Xanax Addiction: Symptoms, Overdose, Withdrawal & Treatment
Based on national emergency department (ED) visit data, alprazolam is the second most common prescription medication and the most common benzodiazepine to be involved in ED visits related to drug misuse (SAMHSA, 2013). Two of the most common physical and psychological symptoms and signs of Xanax abuse are physical dependence and addiction. Due to this new status quo, when the drug use stops, the body https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-poisoning-signs-and-symptoms/ will issue its demand for more of the drug in the form of withdrawal symptoms. It is a benzodiazepine, which means that it has a sedative effect; it is also categorized as a tranquilizer or anxiolytic. Xanax is indicated for the medical treatment of panic disorders, anxiety disorders, and anxiety that is caused by depression. However, Xanax is also a drug of abuse with high addiction potential.
This can lead to a dangerous level of central nervous system depression, and a hazardous build-up of Xanax in the system, which can result in severe cardiovascular or respiratory complications, including coma and death. Many people will experience a total blackout on a combination of Xanax and alcohol or other drugs, retaining no memory of what they did while high. The effects of Xanax addiction include impaired cognitive function, physical health deterioration, strained xanax addiction relationships, financial troubles, and an increased risk of overdose and mental health disorders. Many people who became addicted to the drug live in recovery after completing a rehabilitation or teletherapy program and now live a healthier life, free from Xanax abuse. The Recovery Village can help you find a solution for your substance use disorder and treat any co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or depression, that may contribute to Xanax addiction.
Your Guide to Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms and Treatment Options
A small percent of those young adults are introduced to the drug in high school. Xanax is more than twice as popular among high school seniors as the next most popular benzo. In 2015, more than 17 million people used Xanax and generic alprazolam products. More than 4 million of those people misused the products, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That’s more than the combined number of people who misused lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepam (Valium) products. People who take Xanax usually feel some effect within 10 to 15 minutes.
Once you’ve stopped taking Xanax or other benzodiazepines, there’s no additional medication to take. You might be prescribed other medication to treat depression, anxiety, or a sleep disorder. In both cases, you take less and less of the drug until it’s out of your system.
Deadly Xanax Drug Interactions
Xanax is a highly addictive drug, and tolerance develops quickly. Aside from addiction, its risks also include coma and death via overdose. Many people with a Xanax addiction started with a legitimate and legal prescription. However, a person may increase their Xanax dose beyond the recommendations of a doctor and find themselves misusing the drug. Dependence refers to a physical state in which your body is dependent on the drug. With drug dependence may also come tolerance, which is when you need more and more of a substance to achieve the same effect.
During this time, it’s important to have access to counseling and support. Other symptoms such as shaking, muscle pain, and sweating may also occur. After the fourth day, patients usually begin to see symptomatic improvements. Quitting a Xanax addiction can be difficult because it’s almost always accompanied by dependence. 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.