Xanax Withdrawal: Symptoms, Severity, Length, and Treatment

Certain withdrawal symptoms may sometimes last for several weeks or months. Xanax and clonazepam may be used to treat panic disorder, and these drugs have other uses that differ. Both come as oral tablets, but clonazepam also comes as an orally disintegrating tablet. With panic disorder, you become afraid of having more panic attacks. This can make you avoid situations or places you feel may trigger a panic attack, which can lead to agoraphobia.

• It is important for anyone suffering from an overdose to be honest with the emergency medical personnel about exactly what substances were taken and at what amount.
• In some cases, an inpatient detox facility can be a good option.
• Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, a prescription sedative in the benzodiazepines family.
• Research has shown that when used alongside tapering, CBT is effective in reducing benzodiazepine use over a 3-month period.
• Regular use of Xanax can lead to tolerance, dependence, addiction, overdose and withdrawal side effects.
• Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to process and eliminate a substance.

Alprazolam Tablets

Your doctor may prescribe Xanax XR if once-daily dosing is more convenient for you. They may also prescribe this form if your panic disorder symptoms come back or worsen between doses of immediate-release Xanax. The safest way to stop taking Xanax and alleviate withdrawal symptoms is to taper your dose. Tapering allows your body to slowly get used to smaller doses and can prevent symptoms.

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

To treat panic disorder in adults, the recommended starting dosage of Xanax is 0.5 mg three times per day. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or do not go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Once you’re stable xanax addiction and free of any withdrawal symptoms, your doctor can then taper your dose of Valium. However, Xanax withdrawal can lead to a seizure in some cases, and seizures can be a life threatening medical emergency. Reducing Xanax usage slowly and under medical supervision can help reduce this risk.

Alprazolam Abuse Symptoms, Signs and Addiction Treatment

• Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine drug widely prescribed to treat anxiety disorder.
• This can lead to severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death.
• The first symptoms of Xanax withdrawal appear within 8 to 12 hours of your last dose.
• Benzodiazepines can lead to both physical and psychological dependence.
• Alcohol and Xanax can reduce the activity of your central nervous system (CNS).
• Another concern with Xanax addiction is the risk of overdose, which can result in acute benzodiazepine toxicity.

If you have difficulty opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist if they can put Xanax in an easy-open container. They may also be able to recommend tools that make https://ecosoberhouse.com/ it simpler to open lids. If you can become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or are using birth control, it’s important to consider whether Xanax is a safe choice for you.

What to expect from treatment

Being dependent on Xanax does not always mean that addiction is also present. Additionally, people who take it every day may develop physiological dependence, meaning that the body requires the medication to function properly. Outpatient treatment options provide maximum flexibility by allowing people to maintain their obligations at work, school, and home while in a treatment and recovery program. It typically involves 5-20 hours of treatment per week, depending on the type of outpatient treatment chosen.

• Research shows that young adults who use Xanax tend to use it along with illegal drugs and are also more likely to have psychiatric conditions, which might be undiagnosed or untreated.
• The abuse of benzodiazepines is related to both the effects they produce and to their widespread availability.
• Common complaints reported with varying frequency by patients treated with alprazolam include sedation, fatigue, ataxia, amnesia, slurred speech, poor concentration, hypersensitivity, and irritability.

Although some people can take benzodiazepines without complications, some individuals may develop dependence, and others may misuse the medication. If you or someone you know uses Xanax, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the short- and long-term effects of alprazolam, the dangers of overdose and drug mixing, and various treatment options. Treatment for a Xanax overdose will depend on how much of the drug was taken and whether other drugs or alcohol were also taken. In the event of an overdose, medical providers may pump the stomach to remove as much of the unabsorbed Xanax as possible.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms, Timeline & Detox Treatment

• The pressure-cooker of modern life, with its constant stressors and demands, can push anyone towards seeking chemical solace.
• In a 12-month period between 2014 and 2015, more than 5 million people in the U.S. reported they had misused benzodiazepines.
• Xanax is a short-acting drug, which means your body metabolizes it very quickly.
• It can be helpful for a person who has an SUD to know that they have support from their friends and family.
• It is extremely addictive when used long-term, making Xanax addiction and abuse a serious concern.

A number of different types of therapy are used in the treatment of substance abuse disorders. In the treatment of Xanax addiction, abstinence is often a goal. This means discontinuing the drug after supervised decreases by a medical provider. The process of reaching abstinence may involve detoxification (often referred to as “detox”) and behavioral therapies. And, as you develop tolerance to the drug (this can happen with any dose), the duration of its therapeutic effects becomes shorter, while the feeling of “comedown” leading to the withdrawal comes quicker. However, even after the symptoms of a Xanax overdose wear off, the consequences to the body may persist, potentially with lasting effects.

The guidelines recommend other options for first-line treatment of this condition. It’s typically used to help ease the symptoms of anxiety while other treatments for GAD, such as antidepressants, are taking effect. To help lower your risk of withdrawal symptoms, your doctor will gradually reduce your dose when you stop taking Xanax.

Can I take a pain reliever such as Tylenol during Xanax treatment?

Since alprazolam additionally elicits a pleasant euphoria and other changed responses in the brain, users can become addicted to this feeling—using more and more in an attempt to recreate these effects. The more of the drug that is taken, the greater the likelihood is that tolerance will begin to develop. Various treatment options are available for a person with SUD.

Research has shown that when used alongside tapering, CBT is effective in reducing benzodiazepine use over a 3-month period. Treatment may also address other underlying conditions, such as anxiety or depression. Ask your doctor or another health professional for a recommendation.