Article at a Glance:
- Xanax is a benzodiazepine prescribed for conditions like anxiety.
- Experts recommend using benzodiazepines duringopiate withdrawalwith caution.
- Benzodiazepine dependence can worsen opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Does Xanax Help with Opiate/Opioid Withdrawal?
Although benzodiazepines like Xanax can be used duringopioid withdrawal, they should beused with caution. The idea behind Xanax and opioid withdrawal is that it will help with certain symptoms, such asanxiety. Xanax is not typically recommended for use during opiate withdrawal unless instructed by a medical professional due to a risk of relapse and overdose.
Relapse & Overdose Risk
If someone uses Xanax and then ends up relapsing on opioids, the combination can be deadly. Opioids and benzodiazepines used together can and often do lead tofatal respiratory depressionbecause both slow the central nervous system.
Also,Xanax is highly addictive, just likeopiates. If someone is regularly using Xanax to help them get through opiate withdrawal, they may replace one addiction with another.
Severe Withdrawal Symptoms
For someone who becomes dependent on Xanax, withdrawal can be severe. Opioid withdrawal isoften worsein a person who is dependent on a benzodiazepine. A person who is dependent on both opioids and Xanax often needsmore intensive medical careduring detox.
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Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Withdrawal at The Recovery Village
Withdrawal tends to be one of the biggest obstacles for people who want to recover fromopioid addiction. They can find it too difficult to make it through the physical and psychological symptoms. The best way to avoid this is to go through amedically assisted detox.
During this time, various interventions can be provided to reduce thesymptoms of opiate withdrawal. This makes the chances of successfully detoxing much more likely than trying to detox at home or on your own.
Various medications can be used on an inpatient or outpatient basis to help people go through opiate withdrawal.
- Methadoneandbuprenorphinehave effects similar to opioids. These medications can help reduce or shorten symptoms of opiate withdrawal.
- Clonidine is a medicine that can help with the physical and psychological effects of opiate withdrawal, such as reducing anxiety and cramping. Clonidine doesn’t reduce opiate cravings.
- Naltrexoneis a useful medication to prevent relapse, and it can be given as a tablet or an injection.
If you are trying to stop your opiate or opioid use,contact The Recovery Village. We can help you with a medical detox and rehab treatment that gets to the root of an addiction.Dual diagnosis treatmentcan also address multiple behavioral health disorders at once, including anxiety, panic disorder and other conditions that Xanax treats.
