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Is It Okay To Switch From Xanax To Suboxene?
Question: I am starting suboxene on monday morning at 11:00. I was told not to take percoset for 24 hours prior. I do, however, take xanax for sleep. May I take my dosage of xanax at 8;00 p.m. tomorrow night, and start my suboxene at 11:00 the following morning? I know I wil not be able to continue xanax use once I begin the suboxene. I was hoping that I would be able to get some rest tomorrow night because I will be suffering in withdrawal by then.
Brief Answer:
Unfortunately I advise against it due to high risk of interaction ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Xanax (with the active ingredient alprazolam) and suboxone (with the active ingredient buprenorphine/naloxone) have a very high risk interaction and when taken together can cause serious side effects like coma, respiratory depression and in some cases (when taken in high doses) the interaction has even caused death.
Although I am aware that you are most probably not on a high dose, I would not recommend it ma'am. I am really sorry you have to somehow manage without xanax this one night, but please understand that I say this only in your best interest.
Xanax has a fast excretion time, but can stay in the body for over 3 days once taken. This means the xanax will be present in your system when you take suboxone the next morning. You could try other methods like relaxation therapy, mild exercise before sleep to tire you out, following sleep time etiquette, etc.
I hope you understand why I advise against the use of xanax on Sunday night. I also hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Unfortunately I advise against it due to high risk of interaction ma'am
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Xanax (with the active ingredient alprazolam) and suboxone (with the active ingredient buprenorphine/naloxone) have a very high risk interaction and when taken together can cause serious side effects like coma, respiratory depression and in some cases (when taken in high doses) the interaction has even caused death.
Although I am aware that you are most probably not on a high dose, I would not recommend it ma'am. I am really sorry you have to somehow manage without xanax this one night, but please understand that I say this only in your best interest.
Xanax has a fast excretion time, but can stay in the body for over 3 days once taken. This means the xanax will be present in your system when you take suboxone the next morning. You could try other methods like relaxation therapy, mild exercise before sleep to tire you out, following sleep time etiquette, etc.
I hope you understand why I advise against the use of xanax on Sunday night. I also hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your informative response and I will do nothing so foolish to threaten my health or life. However, I would like to ask you this. I am an almost non-existant consumer of alcoholic beverages. Often, Im teased that I have one drink and my head is on the table. I consume perhaps 3 or 4 drinks PER YEAR. If I so choose, may I have an alcoholic beverage tonight, in hopes of it knocking me out, for at least an hour or so? I really don't like alcohol at all, but would consider it to help me get at least a little sleep, if I am unable to sleep at all. My doctor's appointment is 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning and I would have some kind of wine or alcoholic beverage at perhaps 9:00 this evening. I'm speaking of ONE beverage, as that is all that is required to get me to the point where I cant keep my eyes open. If your response is DEFINITELY NO, how about taking a significant dosage of an antihistamine, which has never helped me with my insomnia in the past, but I'm willing to try anything that might help me get through the hell I face tonight. Thank you for your timely response.
Brief Answer:
Either one of the options can be tried, but with caution
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I truly understand how insomnia can really be frustrating and troublesome, I also understand how it can get the whole day to go topsy turvy resulting in utter havoc.
I respect your opinion to take ONLY one beverage of alcohol, and please do try to keep it as mild and minimum as possible. The next morning, do wake up and have wheat, bread, etc; that would help reduce the effect of alcohol. Drink plenty of water, to help dilute the alcohol in your blood, although it would be at a totally safe level if you consume only one beverage, but to be even safer start drinking plenty of water as soon as you wake up the next morning.
But please do remember, you choose between one alcoholic beverage and anti-histamines, never both okay? I hope all goes well and you do have a good nights sleep. Please also walk around, go about chores at home, and get yourself as exhausted as possible before bedtime, it will certainly help you get knocked off.
Best off luck ma'am.
Either one of the options can be tried, but with caution
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I truly understand how insomnia can really be frustrating and troublesome, I also understand how it can get the whole day to go topsy turvy resulting in utter havoc.
I respect your opinion to take ONLY one beverage of alcohol, and please do try to keep it as mild and minimum as possible. The next morning, do wake up and have wheat, bread, etc; that would help reduce the effect of alcohol. Drink plenty of water, to help dilute the alcohol in your blood, although it would be at a totally safe level if you consume only one beverage, but to be even safer start drinking plenty of water as soon as you wake up the next morning.
But please do remember, you choose between one alcoholic beverage and anti-histamines, never both okay? I hope all goes well and you do have a good nights sleep. Please also walk around, go about chores at home, and get yourself as exhausted as possible before bedtime, it will certainly help you get knocked off.
Best off luck ma'am.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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