Xanax Addiction & Harmful Effects

What is Xanax?

Alprazolam is in a class of drugs named benzodiazepines.  Alprazolam may be habit-forming that needs Xanax addiction treatment due to the harmful withdrawal.

Alprazolam, sold under the brand name Xanax, treats anxiety disorders and panic disorder (sudden attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks).

Xanax works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain.

Do not let anyone else take your medication because alprazolam is a controlled substance if you are taking this drug.

Given that prescriptions may be refilled only a limited number of times.

Alprazolam may cause dependency, and only a Xanax detox can help you be comforted in the process of starting to live generally without Xanax addiction.

Is Xanax Addictive?

Many people take this remedy as their doctor prescribes. However, Xanax can also be purchased illegally. It’s used to manage:

• Stress
• Generalized Anxiety
• Panic Disorder

Alprazolam (Xanax pill) is not only the most prescribed benzodiazepine,

but it is the most ordered psychotropic prescription in the United States, accounting for more than 48 million prescriptions distributed in 2013.

This continues even though many prescribers consider alprazolam to have high abuse possibility.

It is shown to result in a more severe withdrawal syndrome than other benzodiazepines, even when tapered.

Benzodiazepines are involved in approximately one-third of intentional overdoses or suicide attempts.  [1]

Xanax Side Effects

• Relaxation
• Euphoria
• Shifts in Mood or Irritability
• Loss of Interest in Sex
• Dizziness
• Dry Mouth
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Poor coordination
• Seizures
• Shortness of breath
• Slurred speech
• Tremors
• Lack of focus
• Confusion
• Memory problems
• Lack of inhibition

Like other benzodiazepines, Xanax addiction damages driving ability.  It’s also correlated with an increased risk of falls, broken bones, and traffic accidents.

Xanax Addiction Symptoms

There are some common signs of addiction, notwithstanding the substance used.

General warning signs you may have an addiction include the following:

• Using or desiring to use the drug frequently
• There’s an urge to use that’s so intense it’s troublesome to focus on anything else
• You need to use more of the drug to achieve the same “high” (tolerance)
• Taking more and more of the drug or taking the pill for more extended periods than planned
• You always keep a supply of the medication on hand
• Money is spent to get the prescription, even when money is short
• You try and fail to discontinue using the drug
• You develop unsafe behaviors to get the drug, such as stealing or violence
• Engaging in risky behaviors while under the drug’s influence, such as having unprotected sex or driving a car
• You use the medication notwithstanding its associated difficulties, risks, and problems
• A lot of time is spent getting the drug, using it, and recovering from its effects
• You undergo symptoms of withdrawal once you stop using the drug

Seeking out help is a vital first step.  If you — or your loved one — are ready to get treatment,

it may be needed to reach out to a supportive friend or family member for support.

Mixing Xanax with Alcohol & Other Drugs

Since Xanax can cause serious side effects and has a high potential for addiction on its own, it is extremely dangerous to mix Xanax with alcohol or other drugs, particularly opioids.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review from 2020 found that benzodiazepines are widely misused along with alcohol,

prescription opioids, and other illicit drugs. [2]

This combination can increase the risk of serious consequences when using Xanax.

Mixing Xanax and other benzodiazepines with opioids are dangerous because both medications cause sedation and suppress breathing,

which is often the cause of overdose fatalities.

If you or a loved one has been prescribed Xanax,

it is vital to alert your physician to what medications you are already taking before using Xanax to prevent any potential adverse combinations.

Psychological Symptoms of A Xanax Addiction

A person suffering from Xanax addiction will exhibit certain physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms, including:

Depression

People who take Xanax have reported feeling deeply depressed and mentally uneasy.

Anxiety

Anxiety can be described by uncontrollable and uneasy thoughts one feels.

These thoughts can lead the person down a “rabbit hole” where the mind creates problems that cause distress and pain.

Another concern is that the anxiety symptoms the Xanax is designed to treat could return in amplified intensity when the medication is stopped.

Insomnia

Overtaken by stress and anxiety, a person who is in withdrawal from this drug may have problems falling asleep at night.

Mood Swings

Random shifts in mood, such as quickly going from feeling euphoric to being depressed.

Suicidal Thinking

Stress, anxiety, and intense nervousness that can happen during withdrawal can lead to or coexist with suicidal thoughts.

Difficulty Concentrating

People can have cognitive issues for weeks after stopping Xanax.

Memory Problems

Long-term Xanax addiction can lead to dementia and memory problems in the short term.

Typically, memory functioning is restored within a few months of the initial withdrawal.

Xanax Withdrawal Syndrome

Alprazolam(Xanax) and alprazolam-XR carry the same expected risk of withdrawal as other benzodiazepines.

Alprazolam withdrawal syndrome has been carrying a more complicated and, in some respects,

unique rebound anxiety compared with other benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes.

Alprazolam is significantly more toxic than other benzodiazepines in cases of overdoses.

Therefore, it should be avoided in individuals at heightened risk of suicide or using alcohol, opioids, or other sedating drugs.

Symptoms of Xanax withdrawal can be harsher than that of other benzodiazepines.

Mild withdrawal symptoms can happen after taking the drug for as little as one week if discontinued abruptly.

However, Xanax is safe when taken as prescribed.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms Can Include:

• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Blurred Vision
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Hypersensitivity to light and sound
• Insomnia
• Irritability and shifts in mood
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, or face
• Tremors
• Tense muscles
• Nightmares
• Depression
• Paranoia
• Suicidal thoughts

What To Expect from Xanax Addiction Treatment?

The purpose of treatment is to withdraw Xanax use over the long term.

However, treatment may also address other underlying conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

There are several treatment options available for Xanax addiction.  Often, more than one is crucial to encounter at the same time.

Addiction is a complex condition, but it is treatable.  If you or a loved one is struggling with Xanax use, you are not alone, and help is available.

Treatment for Xanax addiction happens on a continuum and can involve different types of services with varying degrees of intensity.

Treatment for Xanax addiction must be tailored to the individual to approach the whole person, including psychological, physical, social, and vocational needs.  [3]

Therapy For Xanax Addiction

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most successful method of therapy for a benzo addiction.

CBT addresses the learning processes underlying substance use disorders.

It entails working with a therapist to develop a set of healthy coping strategies.

Other Standard Behavioral Therapies Include:

• Self-Control Training
• Individual Counseling
• Marital or Family Counseling
• Education
• Support Groups
• Medication

The detox period for Xanax may be longer than the detox period for other drugs because you have to taper down the drug dose slowly over time.

As a result, detox often overlaps with different sorts of treatment.

Once you’ve quit taking Xanax or other benzodiazepines, there’s no additional prescription to take.

Level Up Palm Beach County Xanax Addiction Treatment

For anyone who suffers from addiction, just the thought of having to stop using can cause severe mental distress.

But, with the help of a medical detox center, the medical detox process is manageable.

In addition, a comprehensive team prescribing medications can alleviate your withdrawal pains while monitoring your health 24 hours.

We are assuring both your safety and comfort.

At Level Up West Palm, our thorough approach to rehabilitation supports several levels of care to ensure the best possible outcome for every patient who enters our doors.

From an intensive and more supportive atmosphere for those in the early days of recovery to a comfortable residential-style living dynamic upon completion of detox,

we are here to help guide you down the safe and results-based path to your sobriety.

To start reclaiming your life from Xanax addiction and undergo a Xanax detox and treatment, you may contact us, and we will guide you to recovery.