Does The Formulation Or Brand Of Methadone Make A Difference?
As with many medications, several forms of methadone make dispensing and administration more convenient. Pharmacologically – that is, the way they work in the body – the different formulations must be equivalent to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Formulation—Some patients may sense that one formulation is easier on the stomach or seemingly more rapid acting. This may be due to individual differences in how the methadone is absorbed into the body and digested (metabolized), but it is not due to differences in the essential methadone ingredient. It also could be due to how the liquid or dispersible tablets are mixed (eg, with juice or with plain water). Finally, the preservatives or fillers – inactive ingredients – used in the various formulations may differ and some people can be sensitive to one of those compounds for unknown reasons. Practitioners and patients have often debated whether methadone liquid, tablets, or dispersible tablets are more potent. Patients
