STOP — Contraindicated
CONTRAINDICATED — FDA Black Box Warning
Evidence level: STRONG
Methadone with Ativan carries the same FDA Black Box death warning as all opioid-benzo combinations.
FDA Black Box Warning: opioid + benzodiazepine = additive respiratory depression and death risk.
Do NOT combine. If unavoidable, use lowest doses and closest monitoring possible.
FDA BLACK BOX WARNING: Combining benzodiazepines with opioids can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. If both are prescribed, your doctor has determined the benefit outweighs significant risk. Take exactly as prescribed — never take extra doses. Do not drive or operate machinery. Seek emergency help for extreme drowsiness, slow/difficult breathing.
Higher doses, concurrent alcohol, respiratory conditions
Extreme sedation, respiratory depression, death
FDA Black Box Warning. Discuss alternatives to benzodiazepines.
Opioid combinations carry serious risks including respiratory depression. Talk to your pain management specialist about non-opioid alternatives: physical therapy, NSAIDs (if appropriate), nerve blocks, or non-sedating supplements like PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) or curcumin for inflammation.
Methadone with Ativan carries the same FDA Black Box death warning as all opioid-benzo combinations.
FDA BLACK BOX WARNING: Combining benzodiazepines with opioids can cause profound sedation, respiratory depression, coma, and death. If both are prescribed, your doctor has determined the benefit outweighs significant risk. Take exactly as prescribed — never take extra doses. Do not drive or operate machinery. Seek emergency help for extreme drowsiness, slow/difficult breathing.
Extreme sedation, respiratory depression, death
Opioid combinations carry serious risks including respiratory depression. Talk to your pain management specialist about non-opioid alternatives: physical therapy, NSAIDs (if appropriate), nerve blocks, or non-sedating supplements like PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) or curcumin for inflammation.
FDA Black Box Warning. Discuss alternatives to benzodiazepines.
Or browse the full interaction database (121,000+ pairs).