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mixing methadone and xanaxHi everyone.. i haven't been on in a while so I'm not really up to date on any topics. I have a question that im hoping somebody can help me with .An old friend of mine was hooked on oxycontin and started taking methadone to get off of oxy ( on his own, not in a clinic or anything ). He started taking xanax as well at the same time but it seems like he has lost his mind. We never had problems or anything at all and all of a sudden he thinks that the world is out to get him, i think he might be almost delirious or something...so my question is does anybody know of any long term side effects that come along with mixing the 2 drugs. I know it is a potentially lethal combination when not supervised by a doctor and i think he may take up to 8 mg of xanax mixed with up to 80 mg of methadone at a time .. ( roughly) . if anybody could help me out i would greatly appreciate it ... Thank You. (edited) ( categories: Discussion of Prescription and OTC Meds )
 your right
hi endo, your freind needs to realize that what hes doing can be bad. Ive heard of less than what hes taking being lethal! He needs professional help. I know that may be tough getting him to go but unless he ditches the xanax (at least in combo with methadone)hes in for trouble.--MUDEBONE--   Methadone and Xanax
gtr beat me to it, the right to the point simple one word answer. Death. He needs to go to an in-patient rehab, not out-patient or a methadone clinic. The methadone clinic can detox him from the methadone, but not the zany's, which is dangerous to come off of. When I was on the methadone clinic... people would lose take homes and little things for a hot urine that was dirty beacuse of weed, coke, etc. But benzos, they got real serious, 2 hot for benzo's and you must go in-paitent or your gone. Mixing strong opiates with strong benzo's is deadly. i am in a methadone clinic,
i am in a methadone clinic, and the use of benzos such as xanax while on a methadone program is strictly forbidden. many people put their health at risk and acquire benzos to achieve a high since there are so few other ways to get high while on methadone, but because of that aspect as well as the risk of a fatal interaction, methadone users are to be kicked out if they test positive for benzos Hey everyone thanks for the
Hey everyone thanks for the quick responses. I know that mixing the two drugs is very risky and does result in death eventually. What i meant to ask was if there were any sort of mental effects that come along with mixing the drugs, or even any mental side effects that come along with using either of the 2 drugs excessively. Sorry for not being specific on my question, if anybody has any info please let me know. Thanks. Benzodiazapines are
Benzodiazapines are disinhibiting. They may induce manic behavior in people with depressive disorder. They may also cause severe acting out in people with borderline personality disorder. When combined with alcohol, large doses of Benzodiazapine can cause respiratory depression and death. I suspect the same is possible with narcotics and benzodiazapines, but benzodiazapines are often used and an adjunct in manageing drug and alcohol withdrawl. Abrupt discontinuation of high dosages of Benzodiazapines can cause seizure and death. Q for Dr. Lois
Hey Dr. Lois, I detoxed my methadone dose from 140mg to 30mg at the clinic over the last year and switched to suboxone with hopes to soon be clean of all opiates for good, but on the topic of mixing opiates and benzo's. I was on Klonopin for anxiety/depression and when I got the clinic my Dr. took me off the K-pin for the same reasons we are posting in this thread. I tried other anti-depressants/mood-stableizers over the past year(i.e. Tegretol, Depakote, etc.) None of them came close to helping with the anxiety like the K-pin did. The Psychiatrist said he would put me back on them once I switched to suboxone, which I have, but my suboxone Dr. doesn't like the idea. What is your opinion?? I mean like I said in an earlier post, they are extremly against taking benzo's while on the methadone clinic because it is so dangerous, but is it safer to mix with suboxone, it is still mixing opiates with benzo's. I know there are other people on here that have Dr. who prescribed opiates and benzo's together and unless I'm mistaken, I think it is gtrplayer who said he is on suboxone and xanax. So what do you think? A friend of mine who was on
A friend of mine who was on suboxone 8mg twice daily was also prescribed 150 1mg xanax per month so if a doctor is willing to prescribe 5mg of xanax per day with the suboxone i would say it is a lot saver than methadone/benzo. Most clinics strictly forbid benzos although the doctor i know who prescribes suboxone almost always prescribed xanax or klonopin with it so i would assume it is a lot safer. methadone causes a lot more respiratory depression than suboxone does. The suboxone training site
The suboxone training site strongly discourages precribing benzodiazapines with suboxone, but I think it is primarily because of the addictive nature of benzodiazapines, and the fact that people with one addiction are more prone to be addicted to a second substance, and people with multiple drugs of abuse are generally more difficult to treat. Methadone is particularly dangerous because of its long half life and lack of a ceiling effect, respiratory depression is more likely and more unpredictable. Benzodiazapines competatively inhibit the breakdown of methadone in the liver. Suboxone does not seem to be associated with as high a risk of respiratory depression, so taking benzodiazapines with suboxone is probably not as dangerous. In a patient with a clear diagnosis of an anxiety disorder that is not responsive to other medications who is properly supervised and at low risk of misusing their medications, benzodiazapines could be used with either suboxone or methadone, with the understanding that no drug is perfectly safe, and most medical treatment involves carefully weighing the risks and the benefits. The risk-benefit decision should be made by the doctor and the patient together. This is a really nice quick review of methadone: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050401/1353.html This article cites a study on methadone and benzodiazapine use. "An Australian study found benzodiazepines present in 74 percent of deaths related to methadone and urged particular caution when methadone was prescribed with benzodiazepines." This also looks like an interesting website for anyone on methadone: http://www.methadonetoday.org/v6_n03.htm  Any large amounts of
Any large amounts of methadone or xanax will make someone act a bit strange so it's not surprising mixing the two would have mental side effects like paranoia, delirium, etc. But that really shouldnt be your main concern... if your friend is mixing large amounts of xanax with methadone, odds are he has a good shot at a dirt nap. ----- Tuna yes, in my opinion, mental defects
this is not a medical, or scientific fact, or even educated guess- it is only my silly opinion, or comment, but in my head at least it does kind of make sense... although I personally do not know any mental side effects from just the combination of methadone and benzos, it could stand to say that there is an effect from the shortened breath as many people have already pointed out. when mixing the two, your breathing becomes reduced, or weakened. at times, it becomes so lethargic this may even cut off oxygen to the brain. when the brain does not get enough oxygen, it starts killing off brain cells, almost like it is dying. obviously, diminished brain cells does cause mental retardation, possibly dementia, or paranoia. so yes, in fact, in my uneducated opinion, mixing methadone and benzos can cause mental defects, as well as at any moment it can cause immediate death. so warn your friend to stop before its too late, or before he is too far gone mentally to even understand anymore... I'm a social worker, not a medical professional. All comments and thoughts are simply my opinion and experience. remember to tell him that
remember to tell him that although he may take a certain dosage now and has no problems, he can still take the exact same dosage in two months, and one day his body just can't handle it, and he can die right then. the risk never goes away until he stops I'm a social worker, not a medical professional. All comments and thoughts are simply my opinion and experience. My Story
My husband died less than 3 weeks ago. He was going to the methadone clinic for the second time. He had been in for 2 and a half weeks and was up to only 40 mg of methadone. He was using morphine and xanax along with methadone and he overdosed. The clinic didn't detect his extracurricular usage, which I don't understand because I thought they drug tested regularly. I found him in his car and when I went to call 911, our two daughters, ages 6 and 12, ran over to the car and saw their dad, dead. He had struggled with this addiction for at least 4 years and had an unbelievable tolerance, but it caught up to him. Addiction affects everyone that cares about you. He was only 30 years old. I'm a widow at 31 and my girls have to grow up without a dad. I never thought this would happen to us, but it did. It IS REAL! It CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!  Mixing Methadone
JennyLynn Patients should be very careful about taking Methadone while also taking other sedatives, especially benzodiazepines. This is because the sedating effects of the Methadone will add on to the sedating effects of the other drugs, and the combination may become dangerous. In particular, grinding up Methadone and mixing it with benzodiazepines for injections has caused deaths. Patients being treated with Methadone should not use benzodiazepines except under the strict orders of a doctor. This was taken from the official website for Methadone.  I know for a fact that Xanax
I know for a fact that Xanax is a depressant, meaning that the user feels 'depressed' and in a low state of mind the morning after taking the pills, especially in high mg doses. If he continues than the mental state he is in will deteriorate, become depressed and be more paranoid from it. Especially if he continues the use of the methadone, being a very potent narcotic that achieves the same depressing effect (mentally, aside from the respiratory) especially during withdrawal times, he will do any number of behaviors that put his life at risk, how the heck did he get the xanax while on methadone, it must be black market. IMO you need to intervene and get him professional help, this is a serious situation. I am no docotor, i studied psychopharmacology and psychology, not medicine so what i say is opinions mixed with knowledge. -Enigmuh life can be so tragic
I just read your post & it brought back so many memories of my own experience that I just had to reply! My husband & I had been reasonably clean, just chippin' every now & then. We had moved to North Hollywood to further his musical career when we decided we'd celebrate with a little heroin & some benzos. I had gone to the store & in that short time he died! My daughter (his step) is the one who found him. He was only 32 ! I hope that you will do o.k. it hurts alot now, try not to medicate yourself, as i did for the grief I ended up a mess! This happened almost 25 yrs. ago! God Bless You Mel L !!! endoPlease don't forget
endo Please don't forget Methadone really intensifies the effects of benzo's as-well. be it Xanax, Ativan, Valium, or any of these "anti Anxiety" or "muscle relaxant" medications. The mixture of these two meds "can" cause psychological mis-firings, as well as, greatly increase the fear of overdosing because both of these drugs slow the breathing of the individual and lower the heart rate. So overdosing is much more a reality!! Please, if you care about him, get him off the Xanax before something regret-able happens!!! Good Luck & Take Care methadone and xanax
Ive been on methadone for 2 years and for a year and quarter of it ive been on klonopin .5's and those were not cutting my severe anxiety attacks and severe panic attacks and my pscyc and md put me on xanax 1mg 4 x's a day. I dont know if i gotta tolerance to it but my attacks are so severe that I could probally go to 6 or 8mgs a day. Thats just me. Im NOT at all saying that its good for everyone on methadone to do it, but it works for me. So DO NOT try it unless under your doctors supervision. And it took me two years to get at 4 1mgs. a day. Be SAFE AND NOT STUPID cause it will kill you if you do it the wrong way.  Xanax and Methadone
For me personally, Methadone sedates me MUCH more than other opiates. When I was taking it, I cut my Xanax doseage in half. Xanax is disinhibiting and clouds your judgement, making the possibility of an overdose a real threat. Anyone who takes methadone and a benzodiazapine concurrently should be VERY careful...You'll wake up dead one morning god forbid.. Ray
I'm not a doctor, but would LOVE to play one on tv.... Ray DEAD BROTHER
I RECENTLY LOST MY OLDER BROTHER.HE WAS 23 YEARS OLD. HE HAD SUCH A BUILT UP "TOLERANCE." HE TOOK A METHADONE, AND A XANAX.HE HAD QUITE THE "TOLERANCE". IF U REALLY BELIEVE UR TOLERANCE WILL KEEP U BLESSED,UR ASKING FOR DEATH. THE NITE HE DID THIS, I WAS UNAWARE HE HAD ALSO TAKEN XANAX. I TOLD HIM GOODNITE. HE WAS SO HAPPY TO BE GETTING CLEAN. WHEN I CAME BACK IN THE MORNING TO WAKE HIM, HE WAS DEAD. PEOPLE, THIS IS NO JOKE!!!!!UNLESS U WANT TO FIND URSELF 6 FEET UNDER, DONT MIX THESE LETHAL DRUGS! I just want to post and say
I just want to post and say that methadone is lethal without any benzo as well. Last night a friend of a friend who had zero or close to zero tolerance took a 40mg wafer went to sleep and never woke up. He didn't take any benzo but was opiate naive and i would assume went into respiratory depression and stopped breathing after he was unconscious. So taking methadone just because you arn't on xanax can still be just as lethal,. methadone wafer 40mg
hello Happybuck, a metahdone wafer is a 40mg tablet of methadone which is suppose to be put into liquid and it melts and you then drink it. Just recently the DEA in the USA made it that the 40mg wafer is only to be used for opiate maintanance and cannot be used for pain control anymore. Happy Buck
 I am very sorry for the
I am very sorry for the passing of your brother. When I worked as a social worker in the HIV-AIDS department many of the positive clients did a lot of mixing of Methadone and Benzo's and over the years there were so many that had passed away combining the two. It is sad. The clients that were mine and who passes away were using many times more that was prescribed to them. I imagine that there are many who are on methadone and are prescibed benzo's that use the benzo's correctly. I am not a doctor but I wonder if many who pass away mixing the 2 have severe liver damage and the liver cannot metabolize the med's correctly. Just a thought. |
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