It alerts doctors and patients to side effects that may be dangerous. You should take Xanax exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It’s important that you do not increase your dose or take more than prescribed unless you first talk with your doctor. Also, be sure to contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have any symptoms of misuse or addiction, or any concerns about them.
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
If you think you or a loved one may have a problem with benzodiazepine misuse, contact a doctor or a drug hotline. Benzodiazepines can lead to both physical and psychological dependence. If you become dependent on the drugs, you can have withdrawal symptoms and even seizures when you suddenly stop taking them. Only a very small percentage of people who take normal doses for short periods will become dependent on benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines, sometimes called benzos, are a type of medication known as tranquilizers. These drugs slow down your central nervous system, cause sedation and muscle relaxation, and lower anxiety levels.
Treatment for Xanax Addiction
If you develop tolerance to Xanax, you may need to use higher doses to maintain a therapeutic effect. This can lead to excessively high dosing, intoxication, and, in some cases, drug-seeking behaviors. Acute withdrawal https://ecosoberhouse.com/ can result in death in some cases if the medication is stopped without medical supervision. Benzodiazepines (also known as “benzos”) are commonly referred to as sedatives, hypnotics, or minor tranquilizers.
ALPRAZOLAM AND PREGNANCY
These side effects, among others, are common occurrences that land many in emergency rooms when they try to detox without professional help. Last year, 44,796 people were treated in American emergency rooms for issues stemming from the use and abuse of benzos like Xanax. Xanax, one of the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines, is generally considered safe for short-term use, but it can cause side effects like sleepiness, headaches, lethargy, dry mouth, and memory problems.
Dosage for panic disorder
Withdrawal symptoms usually show up anywhere from 3-4 days to 2 weeks after you last use the drug. But they can appear earlier with shorter-acting types of benzodiazepines. A rebound effect is the reoccurrence of a symptom after a person stops taking the medication that was treating it. For instance, someone taking Xanax for anxiety is likely to have a reoccurrence of their anxiety symptoms during withdrawal. Alprazolam withdrawal syndrome may also feature unique clinical symptoms compared with other benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes. Interestingly, despite ICU care and administration of beta-blockers and alpha-blockers, the pseudo-pheochromocytoma was only successfully treated by alprazolam re-instatement (Orzack et al., 1988).
- If you can become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or are using birth control, it’s important to consider whether Xanax is a safe choice for you.
- You can also search for a treatment center close to where you live with the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.
- Switching from short-acting Xanax to its longer-acting cousin Valium will make it easier for you to quit.
- It is common to feel nervous, jumpy, and on-edge during your taper.
- Long-term Xanax abuse is like a slow-motion car crash for your body and mind.
No one is exempt from drug dependence, but there are certain demographics that are more prone to it. It is thought females account for more benzo addictions than males, but this may merely be due to women being more likely to receive a prescription for the drugs. Erowid notes two times as many women are using these drugs as men. These drugs are some of the most highly addictive prescription drugs on the market, and they can hook a user within a matter of mere weeks. Daily use of benzodiazepines for six weeks or more will result in dependency for four in every 10 users, the Royal College of Psychiatrists states.
You may be curious about how Xanax compares with other drugs that are prescribed for similar purposes, such as clonazepam. You may wonder how Xanax compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar purposes, such as Valium. Consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking Xanax could increase your risk of side effects from Xanax. It’s best to avoid consuming grapefruit products while taking Xanax.
- How long they take to start working, and how long their effects last, can vary from drug to drug.
- It’s like having a team of cheerleaders rooting for your success and offering a shoulder to lean on when the going gets tough.
- The diagnosis of Xanax addiction is based on whether a person meets certain diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5.
- For instance, someone taking Xanax for anxiety is likely to have a reoccurrence of their anxiety symptoms during withdrawal.
- Outpatient treatment options provide maximum flexibility by allowing people to maintain their obligations at work, school, and home while in a treatment and recovery program.
- Some people abuse Xanax by taking it in higher doses or combining it with other drugs or alcohol in order to achieve the desired high.
Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Drug-condition interactions can also cause certain effects. For information about these interactions, see the “Xanax precautions” section. It’s common to have anxiety about the stresses of everyday life. However, with GAD, you have ongoing anxiety about everyday life that’s excessive and out of proportion. Yes, it’s typically safe to take a mild pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), while you’re taking Xanax.
This can lead to severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death. Alprazolam is a high-potency triazolobenzodiazepine that is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. Alprazolam is biotransformed by hepatic microsomal oxidation, yielding 4 and α-hydroxyalprazolam as its principal metabolites, and is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 (Greenblatt and Wright, 1993). Individuals battling mental illness may be on Xanax to treat symptoms or simply abusing it in attempts to self-medicate, and this abuse can often cause mental health conditions to worsen. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports around half of all people with severe mental illness also have co-occurring substance abuse problems, so this issue is a common one. The mental impact of withdrawing from Xanax can be turbulent.
Signs and Symptoms of Alprazolam Abuse
It’s common to experience both physical and mental health symptoms during withdrawal. As we wrap up this journey through the labyrinth of xanax addiction and withdrawal, let’s recap the key points. Xanax, while effective for short-term anxiety relief, carries a significant risk of addiction.
