Methadone and Buprenorphine

Compare and contrast methadone and buprenorphine. Include mechanism of
action, and pros/cons.

Methadone and Buprenorphine both are opioids, which are both drugs and molecules that are used to ease extreme pain. Methadone is a broad opioid agonist derived from synthetic compounds while buprenorphine is an opioid agonist that is made of synthetic and natural compounds (Noble and Marie, 2019,). Both medications reduce the severity of negative side effects, such as muscle pain and anxiety in people who are dependent on opioids when they stop taking opioids. They reduce the adverse consequences by working on neuronal opioid receptors.

Mechanism of Action

Opioid receptors are the mm receptor, Delta as well as Kappa. The research conducted done by Noble & Marie (2019) has shown the fact that Methadone and Buprenorphine make use of the delta and mm receptors subtypes to trigger potassium channels, releasing endorphins that result in various levels of pain relief and Ecstasy. The two drugs are taken through the mouth, with methadone being pills or syrup as well as buprenorphine, tablets that are that is placed on the tongue. Methadone’s oral bioavailability of between 40 and 80% and buprenorphine is a poor oral bioavailability. Methadone can reach the peak of its effect and plasma levels in between one and six hours when buprenorphine’s peak levels are within one hour.