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How Long Does It Take To Detox From Suboxone And Xanax?

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Posted on Wed, 10 Jun 2015
Question: I am an idiot. I am on suboxone and I still try and sneak Xanax. I have extreme anxiety. my sub dr is ready to drop me. I have taken a ton of Xanax since may 6th. I have until XXXXXXX 3rd to drop clean. That is 15 days. I am sure I have asked this before, but what are my chances and what should I do? Aside from NOT taking them anymore. Also, if you take 2 Xanax at a time, does it take the same amount of time to come out?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
several issues

Detailed Answer:
Firstthe reason why alprazolam is the most abused drug in its group is because it is both the most potent and shortest acting

10 days isareallyreaallly long time to detect the drug or its breakdown products

There are several other issues such as the danger of withdrawal which depends on amt duration and history of seizures other meds and alcohol

Also the issues of addictionin general


Will be happy to answer more fully on follow up
At better keyboard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (9 minutes later)
Ok, do you tell me these things to make me feel better? I spoke with you before, but ANOTHER doc on this site said I would absolutely not pass. Also, say I take 2 Xanax at the same time... do they leave the system at the same time? AND, if I take something that is supposed to cleanse my system, would that be detectable in a urine screen given by a sub doc? Can just have your phone number? lol, jk
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
don't have to trust me....

Detailed Answer:
gosh.. .only PhD in pharmacology... board cert in same and addiction....
but... I would believe peer reviewed articles.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0301/p635.html (3 days)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000 (same)
can keep going....

then, the key point on drug clearance is it is clearance. The blood goes through something (liver/kidney) and the blood is cleared. Taking something with it probably mostly LOWERS this process in this case because it's pretty efficiently scrubbed. When I taught Johns XXXXXXX medical students, I'd take a jar and red food coloring. You take some out and replace it with clear water. WIth a LOT of red in the water, you also proportionally take out a LOT with each step of removal. So... it's a proportional removal. Having DOUBLE the amount in the blood, increases the time of clearance by one half life of the drug... 4 to 8 hrs at worst. It isn't going to stay there.
Other doc's references ?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (28 minutes later)
Last question you wise owl, If I take something to "cleanse" my system. Will it show up on a urine screen given by a sub doc...such as yourself. The other docs didn't give any links. They just said I had ingested way too many xanax and that I would drop dirty in 2 weeks. Subs have saved my life. I don't know why I keep messing with myself. I am my own worst enemy.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
the "I don't know why I mess w. Myself"

Detailed Answer:
is the more interesting question. The subs is an interesting question (getting a paper for submitting on suboxone This Week!).

Depends.... mostly, the cleanses just don't do anything but.....
1) you have to have a urine that is not water. Over dilution (even just drinking a gallon right before giving a specimen) WILL be detected and WILL invalidate it. Some things acidify the urine. Doubt this matters. Period.
2) Adulterants added not to you but to the urine, they check for if they observe you peeing. Adding bleach will mess up most tests AND be detectable if they look and maybe even if they aren't looking all that hard. Bad. don't. Also some soaps and other additions to the urine will mess up tests but also mess up validity markers. Bad. Don't do it.
3) this is sophisticated so I doubt they do this. BUT, some drugs increase the liver's activity and technically speed the breakdown of drugs. On rapidly cleared drugs it's doubtful the liver can be speeded up any more than it already is AND... alll of these are drugs.. they could be more likely to give a false positive reading than be helpful. (Exception is barbecue).
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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How Long Does It Take To Detox From Suboxone And Xanax?

Brief Answer: several issues Detailed Answer: Firstthe reason why alprazolam is the most abused drug in its group is because it is both the most potent and shortest acting 10 days isareallyreaallly long time to detect the drug or its breakdown products There are several other issues such as the danger of withdrawal which depends on amt duration and history of seizures other meds and alcohol Also the issues of addictionin general Will be happy to answer more fully on follow up At better keyboard