Does The Combination Of Methadone Taken For Ear Pain And Xanax Taken For Anxiety Have The Effect Of Heroin?

Posted on Mon, 23 Apr 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 Answered on

Fri, 4 Oct 2019 Last reviewed on

Question : I am taking 5 MG of Methadone for Chronic Ear Pain since 1996 and 1.5 Mg of xanax daily for Anxiety my doctor said this has the effect of herion is this true?

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (36 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
methadone is an opioid

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

methadone is indeed a strong opioid which is similar in potency to heroin although not as desirable by drug addicts. Xanax may also cause addiction but it belongs to the drug class of benzodiazepines which is nothing like the opioids.

I hope this answers your question. If not, please let me know and I'll provide the necessary details.

Kind regards!

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

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (1 hour later)

You did't answer my Question! My Internist Today Stated that Taking Methadone and Xanax together had the same Affect as Taking Heroin True or Not Very simple question. I would like a very simple Answer is it True or Not?

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
no...

Detailed Answer:
No it's not the same. Methadone has a lot in common with heroine. Xanax is totally different. The only thing that they have in common is their depressive effect on the central nervous system. I suppose your internist meant that they both may cause serious addiction (particularly methadone) and methadone is - as already explained - almost as potent as heroine.

So the simple answer is no...

Kind regards!

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