Benzodiazepines and Suboxone can be mixed. There are certainly individuals that have a clinical indication for taking both drugs at the same time. However, both medications are sedating and can cause over sedation, respiratory depression and potentially overdose. Thus, taking these medications together should never be done recreationally, and should ideally be done under the careful supervision of a physician.
The following is a brief description of benzodiazepines and Suboxone:
Benzodiazepines are a class of medications with sedative-hypnotic effects, calming activity in the brain.[2] When used as intended, they help to reduce abnormal brain activity. They are used clinically for a couple conditions, including seizures, alcohol withdrawal, or short term for severe anxiety.
When used for acute anxiety or alcohol withdrawal, we try to use them for as short a course as possible, as dependence tends to develop if used long term.
Suboxone is a brand name drug that combines buprenorphine and naloxone.[3] Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, acting similarly to full opioid agonists like morphine or heroin but without the associated euphoric effects and with a much lower risk of physical dependency and respiratory depression/overdose risk.
As a result, Suboxone can suppress withdrawal and drug cravings without giving the intense high associated with those drugs. Suboxone is used for several indications, most commonly as part of a Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) program for opioid use disorder (OUD). In addition, it is also used more and more these days as a pain medication, particularly for individuals who have a history of opioid dependency and want to avoid full opioids or for patients that prefer safer pain medications with less addiction potential than a full opioid.
Yes, although with caution. These drugs can be dangerous if misused together. Both can weaken your breathing and potentially cause you to be unable to draw in enough air to provide your brain with the oxygen it needs. This can result in a life-threatening overdose. You should never mix Suboxone and benzodiazepines recreationally on your own.
However, some patients may have a condition that warrants both medications to be taken at the same time. This can be done safely so long as you are monitored carefully and you report symptoms of over-sedation to your doctor so your dose can be adjusted or alternative therapies can be found.
There are several risks to mixing these drugs, including overdose and accidental injury.[4]
Benzodiazepines can cause a person’s motor skills and coordination to become impaired, increasing their risk of falls, motor vehicle accidents, or other accidental injuries. This is why it is important to monitor how you feel and never drive or operate heavy machinery when on benzodiazepines.
Additionally, many people taking benzodiazepines with Suboxone are in recovery from addiction. These individuals are at higher risk of misusing benzodiazepines, which also have a high misuse and addiction potential. For this reason, it is important that both a prescriber and patient only mix these drugs with significant care.
There are some scenarios when the benefits of mixing these two drugs can outweigh the risks.
Mixing any prescription medications carries some level of risk. These two drugs in particular can combine to create a significant level of respiratory depression that can become life-threatening. This is in addition to the misuse and addiction potential that benzodiazepines can present to people trying to recover from addiction.
If you do need both Suboxone and benzodiazepines simultaneously, talk openly and honestly with your doctor about the risks and benefits. Together you can come up with a safe and effective treatment plan.
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