Xanax Addiction: How to Recognize and Treat It

xanax addiction

Last year, 44,796 people were treated in American emergency rooms for issues stemming from the use and abuse of benzos like Xanax. Xanax is typically prescribed as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. The main symptom of generalized anxiety disorder is persistent alcohol while on prednisone worry, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Panic disorder causes panic attacks, which may be accompanied by a racing heartbeat, chest pain, sweating, and other symptoms. Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, which is a type of benzodiazepine.

How to reduce the risk of using Xanax again

Xanax, even at recommended doses, has a risk of overdose and death, especially when combined with opiates like heroin or oxycodone, alcohol, street drugs or other central nervous system depressants. This can lead to severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death. You may have serious or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if you stop using this medicine suddenly. Do not stop using Xanax without talking to your doctor first., as you may need to slowly stop (taper) this medicine over a period of time. Behavioral therapy is an important component of recovery from drug addiction.

Worsened Depression

Without it, the person may feel achy all over as the body starts processing the substance out. This discomfort can be treated with mild over-the-counter pain relievers. These side effects, among others, are common occurrences that land many in emergency rooms when they try to detox without professional help.

Treatment Programs For Xanax Addiction

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. Once you’ve stopped taking Xanax or other benzodiazepines, there’s no additional medication to take. You might be prescribed other medication legal drinking age in russia to treat depression, anxiety, or a sleep disorder. Detoxification (detox) is a process aimed at helping you safely stop taking Xanax while minimizing and managing your withdrawal symptoms. Detox is usually done in a hospital or rehabilitation facility under medical supervision.

xanax addiction

Signs and Symptoms of Xanax Addiction

Someone who is abusing Xanax will usually exhibit certain warning signs that they are misusing it or going through withdrawal. While famous high functioning alcoholics cannot be completely cured — nor can any dependency on drugs or alcohol — treatment can help affected individuals address their behavior and return to a healthy lifestyle. Many people take Xanax with a doctor’s prescription, but the most common way to take the drug recreationally is by obtaining the drug from someone who has a prescription.

Behavioral Symptoms of Xanax Usage and Abuse

The long-term abstinence rates after recovering from Xanax addiction vary significantly. About 80% of older adults achieve abstinence, while about 25% of those with complicated addiction with polydrug use achieve abstinence. Detox is a process during which a person stops taking a harmful drug. Practicing relapse prevention and management can improve your recovery outlook in the long term.

A person withdrawing from Xanax will experience drastic changes in their mood and may even act out violently or aggressively. Xanax slows down a person’s brain functions and bodily functions, relaxes them, and sedates them. With heavy use, a person can experience black-outs where they are completely unaware of what they are doing and unable to recall it afterwards.

  1. They can also answer any questions you have about Xanax use and, if needed, refer you to a treatment center.
  2. Medications such as Flumazenil may also be administered as antidotes.
  3. You want to be direct and honest with your loved one, but not judgmental.
  4. Following detox, someone fighting a Xanax addiction might be referred for rehab or inpatient treatment.
  5. However, you can become addicted to Xanax even if you take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

It belongs to one of the most highly abused drug classes, benzodiazepines, and works by slowing down overactivity in the central nervous system. Xanax is a particularly fast-acting benzodiazepine, taking effect in 30 minutes or less, which is one of the primary reasons it is so popular. In a study from 2001–2013, about 17% of people who received an opioid prescription also received a benzodiazepine like Xanax. When opioids are combined with benzodiazepines, the risk of overdose, emergency department visits and death increases dramatically. During this stage, attempting to stop taking the drug seems like an unbearable challenge.

In general, potent benzodiazepines with shorter elimination half-lives may be more prone to causing problems with tolerance, dependence and addiction. For example, for triazolam (Halcion), alprazolam (Xanax) or lorazepam (Ativan) all have relatively shorter half-lives. Xanax is typically abused because of the sense of calm and relaxation it causes in the user.

However, people with more severe addictions might need the stability of an inpatient treatment center to recover. The detox and withdrawal from Xanax can cause deadly seizures, so professional guidance is vital during this time of treatment. It’s important that you consider all of your options and choose the treatment program that’s right for you. Some people combine Xanax with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs because the combination enhances the effects of each to a large degree.

In addition to treating acute anxiety and panic attacks, Xanax can act as a muscle relaxant and sedative. Off-label use means that the drug may be of benefit, but this is not its approved function. Although Xanax is classified as a benzodiazepine, it also acts as a tranquilizer, so it is sometimes included in tranquilizer usage statistics.

Like many drugs, the presence of Xanax can be detected with laboratory tests. This drug can be detected in urine, saliva, and hair follicles, although the reliability of these tests is not consistent. Among older adults, long-term use of Xanax can also lead to cognitive issues that may resemble dementia. Treatment may involve a combination of strategies, including detoxification and various psychotherapeutic and psychosocial approaches. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help. If you — or your loved one — are ready to get treatment, it may be helpful to reach out to a supportive friend or family member for support.