I'm currently taking 3mg of Xanax daily for my anxiety disorder, and have an opiate addiction to OxyContin. My doctor wants to give me Suboxone to get off the OxyContin and I've heard that taking Xanax and Suboxone together was dangerous and could have adverse side effects. I was just wondering if anyone knew if it was safe or dangerous to combine the two drugs? And if so, what are the side effects of taking them together, if any?
Are Xanax (Alprazolam) and Suboxone safe to take together... are there any adverse side effects?
Question posted by Derek23 on 18 July 2009
Last updated on 10 April 2023
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
44 Answers Page 2
Inactive
4 April 2012
i currently take both meds and have for 5 years now. down to 8mg a day on the subs and up to 8 mg a day on the benzos. everyone is different; and im no doctor(although ive filled more scripts than walgreens in my old life) im currently doing a slow taper on the benzos because years of more than 4mg is a very hard habit to break. next month im dropping to 4mg of sub and only 3 or 6mg xanax. they also tell you if you take opiates you will get violently ill if subs are on board. not true in my case; the old me had to try just wasted money and days of sobreity. good luck my friend; im jeremy and i am/ was a junkie. b4 you start the subs you gotta be dopesick; sorry but thats the only way it works right without adverse effects. id suggest stopping thursday and starting the subs on monday. they should start you on subutex(w/out naloxone) just in case you didnt follow instructions; but thats only the first dose.
personally i never had a problem, but some do, usually the ones that keep taking opiates and subs. as long as you are sweaty clammy; have that gotta get well thing going it should be a piece of cake. my prayers are with you. God bless
subb1976
23 March 2012
i am on 3 mg of xanax a day.along with 16mg of subs a day,and i have no adverse reactions at all.The people who would be in danger are people who arent tolerent to both opiates and benzos.so if you have been takeing both then you will be fine.i also take a barbiturate for headaches,and keppra and celexa.all of them slow your breathing.i have been on this for 3yrs now and i wake every morning.even my sub doc knows i take all this and he is not worried.so yea you will be cool .good luck
weecharmedone
8 March 2012
I currently am taking xanax depending on my anxiety, normally its 3 x's a day. but most its been 5 x's a day. I was on OxyContin due to my back pain( which i stopped because its pretty much heroin, and the withdraw symthoms are feeling like u are dying, so i perfer u get off it! im sure you know how it feels when u dont have it. ,if u dont need it) I was put on suboxone, and btw. its hard to find doctors that will help you get off of opiots its like t hey want you to stay on them forever. due to my condition i will be in pain for the rest of my life. I choose to get off of it all together!! u should too. There are other pain meds ( not opiot related , that can help you) doctors pretty much want people to be on it, its a goverment thing. anyways. the answer to your question is, u can take it. but not at the same time. Give a distance, ( a few hours between) while taking these. And the only way its dangerious is if you shoot it up.
so, hopefully, you are not doing that!,( snorting is the same, gets in the blood stream faster, and no , do not snort it. im sure your not a abusing the drugs like some people out there, t hat think its funny, and post stupid comments on it, like " hey snort it, it makes u high", first off, while im on it. its never got me high so i have no idea what the hell they are talking about it, unless they are actually shooting the crap up!! im not a doctor, but, ive been on it for awhile. and if your doctor is prescribing you these meds, its always questions , questions questions. but beware. because some docs will say its safe. your pharmasist can also help you as well. they will tell you the truth, as per doctors get paid to give out scrips to people, no matter what t hey are even if u dont need it. The side effects, are nothing. if its your first time taking it. it can make u tired. Thats about it. but ,like i said, dont take them together. take them at different hours. suboxone, is addictive. only take it so that the withdraw from the OxyContin is out of your system. also. doctors can prescrip, methacarbin, and clonidine, to get off opiots as well. some say smoking weed, and anxiety meds help too. but, smoking weed is over rated, im 32. and i think weed is a child thing. as i read on these post, alot of people say that. It does work, i have a friend that has done it. Thats to get off the opiots. but , i used methocarbon, and clonidine( blood pressure/anxiety med to get off it. hope this helps!
SoggDogg
3 March 2012
One of my sub doctors said that taking the two together can cause death and would absolutely not ever prescribe both of em. He told me either one or the other. But had another doctor that prescribed me 32mg of subs and 4mg of xanax a day. He never said anything to me about them being dangerous when you combine them... And there where no side affects that I could tell, well except for the forgetfullness and the blackouts when I drank. But dont think that had anything to do with the subs.. Xanax and alcohol = instant blackout.
stephcar
12 Feb 2012
I take 4 to 6mg of xanax a day and im prescribed 16 mg off suboxone. I only take 4 to 8 mg of the suboxone it is very strong it takes away all withdrawal symptoms. Its an amazing drug!!! Im fighting for my son with a jugde that doesnt approve of any meds so Im gradually weening off of both meds. The interaction of these meds has no no negative impact on me. In fact it has surpressed my appitiate and has made me need less of the xanax without feeling sick. I would recommend that you switch to suboxone and get of the oxy. You will feel alot better. promise!!!
pugsby1
1 Feb 2012
To my knowledge suboxone is tightly controlled by the FDA. There are intermittent drug tests that go along with taking this medication. When you take xanax with suboxone you run the risk of being taken off of the suboxone. just wondering how all of you people can continue to take suboxone with benzodiazepines without any repercussions?
humboldtlocal
1 Feb 2012
This warning refers to INTRAVENUS use of benzos. While this issue does relate to use of pills in a milder way, the warning is for INTRAVENUS, like when you get put in the hospital on subox you gotta let them know not to give you a big dose of intravenus benzos. sorry for spelling.
Ummm... becuase there is no ill effect. In fact xanax has helped me lower my subox dosage and I'm on a taper plan. Maybe recreational abusers take opiates for the anxiety relief in additional to the dodging of relity. Obvious trading one for another is no good, but I will taper the xanax once I reduce the subox to zero.
Btw, my subox taper is a two year plan made with me and my doctor. Subox just puts addition in remissions. It take a lot of therapy and work and self realization to deal with the underlying issues that led to abuse.
countrygirl4ever1973
4 Dec 2011
Today is my first day of taking suboxne im taking 1 8mg strip under the tongue for 5 days then 4 mg pill form for 5 days then 2mg for 3 days then 1 mg for 2 days. Hopefully after that i will be clean and free of drugs I have been on oxycode 30mgs 240 mg or more a day for years. I plan on taking my 1 mg xanax at sleep time like I always do. Wish me luck that this works out. I have read many of your stories and i guess I just dont understand the point in taking suboxene for long term I just dont get it.
humboldtlocal
4 Dec 2011
The reason people stay on subs for a long time is because you have radically changed your brain chemistry and it takes a long time for it to get better. I'm one year into suboxone treatment with a planned two year total taper. Along with groupwork and therapy every week I am getting somewhere finally.
When you are addicted to opiates your brain creates many extra receptors, many more than a normal person would have. WHen these are empty you feel sick and feel cravings.
I quick taper will help with moderate withdrawl but will leave your brain chemistry in a vulnerable place, you still have tons more receptors and most people don't have the will power to deal with it, nor should anybody be expected to, brain chemistry is powerful, and after years on opiates I you are going to have incredible cravings are your brain will likely manipulate you into relapse because you haven't taken the time to let your brain chemistry repair.
If you insist in a quick taper I recommend studying brain chemistry and taking the amino acids your brain needs to get back in balance.
Read End Your Addiction Now, the proven nutritional supplement program that can set you free, by Charles Gant MD, Greg Lewis, PHD.
This book is not about selling a nutritional program, but is the result of studies done with addicts coming straight off of drugs onto a nutritional program with an incredibly high success rate.
It explains this brain chemistry stuff better than I could. Also check out books by Joan Mathews Larson, PHD, who runs a center that treats everything from addiction to depression to psychosis through correction of physiological problems that led to the patients conditions. (i.e. amino acids, vitamins, identifying other physiological imbalances and then corrects them).
If you have your support in place, at least take some B vitamins and eat healthy, but statistically your prognosis is not good, and I think its worth it to spend time researching brain chemistry so you can understand whats going on.
My method may not be the best but I'd taper your subox over 6 months minimum and only if you are actively pursuing the basis of your addictive behavior and correcting it.
Best of luck to you, I realize some program encourage this rapid taper, but I would study the science behind brain chemistry and addiction before putting yourself in danger by tapering too quickly.
fish187
9 Nov 2011
i have been taking <dr. prescribed> 8mg- 12 mg of buprenorphine,which is the generic for suboxone for almost a year, and sometimes i take 1-2 mg xanax to help with sleep and appetite, and ive had no problems. i have a friend who sees a suboxone doctor, and he actually prescribes him xanax along with his suboxone every month..i dont see why a dr. would presribe the two together if there were underlying mixture problems. the key is too not over-do it .
sillyjj19
21 Oct 2011
I have been on suboxone for 4yrs... I have horrible anexity and my Dr prescribed me klonopin( never can spell that rite) I was on 1mg 3 times a day for yrs before I got on the suboxone... But I still find the xanax still help better. I personal have had no side affects but yrs everyone is different. I'm ok it works for me so I wuld just ask ur doc... If u r serious about getting the suboxone. If I didn't have both it would be bad for me... So ya just explain. I no what ur going threw and I'm here if u need to talk. Jess
juliedino19
21 Sep 2011
Hi... My doctor will not givex me Xanax with my suboxone they two should not be taken together there is a warning label on the suboxone. It could cause death... please be careful taking them together... best of luck.
Julie
BrentDT
28 Sep 2011
My doctor gives me 8mg of Suboxone and 2 Mgs of Xanax per day. When I started Sub (this time) I was RX'd 6mg of Xanax already. He kept me on te same dose for 15days and brought it down every 15days until I got to 2mgs. Now he is talking about going down until I get to 0.5 (only when needed), and I am scared to death. In 2008, coming off a LONG methadone maintenance program (rapidly) & cold turkey stopping months of 10-12mgs of Xanax &/or Klonopin... I had a seizure on day 12. Ever since then... I have been prescribed Benzos. I rarely abuse them anymore, mostly due to the fact I have such a high tolerance and just having a bottle keeps me from panic (for the most), but if I don't take any for 3 days... I feel WD for SURE! I believe that legitimately benefit from Benzos... about 80% of the time. I have had a few times where I saved up 2-3 bars, took them all at once and did something stupid, but for the most part...
it's basically like a Benzo Maintenance thing for me. So I know for a fact that several other patients that go to the same doctor are getting the same treatment. My doc is not some lowlife who gives out meds easily, he is VERY strict about the benzo/Suboxone detail. For instance, if you have one positive urine (after the first 2-3 visits) you will be completely taken off the Benzos. If you continue to test dirty for Benzos another 2-3 tests after that... he will quit writing the Suboxone. He told me FLAT OUT one more THC positive and I will be taken off Xanax completely. It's good for me though... consequences like loosing my meds and being sick as hell, helps me to think really hard before doing something illegal. But anyway... YEAH, alot of people take Xanax and Suboxone daily RXd from the same prescribing doctor... it is just monitored alot closer. :-)
cainon25
28 Aug 2011
I am prescribed suboxone and anti anxiety medication. If you are scared i would take a smaller dose, and if that does not effect you go ahead and take your regular dose. There is a risk in everything, and if you are gonna start coming off of your oxycontin you are def gonna need your xanax,Trust me.
hoefer.arika
2 Aug 2011
taking any type of benzo is dangerous if you are on suboxone, I used to be on xanax and when I started taking suboxone I learned that the xanax lessens the effect of the suboxone, and in my opinion, it wasen't worth taking the xanax anymore. It is not safe, and your doctor should know what the effects are.
humboldtlocal
2 Feb 2012
bs
jessika712002
16 July 2011
I'm on 1mg Xanax 4 times a day for major anxiety and I'm doing just fine being started at 18 mgs of suboxone and 1mg Xanax 4 times a day,i'm down to 4 mgs of suboxone and the Xanax is helping me get through the withdrawal systoms..Just be careful not to take over 4 Xanax a day,everybodys bodies are different in handling different medications,I hope this helped..
jkaplan0448
23 June 2011
I read several answers to this but actually this is the truth. First of all your suboxone doctor wants you to come in to his office on the first visit clean of ALL drugs not just opiates. This is so he does not have to worry when trying to find your correct dosage, that other drugs may be in your system. My doctor did not even give me a urine test. He saw the major withdrawal I was in and took my word that I had no drugs in 48 hours before seeing him. He then will ask about what your taking as far as opiates. That is the only drug suboxone will help you withdraw from. I was on 120 mg /day of Kadian (morphine sulfate) for pain and was on them for many years. I also was taking 3mg/day of Xanax for anxiety as well as high blood pressure meds and 100 mg transadone for sleep.
I have been on suboxone for abour 6 months and was on a dosage of four 8/2 suboxone tablets which was the dosage he determined on my first visit. Being a Dr. (PhD) and also being on long term disability, he had no doubt about my pain. He also only sees me once every 3 months and gives me 3 refills every visit. At the present time I am detoxing further. I am down to 3 suboxone tablets ./daily, and have cut my Xanax from 3mg/day to 1mg/day. You dont want to quit quickly. Suboxone only because you want to not have any cravings nor do you want any withdrawal symptoms. I expect to be off of the suboxone in about another 5 or 6 months. I get 3 refills every visit which is not once every 3 months. He said he starts most people on the 2/2 suboxones but my long bout with morphine made him dose me the 8/2 tablets which is I believe the largest you can get. At least its refillable and is only a schedule 3 drug so he can even call it in, or just give me a normal prescription without triplicates etc.
Now, Xanax is not supposed to be just stopped. Very dangerous and can cause convulsions, tremors, just bad stuff. It is recommended to detox .025mg when comming of of Xanax and do that every 2 weeks. It takes a while, but with me, since I know longer can take pain medication, the Xanax was a Godsend. So this is the real scoop. I would get a really good blood pressure (digital of course) and take it twice a day. I have mine down to 120/72 and am 63 years old. I have to admit, I went to school at Berkeley in the 60's and am therefore extremely drug tolerant. This is probably not the normal person. I have extreme arthritis, lots of operations and the pain is dealt with by over the counter ibuprofen 800mg tabs which needs a script unless you want to by a lot of motrin. When its really bad I have prednisone and get a cortisone shot for really bad pain. At least I know I was really taking these drugs for pain, and not just to not be sick in the morning. Hope this helps. Your post is old so hope you are clean by now. If you need more information you can email me or post a message to me.
Regards,
Dr. J - PhD Astrophysics
Consultant retired.
humboldtlocal
4 July 2011
Hey doc, thanks for your post. Im 34yr old 8months on 16mg subox after years smoking oxycontin. Im warry of being on benzos and so is my doctor but I feel like I need serious help dealing with the trauma and anxiety. After an easy six months life has gotten so much harder. I know if I want to use benzos with subox my doctor will support me if its the right treatment. How do you weigh the need to just function in your life versus risk of another addiction? If you feel like sharing the feelings behind your decision to take benzos and how its helped you id appreciate any inisghts you may have. Thanks
googun007
22 June 2011
Derek, I am in the same boat you are and i want to first tell you that it takes a lot to admit you have an addiction and seek help. With that said you always want to tell your doctor what meds you are on and let him make a decision but I have weened myself from taking 3 8mg suboxone a day down to a quarter of an 8mg suboxone. I also take 2mg's of xanax as needed. As long as you aren't using the xanax to get high and taking multiple bars at a time you should be fine. This combination in moderation is ok but be careful with xanax, I only take them a few times a week because the withdrawal from them is pretty scary. I went through that a few years ago and don't ever want to do that again. Good luck with everything man and i'm here if you need someone to talk to. I'm not proud of it but I have first hand experience with a lot of things.
Tootight
8 March 2018
I know this is old but just wanted to comment on your comment.
Nightmares! Getting off of xanax gave me the worst, scariest, most realistic dreams of my life.
Tootight
8 March 2018
I know this is old but just wanted to comment on your comment.
Nightmares! Getting off of xanax gave me the worst, scariest, most realistic dreams of my life.
Related topics
oxycontin, suboxone, xanax, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, alprazolam
Further information
- OxyContin uses and warnings
- Suboxone uses and warnings
- Xanax uses and warnings
- Alprazolam uses and warnings
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