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Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional or addiction specialist who can help you develop a comprehensive and personalized plan for your recovery. Long-term use of Xanax can lead to depression, even in individuals who didn’t experience depressive symptoms prior to taking the medication. As Xanax use continues, it can interfere with your brain’s ability to produce the necessary chemicals for maintaining stable mental health, further exacerbating depressive symptoms. Long-term Xanax abuse can lead to physical damage to your kidneys and liver. Your body’s natural detoxification process may be impaired as a result of the buildup of the drug, leading to potential health issues over time. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue, dark urine, and jaundice.
- If you have additional questions about an off-label use of Xanax, talk with your doctor.
- Xanax is approved to treat only generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
- It’s important to avoid driving and operating machinery after first taking Xanax, and to be extra cautious when taking stairs since benzodiazepines can slow reflexes and increase the risk of falling.
- Several factors contribute to the development of Xanax abuse, including a history of mental health disorders and high levels of stress.
- Her work has been featured on TIME Healthland, Prevention, Shape, USA Today, HuffPost, Refinery29, Lifehacker, Health, DailyBurn, Openfit and Sleep Number, among others.
- Xanax is FDA approved to treat panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, in adults.
Xanax addiction and withdrawal
She recommends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or trauma-informed approaches. Alprazolam is available in generic form, and you need a prescription from your doctor or other health-care professional to obtain this drug. It eases anxiety by boosting the effect of GABA, a type of neurotransmitter in your brain. If your prescription label is hard to read, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies offer labels that have large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy does not have these options, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to direct you to one that does.
Risks from concomitant use with opioids
Xanax (alprazolam) is one of the most commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications in the United States, data shows. As helpful as it is for many anxiety sufferers, it’s also a controlled substance that carries a high risk of misuse, abuse, and addiction. Detoxification, or detox, is the process of stopping the use of a harmful substance, which can occur gradually or rapidly depending on the drug. For Xanax addiction, detox is typically gradual due to potentially severe withdrawal symptoms, necessitating medical supervision to manage complications and adverse effects. Some people become addicted to Xanax after initially taking the medication as prescribed, but then increasing their dosage on their own as they quickly build up a tolerance to the calming effects.
Elderly patients are especially susceptible to dose-related adverse effects when taking XANAX
It typically takes between four and five half-lives for a drug to fully leave your system. You should not take pain relievers that contain an opioid with Xanax unless your doctor has approved it. If you need a pain reliever during Xanax treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist to recommend a suitable medication.
Continuing care is important to maintain your recovery progress after you complete initial treatment. This ongoing support includes regular therapy sessions to reinforce coping strategies and address any emerging challenges. Many people find support groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or SMART Recovery helpful for connecting with others in recovery. It’s important to get professional help from a prescriber who has experience helping patients taper off benzodiazepines. Xanax slows down your central nervous system,8 which controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate.
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In more severe cases, especially after high doses or long-term use, there’s a risk of seizures or disorientation. Additionally, in some cases, withdrawal can show up as delirium.⁸ This is why a slow, medically supervised taper is so important. It gives the system time to recalibrate and keeps the process more manageable. Doctors recommend waiting until all benzodiazepines pass out of your system before you drink alcohol. That could take up to 20 hours for shorter-acting drugs like alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan, Loreev).
Can You Get Xanax Without a Prescription?
Xanax® is the brand name for the prescription drug alprazolam and belongs to the family of benzodiazepines. Valium marijuana addiction misuse rates show that 1.4% of the U.S. population, or about 3.9 million people, report misusing benzodiazepines like Valium annually, according to Addiction Help. Women are more likely to be prescribed Valium, and they experience stronger cravings compared to men. Misuse is more common among younger adults (18-35), while older adults (65 and above) have higher prescribed use of Valium and Xanax both. Mental health evaluations are integral to understanding co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, that contribute to or result from Xanax addiction.
What is a Typical Dosage of Xanax?
Once you are stabilized on a dose of diazepam, your prescribing doctor will help you slowly taper down a little bit at a time. This gives your body and mind the time to adjust to life without Xanax. Xanax is a short-acting drug, which means your body metabolizes it very quickly. Tapering Xanax is challenging because the amount of the drug in your system quickly goes up and down with each dose. To help you avoid these peaks and valleys, doctors often switch you from Xanax to a long-acting benzodiazepine such as Valium (diazepam). Estimates suggest that about 10% to 25% of people who use benzodiazepines long term experience what’s known as protracted withdrawal.
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. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Benzodiazepines belong to the group of medicines called central nervous system (CNS) depressants, which are medicines that slow down the nervous system. If your doctor prescribes XANAX, be sure to fill your prescription at a reputable pharmacy.