Tolerance to Xanax develops quickly, requiring the user to take more of the drug to achieve the desired effects. Someone with a Xanax addiction may take up to 20 or 30 pills per day. If the user decides to stop taking Xanax, they may experience withdrawal effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and tremors. The onset of withdrawal symptoms is a sign that a physical dependence has developed. The development of tolerance and withdrawal are indications of addiction. Learn more about the risks and side effects of substance use disorders, including the signs of intoxication and overdose.
Xanax Dosage Amounts
Xanax, or alprazolam, treats anxiety and panic disorders but carries a risk of abuse and dependence as a Schedule IV controlled substance. If used correctly, it provides relief, but misuse or higher doses can lead to severe side effects, harming physical and xanax addiction mental health. Xanax, a commonly prescribed medication for anxiety and panic disorders, can lead to addiction characterized by both physical and psychological symptoms. Recognizing the signs of Xanax addiction is crucial for early intervention and treatment.
Understanding Xanax: Characteristics and Medical Uses
Taking the drug specifically to feel relaxed or happy is abuse, and it can lead to addiction to the substance. A PEW research report found that prescription painkiller abuse among high school seniors declined dramatically from 1 in https://ecosoberhouse.com/ 10 students in 12th grade in 2004 to about 4 percent of that demographic in 2017. Additionally, about 26 percent of high school seniors in 2014 reported abstaining from all substances, including alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco.
What are the side effects of use?
- Warning signs of Xanax abuse in teens include personality shifts, mood swings, changes in appearance, social circles, academic performance, and participation in activities.
- Xanax belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, and it is a Schedule IV controlled substance, meaning it is considered to have a low potential for abuse.
- During a taper, a person gradually reduces their daily dose.
- Xanax can have many side effects, including some serious ones.
- You may benefit from one or more of these types of behavioral therapy.
Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. It’s typically used to help ease the symptoms of anxiety while other treatments for GAD, such as antidepressants, are taking effect. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Xanax to treat certain conditions.
- The majority of withdrawal symptoms can be treated during medical detox to make the process as comfortable as possible for those in detox.
- Having abused Xanax a few times, some people might attempt to take the drug under different circumstances or at different times.
- Xanax, or alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders but can lead to physical and psychological addiction.
- Doctors like prescribing Xanax because it has a short half-life, meaning its effects wear off more quickly than long-acting benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam).
- Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to process and eliminate a substance.
According to Verywell Health, substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis requires meeting at least two of 11 criteria within a 12-month period, with severity ranging from mild to severe. Research indicates that young adults often co-use Xanax with illegal drugs and may have co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Treatment for Xanax addiction in adults may involve medically supervised detoxification to manage withdrawal symptoms safely and various forms of therapy to address underlying issues and promote recovery. Yes, alprazolam (Xanax) and other benzodiazepines have addiction potential. This means that they strongly activate the reward center of your brain and can produce feelings of pleasure. Not everyone who has a prescription for Xanax develops an addiction.
Warnings About Xanax Withdrawal
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. The symptoms of Xanax withdrawal typically appear within 8 to 12 hours of your last dose. If you fail to taper your dose, your withdrawal symptoms will grow increasingly intense. Withdrawal is generally at its worst on the second day, and improves by the fourth or fifth day; however, acute symptoms can last significantly longer. Xanax can help people who are in acute distress, but it is not intended for long-term use.
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Many people who take Xanax recreationally, or without a prescription, describe the feeling as sedating or calming. Some people may be better suited for a harm reduction approach, in which the taper leads to a maintenance dose rather than abstinence. Protracted withdrawal is a prolonged withdrawal experience marked by waves of mild psychological symptoms that come and go over the course of several months. Alprazolam is also excreted into breast milk in low concentrations. There are few case reports of alprazolam causing neonatal withdrawal syndrome and mild drowsiness in nursing infants (Iqbal et al., 2002).
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms
“I can’t save my child, but I can save someone else’s,” one Highland mom, Rachel Carlisle said, after she shared her story to hundreds of people in Wicker Park on Saturday. While these studies do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, they do suggest a strong correlation between long-term benzo use and dementia. The mechanism for how long-term use of benzo could lead to cognitive impairments has been unknown. Our new outpatient facility is located in Boise, and will serve The Boise Metropolitan Area. It will provide a safe & therapeutic environment for both our staff and patients. Alprazolam has been reported to cause withdrawal and sedation in the newborn and should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.
Xanax dependence and withdrawal
The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.