A friends daughter is on methadone and is taking Valium any one know the effects of the mix. how does her mom help her. Please help
Answer:
First of all, doctors are NOT the drug experts. Pharmacists are. Do NOT rely on a doctor to keep track of the medications. This is why you go to one pharmacy. A doctor has to know a million things about the body and sickness. They don’t have time to keep track of which drugs are best or the combination of them. That is the pharmacist’s job.
From the research that I just read there are no abnormal interactions. They DO however complement each other. By this I mean that one makes the other stronger in effects. They both slow down the respiratory system which could be dangerous and cause respiratory arrest. They both effect the heart as well creating the possiblity for cardiac arrest. These conditions can be fatal.
However, chances are slim that any of those things will happen. That would be assuming that she took the normal dose for both.
Here is an article from Biomedexperts
Survey study data and high rates of diazepam use/abuse in methadone maintenance suggest that acute administration of diazepam with daily methadone doses may enhance methadone effects. Acute subjective and physiologic effects of single oral doses of placebo, diazepam (20 and 40 mg), methadone (100%, 150%, and 200% of the maintenance dose), and four diazepam-methadone dose combinations (20 and 40 mg diazepam in combination with 100% and 150% of the maintenance dose) were assessed under double-blind conditions. The subjects were five adult male patients on methadone maintenance with histories of diazepam abuse who were receiving 50 to 60 mg methadone a day. Physiologic measures were continuously monitored for 30 min before and for 2 hr after dosing. Pupil diameter and subjective responses were measured 15 min before dosing and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after dosing. Methadone induced dose-dependent increases in pupil constriction and scores on a subjective opioid effects rating scale, but diazepam had no significant effect on either. The combination of methadone at 150% of the maintenance dose with 40 mg diazepam induced increases in these measures greater than those induced by either drug dose alone. Drug combinations, however, were more frequently identified as being benzodiazepine/barbiturate-like than as methadone-like. Thus although the subjective effects of the drug combination are distinguishable from those of methadone alone, diazepam with methadone in methadone maintenance appears to increase some physiologic and subjective opioid effects that may be related to the relatively great use/abuse of diazepam in this population.
I would think she’s pretty tired. A pharmacist would have all the answers.
More importantly, she must tell her doctor EVERYTHING!! A doctor can’t treat a patient correctly unless s/he knows all the details. This is very important.
This girl’s mom has to tell the doctor what’s going on! This girl is headed for big trouble. She needs an adult to step in and take care of this girl now.
well first of all
the doctor that she saw is horrible for not checking her past, and getting her health files.
if they had her past health files they (probably) wouldn’t give her valium.
alooooot of doctors these days are not checking past.
i would know, i have used this system to get pain killers before.
its not hard at all.
the side effects that she would have from mixing two serotonin enhancing pills, is usual high, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and etc.
it is EASY to overdose on these meds so try (or tell someone) to help her get rid of, at least, valium.
First of all, doctors are NOT the drug experts. Pharmacists are. Do NOT rely on a doctor to keep track of the medications. This is why you go to one pharmacy. A doctor has to know a million things about the body and sickness. They don’t have time to keep track of which drugs are best or the combination of them. That is the pharmacist’s job.
From the research that I just read there are no abnormal interactions. They DO however complement each other. By this I mean that one makes the other stronger in effects. They both slow down the respiratory system which could be dangerous and cause respiratory arrest. They both effect the heart as well creating the possiblity for cardiac arrest. These conditions can be fatal.
However, chances are slim that any of those things will happen. That would be assuming that she took the normal dose for both.
Here is an article from Biomedexperts
Survey study data and high rates of diazepam use/abuse in methadone maintenance suggest that acute administration of diazepam with daily methadone doses may enhance methadone effects. Acute subjective and physiologic effects of single oral doses of placebo, diazepam (20 and 40 mg), methadone (100%, 150%, and 200% of the maintenance dose), and four diazepam-methadone dose combinations (20 and 40 mg diazepam in combination with 100% and 150% of the maintenance dose) were assessed under double-blind conditions. The subjects were five adult male patients on methadone maintenance with histories of diazepam abuse who were receiving 50 to 60 mg methadone a day. Physiologic measures were continuously monitored for 30 min before and for 2 hr after dosing. Pupil diameter and subjective responses were measured 15 min before dosing and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after dosing. Methadone induced dose-dependent increases in pupil constriction and scores on a subjective opioid effects rating scale, but diazepam had no significant effect on either. The combination of methadone at 150% of the maintenance dose with 40 mg diazepam induced increases in these measures greater than those induced by either drug dose alone. Drug combinations, however, were more frequently identified as being benzodiazepine/barbiturate-like than as methadone-like. Thus although the subjective effects of the drug combination are distinguishable from those of methadone alone, diazepam with methadone in methadone maintenance appears to increase some physiologic and subjective opioid effects that may be related to the relatively great use/abuse of diazepam in this population.
The effects of the mix is many times DEATH! Serotonin increases are the least of the considerations with Methadone. Respiratory depression occurs with both Valium and Methadone so when the 2 are together results can be drastic. The signs of overdose include confusion, difficulty speaking, seizures, severe nervousness or restlessness, severe dizziness, severe drowsiness, and/or slow or troubled breathing, also a common report has been an unusually loud snoring or gurgling sound. These symptoms are increased by alcohol or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Anyone who feels that he or she, or someone else, may have overdosed on methadone, or a combination of methadone and other central nervous system depressants, should seek emergency medical attention for that person at once. CALL 911!
What can the mother do before it gets to that point? Contact both doctors (the one prescribing the Methadone and the Valium) and tell them what she is taking. Many doctors will protect her confidentiality by requesting a drug test when she returns for a refill and refuse to write based on the results. Even if the daughter found out it is worth saving her life. If the Mom feels she is not being taken seriously then telling the doctor they will be responsible if the combination kills her will usually do the trick because they do not want to lose their license. Good Luck.