Self-reported differences between liquid and tablet methadone in persons with opioid use disorder

Background: Methadone administration for opioid use disorder (OUD) has historically been in liquid formulations.Objectives: Evaluate how persons with OUD experience methadone dispensed in tablet versus conventional liquid formulation for the treatment of OUD.Methods: Persons (N = 48) receiving methadone for OUD were transitioned from liquid to a tablet formulation. Within-subject quantitative and qualitative reports of experience following each formulation were compared and descriptively summarized, respectively.Results: Participants were significantly more likely to describe tablet methadone as equal or better than liquid methadone (85.4% vs. 69.8%, p = .048, φ = .20). More participants endorsed benefits from tablet versus liquid methadone (66.7% vs. 37.8%, p = .005, φ = .29), including improved taste of the tablet, convenience in transporting medication, lower feelings of stigma, improved sleep, reduced cravings for sweet foods, and improved energy. No significant differences in formulations were evident with regards to bowel movements/constipation, sedation, and withdrawal suppression, with 81.5% of participants noting tablet methadone was equal or better at managing withdrawal compared to liquid. Participants found tablet methadone satisfactory, with 91.7% willing to recommend tablet methadone to their family/friends and 91.7% willing to use it again.Conclusion: Most participants experienced tablet methadone as neutral or advantageous compared to liquid methadone. Several qualitative potential benefits of tablet versus liquid methadone were raised. Approximately 80% of participants felt their opioid withdrawal was as good or better managed with tablet versus liquid methadone. These data may be used by clinics to explore tablet methadone dosing strategy and support advancement in the use of methadone for OUD.