serious side effects, including slowed breathing.  

What Happens If You Stop Taking Methadone?

Methadone’s long-acting properties are part of what makes it effective. It stays in your system longer than many opioids, which helps stabilize your body and reduce cravings over time. You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop methadone without medical supervision. Your Chicago outpatient clinics offer Suboxone and methadone, as these medications decrease your risk of an overdose. 

Is Methadone Right for You?

Whether to go with methadone is a decision you make with your medical care team. Your team will assess your health, treatment history, opioid use history, and your level of opioid dependence. 

A medical professional may recommend methadone if your opioid tolerance is high. You may also opt for methadone if you’ve been through MOUD treatments before, but on a different treatment. Methadone treatment includes regular monitoring and structured support, provided through a licensed program, so you always have support when you need it. 

How Do You Start Methadone Treatment in Chicago?

Your methadone program starts when you go for your first consultation at an outpatient clinic that specializes in MOUD. Expect your first appointment to run around three hours as you work with a medical care team to gather all your information. If methadone is the appropriate treatment, you can start your supervised induction process, often the same day. 

What Is Suboxone? 

The FDA first approved Suboxone in October 2002, following the passage of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, which originally allowed qualified physicians to prescribe buprenorphine-based treatments in office-based settings for the first time. 

In 2023, the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act went further by eliminating the special waiver requirement, so today any DEA-registered prescriber can prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. This has made it easier than ever to access Suboxone treatment through outpatient clinics and other healthcare settings.

What Is Suboxone Used For?

Suboxone is a key medication for treatment in MOUD. Healthcare professionals may use Suboxone when you start treatment, as it helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and opioid use. Your Chicago medical care team will carefully consider Suboxone versus methadone before deciding which is suited to your needs. 

What Happens in Your Brain When You Take Suboxone?

When you take Suboxone, it attaches to the same opioid receptors in your brain that drugs like fentanyl and heroin affect. As a partial agonist, buprenorphine activates those receptors enough to ease withdrawal and cravings, but its effects level off after a certain point. This is called the ceiling effect. That means you get steady relief without the intense highs and lows that drive the cycle of intoxication and withdrawal.

What Are the Ingredients in Suboxone?

The main ingredients in Suboxone are buprenorphine and naloxone, each playing a distinct role in your treatment and safety: 

• Buprenorphine: A semisynthetic opioid originally developed as a pain medication and later FDA-approved as a treatment for OUD. It acts as a partial opioid agonist, which means it reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms while producing less of the effects associated with full opioid agonists.
• Naloxone: Naloxone is added to Suboxone as a safety measure to discourage misuse. When you take Suboxone under the tongue as prescribed, naloxone has very little effect on your body. It’s important to know that the naloxone in Suboxone isn’t designed to reverse an overdose. Your care team can make sure you have access to a separate naloxone product, like Narcan® nasal spray, in case of an emergency.

Together, these two ingredients make Suboxone one of the most widely used and well-researched medications in opioid use disorder treatment today.

Is Suboxone Safe?

Medical practitioners consider Suboxone safe in the treatment of OUD as long as you use it under medical supervision. A comprehensive consultation and screening by medical professionals determines whether to prescribe Suboxone as part of your treatment plan. 

You need to inform your Chicago care team of any medical concerns before starting Suboxone or methadone, such as liver problems, before you commence treatment. 

How Long Do You Stay on Suboxone?

There’s no set timeframe for Suboxone, so your treatment plan and goals determine how long you’ll need it. Everyone responds to treatment and medication differently, and you might face external factors that make it challenging to stick to a set treatment plan. Some may stay on it for a few weeks or months, while others may need medical intervention for years. There’s no set timeframe for how long you stay on medication, your treatment lasts as long as it’s helping you meet your goals. 

Does Suboxone Cause Intoxication?

The intent of Suboxone as part of MOUD treatments is to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. At a prescribed dose, Suboxone is not intended to cause intoxication. That’s because of something called the “ceiling effect.” After a certain point, the medication’s effects level off rather than getting stronger. 

This is one of the built-in safety features of Suboxone, but that safety has limits. Mixing Suboxone with benzodiazepines, like Xanax® or Valium®, alcohol, or other sedatives is dangerous and can lead to life-threatening breathing problems, overdose, or death, even when you’re taking Suboxone exactly as prescribed. . 

What Happens If You Stop Taking Suboxone?

Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist used as an ongoing maintenance treatment for opioid use disorder. It helps manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms so you can focus on your recovery. When you stop Suboxone abruptly without medical supervision, you may experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings, which can increase the risk of returning to opioid use. 

Is Suboxone Right for You?

Knowing whether Suboxone versus methadone is right for you depends on where you are in your Chicago OUD journey. Suboxone works well in treatment plans that allow patients to continue with everyday life, which means you’ll have some flexibility, as it helps you live without feeling sick. 

How Do You Start Suboxone Treatment in Chicago? 

Suboxone treatment can happen immediately when you contact outpatient clinics that treat OUD in Chicago. Traditional induction typically requires you to be in mild withdrawal before your first dose, but that’s not the only option. Some clinics, like Symetria Recovery, offer a gradual approach that allows you to start buprenorphine at very low doses without waiting for withdrawal to set in. Your care team will walk you through which approach makes the most sense for your situation.  

Most clinics will verify your insurance in advance, as coverage varies by plan. Because clinicians prescribe Suboxone in an outpatient setting, you can begin treatment without leaving your job or daily responsibilities.

The Difference Between Methadone and Suboxone

Methadone and Suboxone are FDA-approved medications designed to help you work through a Chicago MOUD program. MOUDs lower your withdrawal and can prevent use, which proves effective in reducing a return to use and overdoses. Where these MOUDs differ is in their composition and in how they affect your brain. The table details the differences: 

If your opioid tolerance is moderate and you need flexibility, Suboxone might be a good fit. If your tolerance is high, such as with long-term fentanyl use, methadone might be considered. 

When to Use Methadone Versus Suboxone

You already know the effects and differences of these medications, so working with your medical team to decide on one or the other comes down to your personal situation. Methadone may be a better fit if: 

• You are using high-potency opioids like fentanyl daily
• You wake up in withdrawal even after short periods without use
• You want to start treatment right away without waiting to be in withdrawal first
• You benefit from daily accountability and routine
• You feel safer with close medical monitoring at the start

If you like the structured environment of a licensed Chicago treatment program to provide consistency, a methadone program might suit you, versus Suboxone, which might suit you better if: 

• You can tolerate short periods of withdrawal before starting treatment
• Your cravings are present but manageable
• You have stable housing and predictable work hours
• You prefer fewer required clinic visits
• You want treatment that integrates more easily into daily life

Suboxone can offer flexibility once your care team stabilizes you, which matters if you don’t want to put your life on hold. What you should ask yourself before committing to a treatment program is: 

• Where am I in my opioid use right now?
• What has or hasn’t worked before?
• Do I need structure or flexibility?
• What will help me stay in treatment long enough to stabilize?

The right choice is the one that increases your likelihood of staying engaged in care. And if your needs change, your treatment plan can change with them.

How Symetria Recovery Supports Methadone and Suboxone Treatment in Chicago

At Symetria Recovery, we offer methadone and Suboxone through The Symetria Method®. This non-punitive system combines medication and comprehensive clinical care, as part of our whole-person approach to MOUD. Same-day admission is available for eligible patients, subject to clinical assessment, and we aim to get you started as quickly as possible. 

We dispense your medication on-site, including licensed OTP services for methadone. Therapy is available as clinically indicated and covered by your insurance plan, and may include family counseling, psychiatric support, and non-punitive care. 

Switching From Methadone to Suboxone During Your Chicago Care Plan 

It’s possible to switch from methadone to Suboxone, but you’ll need to plan it carefully. Your provider will lower your dose under careful supervision to prevent triggering withdrawal or use.

Once your dose reaches a safer level, your care team will guide you through the timing of your transition to Suboxone, including how long to wait before your first dose to reduce the risk of sudden withdrawal symptoms. If you start Suboxone too soon, it can trigger a sudden withdrawal because it displaces methadone from the opioid receptors. 

Start Outpatient Opioid Treatment in Chicago Today

Choosing Suboxone versus methadone when you join a Chicago outpatient program comes down to your needs and personal preferences. If you want flexibility and want the ceiling effect that lowers the risk of an overdose, Suboxone might work better in your treatment plan. 

Methadone has been around for decades, and research backs its efficacy to support a treatment program where long-term use reduction is the goal. Your care team will likely recommend methadone if you have a long history of opioid use. 

You don’t have to make the decision alone, and you don’t have to wait. Symetria Recovery strives to offer same-day admission with no waitlist, so you can start feeling better without putting your life on hold. Call our team at (866) 287-5921 or complete a confidential contact form to get started today.

Suboxone® is a registered trademark of Indivior UK Limited. The Symetria Method® is a registered trademark of Symetria Recovery. Symetria Recovery is not affiliated with or endorsed by Indivior. Buprenorphine/naloxone may be dispensed as a generic equivalent.