Unlike many other withdrawal syndromes, benzodiazepine withdrawal can be complicated and, occasionally, life-threatening. If a person notices signs of SUD in themselves or others, they should speak with a doctor. A doctor can help a person determine the best course of treatment for them. A person can quickly become physically dependent on Xanax, so they should only ever take it as a doctor prescribes it. When a person seeks treatment for an addiction, the doctor should listen to them and understand their wants and needs before agreeing on suitable treatment goals.
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- Xanax is the brand name of the drug alprazolam, often used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks.
- Research has shown that when used alongside tapering, CBT is effective in reducing benzodiazepine use over a 3-month period.
- However, addiction professionals report seeing more adolescents struggle with addiction to Xanax.
- 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.
- Unless the patient is elderly, it is helpful to switch to a long-acting benzodiazepine in both withdrawal and maintenance therapy.
- If that happens, you may find it helpful to seek out further resources or find a support group for family members or friends of people living with addiction.
- Once the patient achieves 10 mg the dose should be tapered more slowly (e.g. 5 mg twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for two weeks, and then 2 mg daily for two weeks and then cease).
This review details the present knowledge about BZD mechanisms of action, drug profiles, clinical actions, and potential side effects. In addition, this review describes numerous types of BZD-mediated central nervous system effects. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. If you think you or someone you’re with is in danger of overdosing, call 911 right away. Keep in mind that emergency responders and doctors are there to help you. If you have the pill containers, give them to the EMTs or doctors to help them determine the number and type of pills taken.
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Some medical professionals believe that this trend indicates that benzodiazepines are being abused in riskier ways. Although the increase in filled benzodiazepine prescriptions leveled off around 2010, overdoses remained at alarmingly high rates. If you are taking Xanax as prescribed, check with your doctor before taking another drug or drinking alcohol. Checking with a medical expert can reveal any potentially dangerous effects from mixing substances, and this could protect you against severe injury and dependence on Xanax. While monitoring clients, treatment centers slowly taper them off Xanax by gradually reducing their daily dosage.
Benzodiazepines Overdose
- Once you’re stable and free of any withdrawal symptoms, your doctor can then taper your dose of Valium.
- It is important to prevent and recognise benzodiazepine dependence.
- People who need anti-anxiety medication to control anxiety or panic disorders may be dependent on Xanax and never experience negative consequences.
- Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and require medical supervision.
This is called physical dependence — when the brain requires the presence of a drug to reach chemical equilibrium. This stage begins with tolerance, which involves an increase in frequency or dosage of the drug that the person’s body is able to readily process without experiencing strong effects. Some people will need a shorter amount of time and a lower dosage to become dependent. The process of becoming addicted to Xanax is different for each person. For those who have used Xanax for longer than a few weeks, their doctor may create ataper schedule. Doctors usually start patients who have never taken benzodiazepines on low doses of Xanax, such as 0.25 milligrams or 0.5 milligrams.
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms
Benzodiazepine withdrawal can create a syndrome similar to delirium tremens that causes hallucinations, agitation, confusion, and potentially fatal seizures. For your safety, it is important to have medical supervision throughout the process of Xanax withdrawal so that these symptoms can be avoided, or immediately treated. Tolerance to Xanax develops quickly, requiring the user to take more of the drug https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/8-tips-on-ow-to-spend-holidays-sober/ to achieve the desired effects. Someone with a Xanax addiction may take up to 20 or 30 pills per day. If the user decides to stop taking Xanax, they may experience withdrawal effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and tremors. The onset of withdrawal symptoms is a sign that a physical dependence has developed.
However, even those who follow a prescription can fall victim to Xanax addiction and abuse. 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.
Is Xanax a narcotic (opioid) drug / controlled substance?
In the case of Xanax, physical addiction is marked by physical withdrawal symptoms that ensue when the substance is discontinued. Some common side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, blurred vision, and convulsions. In 2009, Xanax and other benzodiazepines were responsible for the majority of the emergency room admissions caused by central nervous system (CNS) depressants. The first benzodiazepines were developed in the 1930s, but they were not introduced as prescription drugs to the public until 1957. By the 1980s, benzodiazepines including Valium and Librium were among the most prescribed drugs in the United States. When a person is dependent, they cannot stop using a drug without experiencing withdrawal.
The Dangers of Mixing Xanax and Alcohol
Xanax is the brand name of the drug alprazolam, often used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. It belongs to one of the most highly abused drug classes, benzodiazepines, and works by slowing down overactivity in the central nervous system. Xanax is a particularly fast-acting benzodiazepine, taking effect in 30 minutes or less, which is one of the primary reasons it is so popular. Xanax is a prescription medication that treats conditions such as anxiety and panic disorder. 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.
Why Does Xanax Lead to Dependence and Addiction?
Xanax is often only prescribed for a short period of time due to this potential. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most common form of therapy for benzodiazepine addiction. CBT addresses the learning processes underlying substance use disorders.
Once the patient xanax addiction achieves 10 mg the dose should be tapered more slowly (e.g. 5 mg twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for two weeks, and then 2 mg daily for two weeks and then cease). The assessment determines the severity of misuse and informs the risk of relapse and of harm. It should include the indication for prescribing, dose, duration of use, age and any history of psychiatric or medical comorbidity as well as any other past or current substance misuse.
