In this article, I’m going to educate you on the subject of mixing methadone and Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and other benzos. Taking methadone and Xanax or other benzos together is not good for your health. Additionally, this combination can even have serious negative consequences, including overdose and death.
My goal with this post is to inform you on what the combination of methadone and Xanax or other benzos does in your body, and why this mixture is not recommended by doctors, addiction therapists, nor me.
Many years ago, I overdosed on methadone and Valium and almost died.
Had the EMTs not arrived on the scene exactly when they did…
I would not be on this planet and this blog would not exist.
You can read about my methadone/Valium overdose in detail by clicking here.
Many things are fine to mix with methadone. However, Xanax and other benzos are not some of them. Why is it a bad idea to mix methadone and Xanax?
Let’s talk about this…shall we?
Methadone and Xanax – Methadone Overview
Methadone can totally eliminate 100% of your opiate withdrawal symptoms. This is because methadone is a powerful opioid drug. Methadone binds to the same opioid receptors in the brain and other parts of the body that drugs like heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and other opioids bind to. Once methadone binds to these receptors, the opioid effects come on.
Common effects of methadone are the same as other opioids:
- Pain Relief
- Sedation
- Euphoria
- CNS Depression
- Constricted Pupils
- Constipation
Methadone and Xanax – Dangers of Mixing Methadone and Benzos
Methadone and Xanax are not recommended to be taken together because the combination can be deadly. Many people have died from taking methadone and Xanax together.
Here is a bullet-point breakdown of the problem with this mixture:
- For starters, both types of drugs are central nervous system (CNS) depressants.
- Methadone is a powerful opioid agonist.
- Alone, both methadone and Xanax or other benzos have the ability to cause significant respiratory depression. Used together, this combination results in synergy.
- Methadone/benzo synergy is when the combined effect is greater than the sum of the effects of these two CNS depressants.
When you combine two CNS depressants, in this case, methadone and Xanax or other benzos, this significantly increases the chances of respiratory depression and can ultimately lead to death from your body not breathing anymore.
Methadone and Xanax – Key Concepts
Now that you’ve been educated on the potential negative health consequences of mixing methadone and Xanax or other benzos, I hope you’ll stay away from Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, and other benzos while you’re on this medication.
You only have one body, so treat it well.
The following key concepts will help you stay healthy on methadone:
- Avoid the combination of methadone and Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, or other benzos.
- Avoid all other CNS depressants (such as alcohol) while taking methadone.
- Drink at least 4-5 liters of water a day or more.
- If you drink soda, cut that out too or at least limit it to no more than 1-2 sodas a week.
- Focus on eating primarily organic whole foods, and eliminate or limit processed and refined foods.
- Make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep or more per night on a regular basis.
- Exercise at least 3-4 days a week or more, using a combination of cardio, strength-training, and stretching.
As a former substance abuse counselor at an Opiate Treatment Program (OTP) and a current Opiate Recovery Coach, I’ve always been outspoken about the potential dangers of mixing methadone or other opioids with other CNS depressants.
The synergy is real, and thus it’s really not worth the risk.
If you have any comments or questions about the topic of mixing methadone and Xanax or other benzos, please post them in the comment box below. Be safe, and take care of yourself.
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