Can You Take Benzos While You're On Suboxone? (Page 6)
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I've been seeing a lot of posts regarding taking benzos while on Suboxone. It is ok to take a benzo w/ suboxone - as long as you're taking the prescribed dosages you'll be fine. Now if you're taking 3 or 4 8mgs of Suboxone and say 5 or 6 Xanax that's not good, that's where the reported deaths have come from. I've been on Subs for 5 yrs. I've also been subscribed klonopin and am currently taking valium w/ it and it's fine. I'm on a low dose and only take what I am prescribed.

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Thank you for posting an article that sounded sincere, honest, with the intent to actually help. This is What these sights need. I have a hard time believing some of the quantities that are claimed by some on these sights. The combination I found best is 10 mg suboxone ( strips) and one mg. Xanax. Also be aware doctors that treat addiction will rarely prescribe another addictive drug........although there are exceptions. Again......thanks for the sincereity.

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I second what joe kerr and michele wrote....the suboxone is as close to the miracle drug as available. While taking subs, i felt "normal"...I felt like i did before i ever discovered opiates while on sub therapy. It doesn't make you feel high, but as stated so many times, I felt normal once again.... including that long absent "sense of well being". Hey, I'm an addict, and however long i take the subs is not a problem. Diabetics use insulin for a lifetime and my dsily 8 mg dose of bupe is fine for however long I desire to be on the program. And no, it does not make me feel high, no rush, just allows me to return and maintain a productive life. Do the research and decide for yourself... You have nothing to lose really by trying suboxone. Be careful with interactions with benzos, as it may lead to respiratory failure at worst, and sometime a temporary blackout of memory at the least, so be smart about how much you combine. Best of luck to all dealing with this nightmare of addiction, and remember, you are not alone in your struggles, and you are not a bad person or a weak character because you developed an addiction. We're all hopelessly human trying to find our way. Please take care, and be good to yourself. Thanks!

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Go with suboxone, don't suffer the cold turkey. I was 10 yrs on 40mg. Plan on a long run with suboxone. You will feel fine from day 1.

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I know this reply is erroneously late based upon date of question, but as a recovering opiate addict I KNOW this question will never be out dated. I became addicted innocently enough from a back injury....loved them from second dose. I say second because the first dose I took was late evening thinking Lortab would knock me out....was up until 3AM doing honey do's around house and bouncing off the walls....realized next AM they made me ten foot tall and bullet proof and was off to the races from there. Long story short lost everything within 6 years of addiction that started with very first dose. I had no knowledge or experience and DR enjoyed the regular insurance dollars and quick turnaround for refills monthly (all of them I used). When you're in it you don't see it or much else. After losing everything, I would still use multiple DRS and scripts usually running out once every 30 days and going through hellish WD lasting 100 hours on average before being able to remotely function again....then running to next appt. and off to the races again.....for several more years, month after month after month an expected and liquor softened hellish WD. Finally....my first bad day into a ty[pical WD my sister planted her ass at the foot of my bed and with help from my recovering 30 year AA sponsor cousin on the phone, refused to leave until I agreed to rehab. 36 hours later....when I was on downside of worst part of WD episode I could take no more and agreed to rehab.

I got to rehab I spent a miserable 1/2 day just getting though paperwork....then they gave me 8mg Soboxone and I went and laid down expecting squat. Less than an hour later I was walking around introducing myself and talking and completely, 100% NORMAL....not high and not sick....all symptoms of WD gone. The next day they gave me 8mg AM and 8mg PM and I was shocked.... why....where. ...how did I not know of this drug and WD symptoms? Hell...I had graduated to taking whatever I could get my hands on, thankfully never H or I would have died for sure. The third day they went back to 8mg and the forth day 4 mg, the 5th day 2mg and that was the end of the scheduled 5 day WD medication. I was dried out....and really the only craving I had was mental and it was minimal and I was even allowed 2mg more the 6th day if I wanted....but fact is Suboxone does NOT make you high like opioids....not close, at least physically....there is some minor psychological effect that because you are not sick and everything in your experience tells you that you should be fetal position in tub with shower going, shaking and cramping and wishing for death....you feel...just normal, not drugged and some part of you still longs for or misses that feeling....nothing more. As most after rehab I had a script with two refills I never spoke of and within two days of release I was back addicted and off to the races.

Several months later I had enough and searched for Soboxone TREATMENT and not just as a WD answer and found a psychiatric Dr who has treated me since. See....during all these years of dependency I used alcohol for everything from help getting through WD to upping effect of benzo's or muscle relaxants when I could get em and it finaly took it's toll on my pancreas and I had to deal with this pain somehow. My Soboxone DR was open to prescribing any dose that I SAID worked without judgement and I eventually settled on 12 mg a day....I could easily get 3X that, but fact is they DO NOT make you high, give you any rush or make you feel invincible.....they just balance the level of pain my pancreatitis offers and keeps me from ever craving opiates of any kind..... in 3 years now I have never taken or even wanted to take another opiate and it is all because of this miracle drug. I know many will say aw...yer still an addict.... hey....it is my nature bub....I will ALWAYS be an addict....but I don't have to be controlled by it.....I can and now feel confident I control it completely. Pain treatment with Soboxone is STILL not understood or practiced much beyond a few day WD drug....and yes, it is an AMAZING WD drug.....I guarantee anyone....if you want to get off the rollercoaster of opiate binging and WD....SOBOXONE people...you will NOT feel one second of nausea, cramps, sweating, insomnia, shakes, skin crawl...nothing, nada, zip.....but because it has naloxone you have to be 36 - 48 hours past last dose of opiate or it can react adversely, but any DR will know that....I was at 36 when I took mine in WD and my roommate lied and said he was 48 but was really 24 and did just fine.....so a lot has to de with individual tolerances and history and opiate drug....they say H is harder and takes more time from last dose before you can take Suboxone.....but fact is for me.....I have been through a 100 WD that lasted on average 100 hours before I was coming out of it and could face public....bottom line is you can take this daily and only once in AM and go the entire day not feeling high, drugged OR even beating your head against the wall wanting to feel high....it is amazing and should be used nation wide in every center and by every addiction DR.

I take now just 8mg generic soboxone sublingual tab when I wake up and some days....almost forget I need to take it and have 3 years without another WD, saved 1000's $$ in DR visits (graduated culinary school with associate degree and bought a motorcycle). To ANYONE out there wishing truly to get out of the life of a perpetual f*** up addicted sneak.....and avoids cleaning up because of WD's....go through Suboxone detox and then go on suboxone therapy....you will get your life back. Peace.

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In my experiences, I haven't found that to be the case at all. Currently, my Sub doctor writes for my Buprenorphine whereas my PCP writes for my Clonazepam. This has been my regimen for over 6 years now.

As long as I keep both doctors informed (which IMO is extremely important) neither one of them have had an issue.

In can't speak of any new laws that may have been recently implemented, however as recently as a month ago, there hasn't been a single setback.

Admittedly, it does seem to be more more challenging as of late to find a Sub doctor that will indeed write for both (thanks to pressure from the medical board), but based upon my own experiences, nothing has changed.

My advice is to prescreen a new Sub doctor prior to making an appt and simply inquire about their rules. This has been invaluable to my success.

God bless all,

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Sometimes they are weak. Name brand is the s*** if you have enough money.

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I went thru this as well, i know your pain. Forcing us to choose between our sanity or our sobriety. Not fair at all..Only a suboxone doctor can write for both at the same time and you have to find one who is willing. What kind of wean did they put you on? Sending prayers your way.

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I have been trying to find a dr around here but there all against it. I take benzos all the time .I really need them. My psychological dr said so .But she can't because of the laws.

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Suboxone is the best thing that ever happened to me. Defiantly dont try and go cold turkey, if u dont have to. Suboxone gets you back to normal..energy and all. Just be careful to not abuse it n take more than u should. I did that and ran out early every month, cuz at that point, I still wanted that" high" but all it does is give u a bad headache if u take too much of it. It can be harmful. Best of luck to u

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you cant just sto taking meds like xanax, the withdrwals are like helllish and its never safe to just stop. seziures all kinds of things can happen.

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No suboxone with xanax is very deadly i suggest u stop taking the xanax for now then once u our clean from using the suboxone then if u dnt need subs anymore then talk to your dr for the xanax but he will not give u both at once

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My brother has been on subutex for a disease called arterial malformation. Michigan University said he wouldn't live until he was 40 but he did. This disease causes many arteries to overwork his heart. He has a lot of panic attacks at night. The doctor other than the one that prescribes the subutex ordered klonopin. Both are aware of the prescription or prescriptions. Now the subutex doctor is trying to say it is illegal for my brother to take both. He does not abused either one. He takes less than 8 milligrams to 8 milligrams of subutex and wanted to milligrams of klonopin at night. He has been doing this for years and there has been no problem. It was the nurse that said it was illegal and then the doctor seem to be influenced by the nurse. I want to know if this is true. Is it illegal as the doctor has said? I want to print it out an article that is for my brother to show the doctor

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Suboxone is very expensive. it works though. but sucks when you taper off. once you start you become dependent real fast. people that take 3 to 4 subs a day are wasting 2 cause of the ceiling effect

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Easy ee,

If it were me, I wouldn't ASK- I would SUGGEST (remember the term "drug seeking behavior" from our days in active addiction?).

For those of us on Sub who legitimately benefit from Benzos for their anxiety and/or sleep (like myself) but are refused so by their doctors, I'd feel fortunate if I were you that your Sub physician is actually prescribing Valium for you.

There's nothing wrong with just being honest and telling your doctor you're not getting the relief you anticipated or hoped for from the current Valium dosage. He may simply adjust your dose as result.

Until just a month ago, I had been on 2-4mgs of Klonopin along with my 8mgs of Bupe (generic Subutex) for nearly 5 years. However, my new doctor wants me to taper off the Klonopin, even though throughout this period of time Ive never had a single adverse reaction or side effect.

So I'd consider myself blessed if I were you that your Sub doctor is actually prescribing you a Benzo. Mine told me there's a trend developing among Sub physicians: fewer & fewer doctors are allowing their patients to take both.

I truly hope the best works out for you, please revisit and let us know how it goes!

Regards...

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I'm prescribed 60 8 milligram subutex and 30 10 milligram valium for sleep next visit I will be asking for an extra 60 more 10 milligram valium I have no problems with any side effects or health issues or breathing so I guess everyone is different or should I ask for 2 milligram xanax instead of the valium

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This does not help with anxiety just sleep as far as I know. When I went to the "crazy house" they gave me trazodone 100 mg. I have insomnia bad and I am literaly a walking panic attack. I am manic depressive and trying to see now about being bipolar. Along with all of that I am a addict for pain pills. But you said it might help with some of the anxiety a good night sleep. I take that and I can get at least 8 hours of sleep a night and wake up the next day with no problem and function normal. If I don't take the meds I sleep for about 1 to 2 hours a night and then the anxiety is a whole lot worse. Hope this helps you. Good luck in recovery. God bless.

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Valium compared to zans, in combination with sub, the Valium a WASTE for me. So, yes, weak as heck. Sadly, while the sub treatment is the best thing for me, am still an addict. My doc frowns BIG TIME on the use of benzo's, so I have to kick in addict mode, and get them on my own. I love taking them before bedtime, just to knock that EDGE off I get from taking subs.

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PurplePeopleEater4Life -

I've been there. Honestly I'm there now to some degree. I suffer from Depression & G.A.D. and have been on generic Subutex for years, an SSRI for depression, & Klonopin for my anxiety.

Yes, the Benzo/Sub combo can be hazardous. In my experiences there have been 2 kinds of Sub doctors- those absolutely against the mix & those okay with it. The former seems to be gaining lots of momentum unfortunately.

I've been on the combo for almost 6 years & haven't had a single problem, but my current Dr wants me off the Klonopin. And that's terribly frustrating.

So I'm left with alternatives like therapy, mild yoga exercises, and other natural ways to cope with my anxiety. I'm not thrilled, but it must be done.

Maybe u can seek out some different Sub doctors who are okay with it- they ARE out there. In the meantime, I think it's imperative u discuss your concerns with the dr- it's the only way.

I wish I had the magic remedy or advice but I don't. Best advice I can give you? Talk about this openly & directly w/ your doctor & go from there.

I feel for you.

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I had been off Suboxone films since September of 2014 & was doing fine. Until I was prescribed hydrocodone (medical issue) & tramadol (trying to rollerskate past my "rollerskate retirement" age & ended up with a severely sprained wrist). Worst thing I ever did because it has been hell since. Withdrawals hit me like a bus-one that would leave but reappear from nowhere to run me down again.. I got fed up with the withdrawal rollercoaster & finally went yesterday to get back on treatment meds. I'm now on Zubsolv. The papers the Dr gave me said not to take any benzos with either Suboxone or Zubsolv because it can cause problems with breathing & heart rate that could end in death. The problems I'm having are insomnia & anxiety. Since i'm familiar with the meds (Subs), i know these problems i'm having won't get better on their own. I would very much like to know if any of you do/did have one or both of these problems. If yes, please tell me how you (as well as your doctor) were able to treat this. OTC sleep aids aren't helping. I feel like getting a good night's sleep would diminish the anxiety some. I've tried Tylenol PM but I end up buying just the sleep aid portion that's in Tylenol PM because I don't need the Tylenol part. I've also tried melatonin but when I take it, I wake up with a monster migraine & my head feels like TV screen fuzz). Please let me know what you found that works for you for insomnia & anxiety. I go back to my Dr in 2 weeks & if I'm still having those problems...I would feel more confident talking to him about treating them know what has worked for others like me. Thanks! P.S. this is my first time on this site. Wishing all encouragement & strength.

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Nicki, the program & tapering schedule & length of time to get off Sub is completely a personal journey and one that you need to work closely with your doctor about.

How long to get off? Depends on numerous factors, for example your current dose, what you started at, the height of your addiction at its worse, where you are now, how aggressive you'd like to be in tapering, etc etc.

It's different for everyone. Some can get off Sub after a week, others it takes months, and still others years. I'm an advocate of doing it a pace you are comfortable with and that your doctor agrees upon, & also getting your personal life as stable as possible. Considered supplementing ur Sub with therapy of some kind?

So ur question can't be easily answered...yet that is.

Just planting some seeds in ur head to think about.

Best of luck, plz continue to post if u want....

Regards,

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