methadone and benzodiazepines

[gamtofour]

I submitted a question already and it is quite involved.  Basically, my son receives a daily methadone dose and also gets a script for klonipin.  The catch is, he has adhd, and the klonipin gives my son the feeling that he is on speed.  It is complete chaos when he's high on benzodiazepines.  I am at a loss.  He is a thirty year old man and has four children.  He is undergoing treatment for hepatitis c as well.  So, the drug interferon is being used on him.  The problem is that he is extremely sick from the interferon and so, he has increased his methadone dose, gets a script for klonipin, and he is like watching a tweaker at his worst.  He is not admitted he has no control over his life and he is powerless.  I cannot do that for him.  . I need to know if you could recommend a anxiety medicine that is safe with methadone and interferon.  I am trying to get him to discuss his adhd with his doctor.  Please, any help would be appreciated.  Thank you.  Sincer, a mother at a loss

[China66]

i am so glad I found this out ,at last everything makes sense, my son has ADHD ,I have been trying to get him diagnosed since he was 2,I have been given all sorts of explanations as he is the way he is over the years from being a single parent to he's just a boy ,I feel like banging my head of a brick wall,I moved to Southern Ireland when he was nine and I did get him diagnosed there but after diagnose he had to wait two years to see someone,he moved bk to Scotland nd seems to have fallen through the net ever since, from being in care to prison ,he started using Valium when he was 15 and was then put on methadone 3 years ago ,on Valium he goes so chaotic that he ends up taking anything nd everything till he passes out,a few wks ago he overdosed ,this is the second time this has happened ,I begged doctors to section him,but they wouldn't,they let him out of hospital nxt day,he then went out and found more drugs ,nd was eventually lifted for being so chaotic ,I was relieved and although I Dnt want to see my son in prison at least I know he is safe,he has begged himself for help but no one listens and I continue to fight to get the help he needs,and have spoke to many professionals,who agree there is an underlying problem ,unfortunately because he is in and out of prison he falls through the net every time ,he only lasts a couple of weeks before it starts all over again nd as soon as he starts self medicating I know it is either going to end in him being bk inside, or one day be dead,I live in a rural area so makes it worse for him to get the help he needs,trying to see phsycyatric is a nitemare,I know with the right help,he would be good ,I understand how gamtofour feels ...... I hope she gets the help and even support for herself as if she like me ,it a living hell ....x

[China66]

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[VICourageous]

Wow! This post is something and I am so sorry he is going threw this..Well I got my Methadone prescribe for over 12 years..I was snorting it with Adderral to get the Buzzed up feeling..I do not have ADHD so it would get me going..I would take a Klon at night to come down. I do know from searching lately after being clean over a year, that they are not suppose to have you mix Methadone with a Benzo because of respiratory factors or more. I also found out that sometimes when you are on a benzo to long it can cause more Anxiety..Now he should be getting something for his ADHD and it should not be the Benzo. If he gets the Adderral or the others and calms down then he really has this. Sometimes Dr will overrate symptoms. I know someone who thinks they had it and when they would take the Adderral they where spun to the sun..Finds out they did not have it or it would of did the reverse. Maybe do some research and see what you can find out about the combo of the drugs he is on and also about the ADHD meds..Sometimes it is best that we get the info so we can share it with the Drs. I was prescribed both Dones and Benzo for so many years, and right there on the paper in black and white it said not to mix..No one said nothing..The drs nor the pharmacist. So please take some time and find out all you can..he should do this for himself as well..I wish him the best of luck..I sure pray he is getting off the Methadone..It was no walk in the park along with the Benzo..make sure if he is getting off of these he does a nice taper on both..mostly the Benzo for sure..I did not know how bad a Benzo withdraw could be until I had already Stopped it all at once. I am alive but it was not fun getting here at my age..
Bless

[gamtofour]

Thank you for your thoughts.  I too am a recovering addict.  I went to the methadone clinic for one year and weaned myself five mgs per dose.  Because I was self pay they couldn't stop my way of weaning.  I got to 30mgs then went on suboxone for only two or three weeks.  Thank the good lord above I made it through.  Just hope my son can.  God Bless you

[weaver71]

Methadone/Klonopine combo is a dangerous one in my experience. I blacked out yet walked around town as usual. A friend went to the ER 3 times from taking it, one time he had siezures. ADHD is typically treated with stimulants, not benzos. I am bipolar and benzos can throw me into a manic episode. These drugs have an opposite effect for people with or without a chemical imbalance. Adderall for example is amphetamine and causes hyper activity in most people by stimulating epinephrine, but is calming for ADHD. Ritalin is another stimulant that works on dopamine uptake and causes a hyper effect, again calming to ADHD. My theory is, the benzo is usually an anti anxiety med that is causing anxiety due to the ADHD, like it causes mania in me, opposite effect. The combo he is taking is a similar feeling to pure heroine, so there is the central issue I see. Your son has to deal with his addiction, then ADHD. I am a recovering methadone addict. Methadone destroys ones judgment in higher doses and after extended use, at least for me and many I know it does. If he doesn't think there is a problem, there is little you can do. Don't enable him is likely the best you can do to create consequences so he sees the issues. I wish I had better advice. The interferon adds to the danger of his drug coctail, it weakens the body. Someone who
Knows more about that should be along. I wish you the very best. My addiction hurt all those who love me, so I hate to see others do the same things wrong. I would encourage him to taper slowly off the methadone and deal with life on life's terms.