At Carolina Center for Recovery and affiliates, we aim to provide readers with the most accurate and updated healthcare information possible. Offer support without judgment and encourage professional treatment through open communication and resources. Combining practical techniques with strong social and aftercare systems significantly reduces the likelihood of returning to substance misuse.
The manufacturer does not recommend a specific dose for this purpose. This is helpful when a doctor prescribes more than one strength of Xanax to make up a daily dose. Examples include Prezista (darunavir) and Noxafil (posaconazole).
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
Side Effects of Xanax
By that point, your body will eliminate half of the dose from your bloodstream. How long it takes for the drug to impact you will depend on several factors. However, the lingering effects or “fuzzy feelings” Recovery in the Pines may stretch out for around six hours. It’s not clear why some people react this way or how to predict if it will happen to you.
There is a subpopulation of patients exposed to benzodiazepines that is more likely to escalate their dose, mainly those with coexisting drug or alcohol use problem (Griffiths and Wolf, 1990; NICE, 2014). In another study of patients with panic disorder, neither anxiolytic tolerance nor daily dose increase was observed after 8 weeks of alprazolam treatment, with continued efficacy at 6 months (Schweizer et al., 1993). It is important to note that physical dependence, usually defined by withdrawal symptoms including seizures, does not require the presence of clinical tolerance, and conversely tolerance may develop without any signs of physical dependence. Alprazolam’s misuse potential stems from its unique pharmacokinetic properties of rapid absorption, low lipophilicity, and short half-life (t1/2), and pharmacodynamic properties of high potency and more severe withdrawal symptoms occurring after a shorter period of use. Most prescribers with experience in addiction medicine consider alprazolam to have high misuse liability, especially when prescribed to individuals with a history of some type of substance use disorder (Griffiths and Wolf, 1990).
Another study reported that of 126 patients with panic disorder treated with alprazolam, 27% of patients had rebound anxiety that was more severe than pretreatment anxiety, and 35% of patients had new somatic symptoms after alprazolam discontinuation, despite a taper over 4 weeks (Pecknold et al., 1988). Diazepam and its metabolites accumulate in the body, followed by a slow washout once the drug is discontinued, thus triggering fewer withdrawal symptoms than the more rapidly eliminated alprazolam. All experiments using double-blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory designs have demonstrated that benzodiazepines, as a class, produce reinforcing effects indicating misuse liability in subjects with histories of drug misuse (Griffiths and Wolf, 1990). It is also worth noting that the number of clinical trials involving alprazolam significantly decreased circa the advent of newer antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and that there are no clinical trials directly comparing alprazolam or any other benzodiazepines with SSRIs or other newer antidepressants as monotherapy for anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or depression.
Mixing Xanax with Other Drugs
Our state-specific resource guides offer a comprehensive overview of drug and alcohol addiction treatment options available in your area. Xanax addiction is a common issue in the United States and dependency on the drug often starts with a prescription to treat anxiety or fear. People are prescribed Xanax to treat anxiety and panic conditions. However, this short-acting property is what makes it useful as an as-needed treatment for panic and anxiety.
This action reduces anxiety and induces a sense of relaxation, but over time, the brain becomes reliant on Xanax to maintain these effects, leading to tolerance alcohol use disorder symptoms and causes and dependence. In the United States alone, approximately 16% of overdose deaths involving opioids in 2020 also involved benzodiazepines, according to a report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse titled “Overdose Death Rates” (2021). Globally, Xanax addiction has become a significant issue, with benzodiazepine misuse affecting millions.
Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. Remove the orally disintegrating tablet from the bottle just before it is time for your dose. Do not take a larger dose, take it more often, or for a longer time than your doctor tells you to.
- With significant levels of physiological dependence, a person may continue to compulsively drink or use drugs to avoid unwanted withdrawal symptoms.1
- Combining practical techniques with strong social and aftercare systems significantly reduces the likelihood of returning to substance misuse.
- The main symptoms of Xanax addiction include increased tolerance, severe cravings, and withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness or seizures upon cessation.
- These findings underscore the importance of careful monitoring and limiting the duration of Xanax prescriptions to mitigate the risk of addiction.
- These side effects vary in severity, and their prevalence depends on factors such as dosage, duration of use, and individual sensitivity to the medication.
Over time, this may lead to a toxic buildup of the drug and eventually an overdose. Alcohol increases the effects of Xanax and slows down how quickly your body can clear the drug from your system. The sedating effect can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and calm your body’s response to the anxiety or stress. Higher doses will have stronger effects. If you’re taking this anti-anxiety medication for the first time, it’s important to understand its side effects and potential interactions before use.
When taken in higher doses or without medical supervision, Xanax causes euphoria, a factor that makes it prone to abuse. However, its effects also include sedation and impaired coordination, which interfere with daily activities. Despite its benefits, healthcare professionals limit its use to short durations because of its potential for misuse and the development of tolerance. It is prescribed to help manage acute symptoms, such as excessive fear, restlessness, or physical tension.
Young adults between age 18 and 35 have the highest rate of benzodiazepine abuse. Xanax is classified by the US Drug Enforcement Agency as a Schedule IV drug. Taking Xanax leads to a decrease in the excitability of other neurons in the brain, and this produces a reduction in anxiety and an increased feeling of relaxation.3, 6 You have a right to access your medical records. Health plan’s telehealth and in-person services are subject to the same timely access to care standards.
Carbamazepine is metabolized by CYP3A4, and interactions with other drugs that induce, inhibit, or compete for CYP3A4 are relatively common, which may limit its use. Both carbamazepine and clonidine act at the alpha-2 adrenoceptors level and could counteract the hyperadrenergic state that has been reported during discontinuation of alprazolam. One should be mindful that longer-acting drugs have shorter durations of action when given acutely because of their pharmacokinetic properties, requiring a few days to a week to reach steady state. 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). Most would agree that tolerance is a multifactorial process that occurs at different rates for different patients, and also depends on the profile of the benzodiazepine used.
Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how taking XANAX with opioids affects you.
Inpatient rehab programs provide 24/7 medical supervision and intensive therapy in a controlled environment. Usually, your doctor will taper the dose slowly to make the process safer and more manageable. The good news is that Xanax addiction is treatable, and there are plenty of resources to help you recover.
The Recovery Village
Getting an early Xanax addiction diagnosis can make someone far more likely to recover from their condition. To be diagnosed, someone must have at least two of the listed symptoms within a 12-month period. Xanax addiction is considered a type of substance use disorder (SUD), as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Many factors influence who is at risk for Xanax abuse. This multiplies the risk of respiratory depression, coma, and even death.
- Taking XANAX with certain other medicines can cause side effects or affect how well XANAX or the other medicines work.
- However, the exact duration depends on factors such as age, metabolism, dosage, frequency of use, and individual health conditions.
- When Xanax is reduced or stopped, the sudden lack of external support triggers hyperactivity in the central nervous system, leading to symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.
- Common symptoms include anxiety, panic attacks, and tremors, while more serious symptoms include hallucinations, psychosis, and seizures.
- AddictionResource aims to present the most accurate, trustworthy, and up-to-date medical content to our readers.
- Clinical detox options, such as those offered in medical detox centers, provide a safer environment where healthcare professionals monitor progress, administer medications to ease symptoms, and address potential complications.
Mania. XANAX may cause an increase in activity and talking (hypomania and mania) in people who have depression.
The risk of developing Xanax addiction increases significantly with prolonged use. These findings underscore the importance of careful monitoring and limiting the duration of Xanax prescriptions to mitigate the risk of addiction. Over time, this leads to physical dependence, where the body becomes reliant on the drug to function normally. Chemically, Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine that binds to GABA-A receptors, amplifying their inhibitory action, as Pharma GKB explains. In addition to medical supervision, holistic detox approaches—such as counseling, nutritional therapy, and relaxation techniques—support the recovery process by addressing both physical and psychological aspects of dependency. The overdose effects of Xanax stem from its powerful impact on the central nervous system (CNS).
Xanax is the brand name of alprazolam, a member of the benzodiazepine class of medications.4 It is distributed in pills, taken orally, and comes in a variety psilocybe semilanceata habitat of different doses.4 A central nervous system depressant, Xanax works by enhancing the effects of GABA, a major inhibitory neurotransmitter, to calm an otherwise overexcited central nervous system.3 While recovery is different for everyone, many patients begin with a medically supervised detoxification phase to help mitigate and treat the potentially dangerous symptoms of Xanax withdrawal. No matter how severe the situation may seem, benzodiazepine treatment is available and can help people struggling with Xanax addiction.
Start the road to recovery
Your risk of overdose increases if you take large doses of Xanax or combine it with other depressants like opioids or alcohol. Most adults are prescribed around 0.25 mg to 4 mg over multiple doses a day. A prescription drug addiction assessment can lead to a diagnosis and determine how severe someone’s SUD is (mild, moderate, or severe).
A comedown is the letdown of high emotions following peak drug effects. If that happens, you may begin to notice it takes longer for you to feel the sedative effects of the drug, and the feelings may wear off more quickly. Most people will feel the strongest impacts from the drug for one to two hours.
