What Happens if You Take Xanax with Suboxone?

Taking two or more prescriptions at the same time is not uncommon. Being honest with your doctor about what prescriptions you are taking is of upmost importance, as some medicines don’t react well with each other. Being honest with your doctor is the first step in avoiding a potential mixing of Xanax or another benzodiazepine with suboxone.

What is Xanax?

Xanax is a brand name. It is called a benzodiazepine, which is a medicine acts as a central nervous system depressant which is in a medical category which includes tranquilizers, hypnotics, sedatives, etc. These substances slow down brain activity and calm down the patient. It is useful for treating anxiety and sleeping disorders. Xanax is a well know bran of this type of medicine and is prescribed to help patients who suffer from moderate to severe anxiety and panic attacks. It can also treat depression. The dosage varies depending on the patient and their needs.

Patients taking this medication must be closely monitored by a physician to control the symptoms and progress, thus ensuring the most relief the patient can get. Because there is potential for abuse, patients must be responsible for following the physician’s instructions.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a branded medication to treat opioid addiction. It contains a combination of naloxone and buprenorphine, which help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings for those patients recovering from an opioid addiction. It was the first medication approved under DATA 2000 for the treatment of addiction to opioids in a private office setting.

Patients taking Suboxone can live a life which is more productive with being dependant on their addiction. However, the physician must monito the patient closely and help find the correct dose for each patient.

What can Happen if You Combine Suboxone and Xanax?

Individually, both Xanax and Suboxone can be effective medicine. The first helps calm the mind and ideal for someone struggling with anxiety. The second is a huge benefit in the struggle against addiction and for those patients recovering from anxiety. However, when taken together the results can be horrendous.

Xanax is a benzodiazepine and Suboxone is a form of buprenorphine and combining the two can be deadly. They could cause a nervous system depression so severe it could result in respiratory failure. There are other side effects too, such as slurred speech, extreme drowsiness, loss of consciousness or ending in coma. Unfortunately, it is all two common that these drugs are combined, despite the lethal consequences.

Benzodiazepines are considered to be high potential for abuse, which means they are addictive. This puts patients with substance abuse issues at serious risk, even with a prescription from their doctor. Patients who are taking Suboxone are being treated for substance abuse. The combination of both these medications can lead to serious health issues, including death. This is why a patient must be honest with their doctor, especially if they are taking one of these medications and get prescribed the second one.

Always ask your pharmacist about potential drug interactions with any medication you are already taking.