If you found this page because you were looking for a specific medication name — Klonopin, Librium, Xanax, a fentanyl patch, phenibut, or a "home detox recipe" — please read this first. It could save your life or someone else’s.
The short version
Opioid withdrawal is rarely medically dangerous by itself. It is extremely uncomfortable, and people often reach for other substances to get through it. Some of those substances are far more dangerous than the withdrawal itself, especially in combination with opioids.
We used to publish specific dosing information for some of these substances. We took it down. An educational site should explain how a medication works and what to ask a doctor — it should not tell you how much to take.
Medications with real evidence behind them
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex, Sublocade) — reduces cravings and withdrawal, cuts overdose death risk by roughly half in studies.
- Methadone — dispensed through licensed opioid treatment programs (OTPs).
- Naltrexone (Vivitrol) — blocks opioid effects; requires being fully withdrawn first.
None of these are "detox tricks." If you want to know whether one is right for you, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (free, confidential, 24/7).
Why we removed benzodiazepines from this list
Combined with opioids — which is exactly what happens when someone in withdrawal returns to opioid use while a benzodiazepine is still in their system — they suppress breathing in a way neither substance does alone. The FDA has a boxed warning about this combination.
Why a fentanyl patch is never a "remedy" for withdrawal
A fentanyl patch is a potent opioid, not a treatment for coming off opioids. For someone without an existing high opioid tolerance, a single patch can be fatal.
Why we don’t recommend loperamide megadosing or the "Thomas Recipe"
Taking large quantities of loperamide to blunt withdrawal symptoms has caused documented cases of fatal heart rhythm problems. Forum-sourced "recipes" that combine multiple substances at home carry the same risk.
If you are in withdrawal right now and need help today
- Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
- Call 1-800-662-4357 (SAMHSA National Helpline)
- Find same-day options: FindTreatment.gov
This page is informational and does not replace advice from a licensed medical professional.