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Winston Salem, NC
A 50-year-old female asked:

I am going to methadone clinic tommorrow and get them to convert me over from suboxone to methadone can you do that in one day?

2 doctor answers3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Elizabeth Howell
Psychiatry 43 years experience
No: You need to do this under the care of a doctor who can determine when it is safe to start suboxone. Someone taking Methadone will go into severe opioid withdrawal if given Suboxone too soon. One recommended way to transfer from Methadone to Suboxone is to taper down on Methadone to 30-40 mg per day, stop Methadone for 2-3 days, then start Suboxone once withdrawal symptoms are severe enough.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Byron Law-Yone
Psychiatry 57 years experience
I think the question is how to switch from Suboxone to methadone
Mar 19, 2013
Dr. Karl Spector
Addiction Medicine 27 years experience
Yes, but....: You can be dosed with Methadone the day after you were given Suboxone but remember, Suboxone blocks all other opiates/narcotics and makes them ineffective if its still in your system. For most people, Suboxone remains in their system for 3-5 days. Thus, if you are given Methadone the day after, it just won't be effective, but it won't put you in withdrawal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated May 6, 2016

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