Xanax Addiction: How to Recognize and Treat It

Medications such as Flumazenil may also be administered as antidotes. It is important for anyone suffering from an overdose to drug addiction be honest with the emergency medical personnel about exactly what substances were taken and at what amount. You’ll likely start by taking Xanax 0.25-mg or 0.5-mg tablets three times daily. If you respond well to the drug, your doctor may then increase your dosage slowly.

Xanax and other medications

• This results in a calming effect that helps relieve symptoms of anxiety and panic disorder.
• Activities like exercise, meditation, or finding new hobbies will keep your mind busy and reduce cravings.
• Xanax works by increasing the level of a chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid.
• Xanax can have many side effects, including some serious ones.
• Physicians typically prescribe Xanax in very small initial doses.

Another important aspect is helping them create a support system, which includes involvement in support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or local addiction recovery programs. These groups provide a sense of community and accountability, which are necessary in the recovery process. Additionally, it is important to encourage gradual tapering under medical supervision, as abrupt cessation leads to dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Effectiveness for panic disorder

• Some dealers take incredibly potent synthetic opiates like fentanyl and mix them with other substances that they then press into pills that look like Xanax or other popular drugs.
• Inderal (propranolol) is used to treat angina, high blood pressure and heart rhythm disorders …
• This increased use can lead to addiction, and quitting the drug abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms, making it difficult to stop using Xanax without professional support.
• Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine that affects brain chemistry, specifically how our brain manages anxiety.
• Alprazolam, which is available under the brand name Xanax, is a form of benzodiazepine.

No medication has been shown to be effective for treating benzodiazepine use disorder. If doctors think you may have overdosed on purpose or are at risk of harming yourself or others, you may see a psychiatrist or addiction specialist before you leave the hospital. You might hear them called Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Librium, xannies, vallies, roofies, tranks, downers, goofballs, Mexican, roach, heavenly blues, valo, stupefi, anxiety drugs, date rape drugs, or club drugs.

What Are The Treatment Options for Xanax Addiction?

The drug may cause harm in newborns who were exposed to it during pregnancy. There aren’t any known safety issues with taking Xanax and Tylenol together. Xanax will stay in your system for about 55 hours after your last dose. Here are some tips for managing the effects mentioned in Xanax’s boxed warnings.

• These programs offer a comprehensive plan to simultaneously address addiction and mental health disorders.
• Upon leaving the treatment center, many people will pursue a 12-step recovery program to maintain abstinence or stabilization and maintenance.
• Whether connecting you with the right therapist or helping during difficult moments, we are here for you and welcome you into our community.
• Having an addiction to a substance, such as Xanax or alcohol, is what experts refer to as a substance use disorder (SUD).
• The risks of dependency, side effects, and potential impact on a developing brain outweigh the benefits.
• Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
• People who are aged 65 years or older can be at greater risk for some side effects of alprazolam.

Xanax side effects

It is important to seek medical supervision when discontinuing Xanax use to manage these symptoms safely. The medical conditions Xanax is used to treat include various anxiety and panic-related disorders, as well as certain secondary conditions where anxiety is a significant factor. When used properly under medical supervision, Xanax is highly beneficial in managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for individuals with these conditions. It provides rapid relief from anxiety by calming the central nervous system, which is necessary in acute or severe cases. Xanax works by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the brain that reduces neural excitability and promotes relaxation.

Overall Thoughts on Alprazolam For Anxiety

• The drug has been at the center of debates on prescription drug misuse, as studies such as Brett J.
• However, the impairment may resolve after the drug is stopped.
• Your doctor will likely start you on a low dosage of Xanax and adjust it over time to reach the right amount for you.
• Xanax isn’t meant to be used as a stand-alone, long-term treatment, but when used carefully with a doctor’s help, it can be a helpful tool.
• Xanax works by increasing the levels of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid in your brain.
• Xanax has boxed warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
• Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor.

Those suffering from Xanax addiction and abuse frequently combine the substance with alcohol or other pills — particularly opiates — to get a better high. Heroin users regularly consume Xanax, as do methadone users. In addition, approximately 40% of alcoholics regularly abuse Xanax. Alcohol is particularly dangerous when mixed with Xanax because they are both depressants; combining the two can lead to an overdose and respiratory failure.

If they don’t, they may experience Xanax withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, depression, difficulty concentrating, serious fatigue, joint pain, and headaches. If you have been taking Xanax for a long time, you could continue to experience shortness of breath, strange mood swings, speech difficulty, memory loss, and bouts of depression for years after giving up the drug. This is one of the many reasons why Xanax addiction necessitates professional treatment. Yes, it’s possible for individuals to try to drug addiction self-medicate their depressive symptoms with Xanax, though it is not recommended. The main causes of Xanax addiction are prescription misuse, recreational use, co-occurring mental health disorders, genetic factors, environmental factors, and stressful life events.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Xanax?

The generic version, alprazolam, is the most frequently prescribed psychotropic medication in the United States. A psychotropic is a medication that affects how the brain functions. While both drugs carry risks of addiction and overdose, Xanax has a higher potential for abuse and dependence, according to Healthline. To help someone with a Xanax addiction, it is important to approach the situation with empathy, patience, and understanding. Start by offering emotional support and encouraging them to seek professional help from a healthcare provider or addiction specialist. Express concern for their well-being without judgment, and let them know that they are not alone in their struggle.