If you’re struggling with addiction, chances are you’ve been prescribed medication to help ease the side effects. In addition to being an addictive drug in its own right, methadone can be used to combat the effects of other addictive substances and reduce their impact on your life. However, it is possible to take them together.
Arguably one of the most effective ways of tackling opioid addiction is by taking a drug like methadone which essentially reduces the harmfulness of opioids while not reducing their effectiveness as painkillers. As such, many doctors recommend that patients take methadone after they have consumed opioids so as to mitigate any negative effects of consuming those opioids.
Read on to learn more about how these two drugs work together and whether or not you should talk to your doctor before combining them.
Table of Contents
How Does Methadone Help With Opioid Addiction?
Methadone is a synthetic opioid drug that’s prescribed to help treat opioid addiction by replacing the effects of stronger opioids like heroin or prescription painkillers. It does this by binding to the same receptors in the brain that are responsible for the effects of opioids.
It also lasts longer in the bloodstream than the opioids themselves meaning patients can take it less frequently.
Methadone has also proven useful in reducing the cravings for opioids and withdrawal symptoms, helping patients break their addiction. As methadone is an opioid, it does have potential for abuse and dependence. However, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), it’s less likely to be abused than other opioids.
The effects of methadone are long-lasting, meaning that they can last up to 72 hours once they have been consumed. This makes it ideal for some patients, but it also means that it should not be taken alongside certain drugs.
How Does Xanax Help With Opioid Addiction?
Xanax (or alprazolam) is often used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. However, it has also been used to help patients who are coming off of opioid addiction. Xanax effectively reduces cravings, lessening the chance that a patient will relapse. This is due to the fact that it binds to the same receptors in the brain as opioids do, albeit to a much lesser extent.
As such, it helps to lessen the addictive effects of opioids without taking away their painkilling properties.
Xanax is a short-term solution for treating opioid addiction and can be particularly useful for helping patients cope with withdrawal symptoms. However, it must be taken under the supervision of a health professional.
Xanax and Methadone Together
Methadone and Xanax work together because they both bind to receptors in the brain that are responsible for the effects of opioids. This can be a good thing because it can minimize the harmful effects of opioids, allowing patients to potentially reduce their use of methadone.
While taking Xanax and methadone together could be effective, it is generally not recommended. This is because it’s difficult to determine the correct dosage of each drug.
This can cause issues for patients, particularly if the two drugs cannot be taken together, or if the combination of the two drugs is dangerous.
What Are the Dangers of Taking Xanax with Methadone?
Xanax and methadone work together to significantly reduce the negative effects of opioids. For many patients, this can be incredibly helpful. However, it can also lead to issues. For example, if you take too much methadone, it can lead to respiratory depression.
This is when breathing becomes shallow or stops completely. If you take too much Xanax, it can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. Both drugs can also cause side effects like nausea, shakiness, and fatigue.
There is also a risk that taking these two drugs together could lead to an overdose. It is possible that this could happen if you take too much of either drug, or if you take them at the same time. It is important that you do not take more than one drug at a time because it can cause dangerous interactions.
Can You Take Xanax and Methadone at the Same Time?
Taking Xanax and methadone together may work for some patients. After all, the two drugs bind to the same receptors in the brain that opioids do. This means that they will have a similar effect on the patient.
Taking these two drugs together may be dangerous or ineffective for some patients. This is because it is difficult to know how much of each drug to take.
Additionally, taking Xanax and methadone at the same time can cause side effects in some patients. It can also lead to dangerous interactions in others. This is due to the fact that the two drugs work on different parts of your brain. As such, they can affect each other.
Bottom Line
Whether or not you can take Xanax and methadone together depends on a number of factors. This includes the dosage of each drug, your individual health, and the type of opioid addiction you are dealing with.
If you are considering taking both of these drugs, it is important that you discuss it with your doctor first. They can help you to determine the correct dosage for both drugs, as well as whether or not the two drugs can be taken together.
