Xanax and Methadone: What Happens If You Take Both?

Combining Medications Can Put You at Risk

You have heard from your friends that taking Methadone and Xanax is safe. However, you are wondering what happens if you take Xanax and Methadone and will detox be needed.

The Trouble with Xanax

becomes fully active within 10 to 15 minutes. It can also cause an individual to literally pass out and fall over. Moreover, prolong use of Xanax can result in a build-up of the drug in the body. In turn, this can lead to other health issues including liver and kidney failure. In fact, reports from the National Institute on Drug Abuse show that close to 125,000 people go to the emergency room each year as a result of Xanax abuse. Statistics also show that approximately 100,000 people report using Xanax with other drugs and/or alcohol.

The Problem with Methadone

Methadone maintenance is not meant to be used to get high, but is designed to help individuals stop taking other opiates such as prescription painkillers and heroin. Individuals who use Methadone to stop other drug use are supposed to stop after the withdrawal period. However, most individuals do not stop their Methadone use and as a result ultimately end up trading one addiction for another. Another concern with Methadone is that it remains active in the body for up to about 60 hours, during which time individuals may take more of the medication or take other medication which will put them at risk for overdose. Statistics show that between 1999 and 2005 Methadone related deaths rose 600 percent from 786 deaths in 1999 to 4,462 deaths in 2005.

Xanax and Methadone: Lethal Combination

First of all, the combination of Xanax and Methadone can be deadly. Moreover, you may have heard that the combination of the two drugs increases the euphoria and is similar to the same feeling as Heroin. However, taking Xanax and Methadone together can result in overdose. Xanax is a sedative from the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines and is often used to treat anxiety. When combined with Methadone individuals may experience dizziness and drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and impaired judgment. Moreover, both drugs are central nervous system depressants and the danger lies in the fact that the brain can forget to tell the heart and lungs to work, means that you could stop breathing.

Xanax and Methadone Detox Treatment

The safest way to stop using Xanax and Methadone is to seek inpatient professional medical detox. Quitting either or both drugs cold turkey can create severe and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Although there are several options available for medical detox, the method most recommended by physicians for stopping Xanax and Methadone abuse is IV therapy medical detox. IV therapy medical detox for Xanax and Methadone will take from seven to ten days to complete, after which it is a good idea to follow-up with a rehab program, counseling or support group. If you need to know more about what happens if you take Xanax and Methadone and will detox be needed, reach out to Gallus Detox Center today. We are here to help!

Shannon Weir, RN

Shannon Weir, RN is the Chief Nursing Officer at Gallus Medical Detox Centers. She has been a Registered Nurse for 30 years, Shannon’s experience ranges from critical care to flight nursing, medical detox, sexual assault exams, and SWAT nursing. Shannon has been with Gallus Medical Detox Centers since 2010 and is a vital part of our organization.