Mixing Methadone With Prescription Drugs?
Question by michael: Mixing Methadone with Prescription Drugs?
My sister has been on methadone for about year now. Her drug problems started in high school, but escalated after a fall for which she was irresponsibly prescribed an abundance painkillers (at one point her doctor gave her a 3 week supply, she came in four days later saying she was out and he gave her 5 weeks worth). The same doctor has since prescribed Ritalin and Xanax for her. My common sense tells me something’s not right with that mixture (Ritalin, Xanax and Methadone).
Best answer:
Answer by Mathieu
There are two issues
First is the actual safely of using Ritalin (methylphenidate) an amphetamine-like stimulant, Xanax (alprazolam) a benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medication, and methadone a full agonist opioid analgesic.
Assuming the drugs are prescribed in reasonable amounts they are safe to take together. I have scene a couple of people taking this combination however most had severe, often terminal illness.
The only significant risk is using opioids and benzodiazepines together. It is fine to do but very large doses of a mix is FAR more lethal than either one. And methadone kills more people than other opioids by far.
The other issue is how appropriate the combination is. Without knowing a medical history it is not realistic to say. Ritalin is used for ADHD most of the time and if that is a problem it is understandable she would be prescribed it. Ritalin can certainly be addictive but it is also well established that treating ADHD reduces addiction issues. Xanax is for anxiety. Some people really need to take stimulants for ADHD but have some anxiety as a side effect. So in some situations it can be perfectly fine to prescribe something like Xanax. She may have an independent anxiety disorder, there are all types of possible things.
The fact she is getting methadone is understandable and doctors typically only use controlled substances with addicts if there is a clear and significant reason that is not helped by other drugs. Most doctors would use antidepressants for anxiety (even ADHD) and likely Strattera for ADHD. She may have tried alternative treatments and if they failed it may be fine to use what she is using.
Having said that the fact the doctor who clearly prescribed opioids improperly is now doling out three controlled substances to an addict looks bad. If she were seeing another doctor (ideally a psychiatrist) and he gave all three it would be more appropriate.
So like I said it is impossible for me to know if the situation is fine or not but it does not sound like it.
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