Xanax Addiction: How Addictive is Xanax?

BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. As a benzodiazepine, it reduces the activity level in the brain, making neurons in the brain less excitable. This can result in a temporary reduction of physical tension, anxiety and restlessness. Although treatment outcomes are comparable to that of other chronic conditions, recovery is an ongoing process that can take time.

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. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Xanax only for the indication prescribed.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms & Signs

“Clinically, this knowledge can inform prognosis … and could indicate the need for aggressive seizure control.” In some cases, an inpatient detox facility can be a good option. These facilities are designed to be safe places to detox under medical supervision. The healthcare professionals at a detox facility can help treat your withdrawal symptoms, and they can give you the tools you need to manage addiction.

It can create physical dependence in anyone who uses it for an extended period, for any reason. Once you’re stable and free of any withdrawal symptoms, your doctor can then taper your dose of Valium. Some people experience additional symptoms as part of a condition called post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). This condition causes changes in mood and cognition for weeks or months following withdrawal from Xanax or another drug. Xanax overdose is also possible when someone takes too much or takes it too frequently in a short time.

What withdrawal challenges are associated with Xanax addiction?

Once a person has finished treatment, there are different strategies they can use to reduce their risk of reuse. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any treatments for Xanax addiction, but a doctor can explain the available medication options that can help reduce cravings during and after detox. Research from 2018 notes that experts consider Xanax withdrawal symptoms more severe than those of other benzodiazepines. Additionally, people who take it every day may develop physiological dependence, meaning that the body requires the medication to function properly. Taking a benzodiazepine such as Xanax for longer than three or four weeks can lead to dependence.

• Most symptoms of Xanax withdrawal are unpleasant and distressing but not life threatening.
• Many people with a Xanax addiction started with a legitimate and legal prescription.
• On Feb. 10, 2019, Deputy District Attorney Caitlin Harrington told an Orange County Superior Court jury during opening statements in a Santa Ana courtroom.

Contact us today to learn more about recovery plans and programs that can work well for your needs. No one is exempt from drug dependence, but there are certain demographics that are more prone to it. It is thought females account for more benzo addictions than males, but this may merely be due to women being more likely to receive a prescription for the drugs. Erowid notes two times as many women are using these drugs as men. Symptoms of withdrawal typically begin two to seven days after your last dose.

Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)

It’s crucial to use Xanax only as prescribed by a healthcare provider and to follow their instructions carefully. Misuse of Xanax can result in severe health risks, including addiction, overdose, and other adverse effects. Xanax was discovered by the American pharmaceutical company Upjohn (now a part of Pfizer) in the late https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-insomnia-causes-and-ways-to-eliminate/ 1960s. Yes, Xanax can cause physical dependence and withdrawal reactions. 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.

Understanding the causes, effects, and treatment options for Xanax addiction is crucial for individuals, healthcare providers, and society as a whole. With the right support and treatment, individuals struggling with Xanax addiction can embark on a path to recovery, regain control of their lives, and work toward a healthier future. Xanax addiction is a serious and complex issue that affects individuals physically, psychologically, and socially. The drug’s rapid onset, effectiveness in treating anxiety and panic, and potential for misuse and dependence make it a subject of concern in the medical and addiction treatment fields. Xanax, generically known as alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine medication primarily prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

Often people with addictions to prescription pills will even resort to stealing medications from people around them, including elderly relatives. They may also visit many doctors in their area, trying to get multiple prescriptions for the drug. Even if a doctor prescribes you to take Xanax, xanax addiction some negative side effects may occur. These common side effects aren’t necessarily always signs of abuse; they may occur with any use of this drug. Regardless of the reason someone takes Xanax, the effects usually start to occur within about an hour and last for at least six hours.

Xanax can cause physical and psychological dependence or addiction even in people who take it as prescribed. Therefore, a course of Xanax should be as short as possible with treatment response closely monitored by the doctor. 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).

How to Take Xanax Safely

More than six out of every 200,000 adults died from a benzo overdose in 2013, according to a 2016 study. Upjohn Laboratories introduced Xanax in the United States in 1981. Unlike Valium, the most popular anti-anxiety drug during the 1970s, Xanax was marketed as the first drug to reduce panic attacks.