Some patients who take Suboxone® as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) also take Xanax. They may have prescriptions for both drugs from separate doctors.
Patients on MAT who are prescribed Xanax may not realize how strongly the two drugs interact. Combining them carries significant risks, so it helps to understand why it’s best avoided.
Can You Take Xanax With Suboxone?
It’s not recommended. Both drugs slow the central nervous system, so taking them together raises the risk of slowed breathing, deep sedation, and overdose.
In a 2017 safety communication, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said people should not be turned away from treatment with buprenorphine or methadone just because they also take a benzodiazepine like Xanax. It also said careful medication management by health care professionals can reduce the risks.
If you take both, do not stop either one on your own. Tell your care team and every prescriber so they can build a safe plan with you.
What Happens When Someone Takes Suboxone and Xanax Together?
Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist, which means it only partly activates opioid receptors, easing cravings without a strong high. Xanax works differently, but together the two stack their depressant effects on the central nervous system, and that is where the danger comes from.
A CDC study of 23 states found that benzodiazepines were involved in about 17% of overdose deaths between January 2019 and June 2020, and most of those deaths also involved opioids.
In 2016, the FDA began requiring boxed warnings on opioid medications and benzodiazepines because combining them can cause coma or death.
Differences Between Suboxone and Xanax
| Suboxone | Xanax | |
| Drug type | Opioid medication (buprenorphine and naloxone) | Benzodiazepine |
| Used for | MAT, to ease withdrawal and cravings | Anxiety and panic disorders |
| How it works | Partly activates opioid receptors without a high | Boosts GABA, a calming brain chemical |
| Good to know | The naloxone makes it harder to misuse by injection | Can lead to dependence even when taken on its own |
Can Someone Overdose on Suboxone?
When you take Suboxone as directed by your doctor, you have a low chance of overdose. However, you can overdose on Suboxone when you misuse it.
Taking a higher amount than recommended can cause slowed breathing, sedation, and even death. Injecting Suboxone or using it in another unapproved way can also cause an overdose.
What if My Family Health Care Provider Prescribes Xanax?
Many people on MAT have a prescribing doctor who doesn’t know about their treatment, sometimes simply because it never came up. Without that information, a doctor may prescribe Xanax because they see no potential interactions.
Tell your general practitioner about your Suboxone treatment so you don’t end up with conflicting prescriptions.
If your treatment team notices that you take both, they will encourage you to talk to your doctor and can help you start that conversation. If you feel comfortable, ask about signing a release so your clinic and doctor can coordinate your care.
What Anxiety Medications Are Safe With Suboxone?
If you and your prescriber decide to move away from a benzodiazepine, you still have options. Benzodiazepines relieve anxiety quickly, while an SSRI works more gradually, lowering anxiety steadily over time instead of giving instant relief.
SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, raise serotonin levels in the brain to ease anxiety over time. They usually take four to six weeks to work, and they aren’t habit-forming like benzodiazepines.
They are often used alongside Suboxone, but the Suboxone label notes a small risk of serotonin syndrome, a rare reaction caused by too much serotonin. Your prescriber should monitor you, especially when you start an SSRI or change the dose.
If you need support with anxiety or trauma-related stress, your counselor at your treatment program can refer you to a doctor who can help safely alongside your Suboxone.
Do not stop Xanax suddenly. Stopping a benzodiazepine abruptly can cause serious withdrawal, so any change should be planned with your prescriber.
What Other Drugs Interact With Suboxone?
Any benzodiazepine can interact with MAT medicines like Suboxone. Common drugs in the benzodiazepine group include clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepam (Valium). Make sure to tell your doctor and clinic staff if you take medication for insomnia or anxiety. You may have a prescription for a benzodiazepine without realizing it.
Alcohol can also create a risk of central nervous system depression during MAT. Let your treatment team know if you drink, especially if you have an alcohol use disorder. You may need to stop drinking alcohol when you take Suboxone or another medication for MAT.
Your doctors are professionally obligated to keep your health details confidential, so you can be open with them. It also helps to keep a running list of your prescriptions and doses so the information you share is accurate.
How Will My MAT Clinic Ensure a Safe Experience?
At MedMark Treatment Centers, we use several parts of our program to keep your care safe and support your well-being:
- Intake: Your first appointment involves a medical and clinical intake where we learn about your medications and drug use. This information lets us offer the right treatment.
- Medical supervision: Every patient’s care team includes an experienced physician who oversees their services. Your doctor will keep records of your medical history that inform your treatment plan.
- Regular drug screenings: The law requires us to conduct drug screenings on our patients, but we also use them to keep you safe. If we notice any substances that conflict with your MAT program, we can adjust your treatment strategy.
Each MedMark Treatment Center location is state-licensed, federally certified, and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This accreditation reflects our commitment to meeting or exceeding industry standards of care.
Every treatment plan we build is individualized and includes counseling, so your care fits your needs and your goals.
Find a MedMark Treatment Center Near You
At MedMark Treatment Centers, we provide MAT in a compassionate, judgment-free environment.
We have grown to offer many treatment centers nationwide, and we are passionate about helping patients find freedom and a better quality of life. Let us help you start the path to recovery. We welcome you to schedule an intake appointment by contacting us online or calling us at 866.840.6658.
Other Topics About Suboxone
- Questions About Treatment With Suboxone
- Suboxone and Alcohol Interactions and Risks
- The Dangers of Suboxone Treatment and Cocaine Use
FAQs
Why Is Mixing Suboxone and Xanax Dangerous?
Both drugs slow your breathing and your central nervous system. Together, those effects add up and can lead to deep sedation, coma, or death.
Does Xanax Boost the Effects of Suboxone?
Xanax can intensify the sedation and slowed breathing that Suboxone may cause. That stacking effect is what makes the combination risky, even when both are prescribed.
Will My MAT Clinic Know if I Take Xanax?
Most likely, yes. MAT programs screen for benzodiazepines through drug screenings and medical history to keep patients safe.
What Should I Do if My Doctor Prescribes Xanax While I Take Suboxone?
Tell your doctor about your Suboxone treatment before you take anything new. Your clinic can help you talk with your doctor, and a signed release lets the two coordinate your care.
Is Xanax an Opiate?
No. Xanax isn’t an opioid, but like opioids, it can cause sedation and slowed breathing.
Sources and Citations
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2017) FDA urges caution about withholding opioid addiction medications from patients taking benzodiazepines or CNS depressants: careful medication management can reduce risks. Drug Safety Communication, 20 September 2017. Available at: https://www.orangecountyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14249/FDA-Guidance–Use-MAT-with-Benzos-or-CNS-Depressants-PDF?bidId= (Accessed October 16, 2026).
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2016) New Safety Measures Announced for Opioid Analgesics, Prescription Opioid Cough Products, and Benzodiazepines. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/new-safety-measures-announced-opioid-analgesics-prescription-opioid-cough-products-and (Accessed October 16, 2026).
- Liu, S., O’Donnell, J., Gladden, R.M., McGlone, L. and Chowdhury, F. (2021) Trends in Nonfatal and Fatal Overdoses Involving Benzodiazepines — 38 States and the District of Columbia, 2019–2020. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 70(34), pp. 1136–1141. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7034a2.htm (Accessed October 16, 2026).
- Indivior Inc. (2025) SUBOXONE (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film, for sublingual or buccal use, CIII: Prescribing Information. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2025/022410s056lbl.pdf (Accessed October 16, 2026).
- Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC (2021) XANAX (alprazolam) tablets, for oral use, CIV: Prescribing Information. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/018276s055lbl.pdf (Accessed October 16, 2026).
