Get you or your loved one help for addiction or mental health issues today. Encourage your loved one to seek professional help and offer your support throughout their recovery journey. 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. Treatment settings may include inpatient/residential or outpatient facilities, which can involve the use of a combination of therapy, medication, support groups, and other amenities to help a person recover from Xanax addiction. A person should seek immediate medical help if they experience any serious side effects when taking Xanax.
Xanax Addiction Symptoms & Signs
This practice is extremely dangerous since Xanax can increase the intoxication of other substances. Alcohol acts on the GABA receptors as well, and this recreational substance is widely abused all over the world. Drugs that trigger this kind of relaxation in the brain quickly lead to addiction, as evidenced by how many people struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, Xanax is designed to bind to receptor cells in the brain faster than alcohol, so it may be more addictive because it acts so quickly. Xanax should never be combined with other benzodiazepines like Valium, Klonopin or Ativan.
Side Effects
The dosage is based on a patient’s medical condition, age and response to treatment. A course of Xanax should not last longer than one or two weeks, but sometimes it is prescribed on an “as-needed” basis for panic attacks. Seek immediate medical help if you suspect an overdose or dependence on Farmapram xanax addiction or Xanax. Treatment options include the options above to help overcome addiction and start recovery. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and require medical supervision. Fortunately, there are telltale signs of Xanax misuse and addiction, such as secretive behavior and always keeping pills on hand.
Related treatment guides
- These medications may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy.
- Xanax is one of the most addictive benzodiazepines when not properly used.
- Confrontation-style interventions may lead to shame, anger, or social withdrawal.
- If you or someone you know is addicted to Xanax, seek help before the addiction worsens.
- According to the most recently available FBI data, police made over a quarter of a million arrests for marijuana in 2022.
- Make sure you are not only telling them how you feel but also listening to what they have to say—how they are feeling, why they use it to the extent that they do, and what they need from you to help them maintain abstinence.
Younger adolescents, however, appear to be abstaining from many substances of abuse except Xanax. Now, the FDA notes that benzodiazepines like Xanax should not be taken daily for more than two weeks consecutively because the body develops a tolerance to, and dependence on, these substances very quickly. While dependence and addiction are not the same conditions, physical dependence may indicate abuse or addiction to a substance. In a study from 2001–2013, about 17% of people who received an opioid prescription also received a benzodiazepine like Xanax.
Xanax abuse can cause a number of disorienting symptoms in the user, including sleepiness, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems. Because of these effects, you want to approach a person who is abusing it while they are sober. For example, you may begin taking the drug and discover that you no longer feel the effects as strongly as you did when you first began using it.
What Should I Avoid While Taking Alprazolam?
Do not stop taking alprazolam abruptly, and do not make any changes to therapy without consulting your health care provider. The risk of serious side effects (such as slow/shallow breathing, severe drowsiness/dizziness) may be increased if this medication is taken with other products that may also cause drowsiness or breathing problems. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed https://ecosoberhouse.com/ medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. There are also encouraging case reports and case series with the use of other antiseizure medications to help alleviate symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Xanax Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Progression Cycle
- If side effects do not improve or become problematic, consult your health care provider.
- This is called physical dependence — when the brain requires the presence of a drug to reach chemical equilibrium.
- According to a 2015 medical journal article about managing benzodiazepine misuse, doctors can limit alprazolam prescriptions to a one- to two-week supply to prevent patients from developing a dependence to the medication.
- Other medications can affect the removal of alprazolam from your body, which may affect how alprazolam works.
- The process of reaching abstinence may involve detoxification (often referred to as “detox”) and behavioral therapies.
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. Doctors usually start someone on the smallest effective dose to avoid the potential for addiction and withdrawal symptoms. The dose may be increased depending on the response to treatment.
A Review of Alprazolam Use, Misuse, and Withdrawal
- Xanax can cause physical and psychological dependence or addiction even in people who take it as prescribed.
- Alprazolam should not be prescribed at a higher dose than is US FDA-recommended, and providers should consider discontinuation if patients are requesting higher doses, as it may signal therapeutic tolerance and/or misuse.
- Therefore, the urge to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay reinforces substance use.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan D. Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
Farmapram or Xanax abuse and dependence require medical supervision. However, people respond to treatment differently, so finding the right treatment option is essential. Taking a benzodiazepine such as Xanax for longer than three or four weeks can lead to dependence. Dependence turns into addiction when a person keeps taking the drug despite negative consequences. In many cases, people addicted to Xanax believe they need it to relieve anxiety.
Xanax Side Effects
If your loved one does not agree to getting help the first time you speak to them, try again at a later time. While you wait, take care of yourself and keep the boundaries you’ve set for yourself. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help. With more GABA available in the brain because Xanax is bound to neurons’ receptors, the individual will feel calmer, relaxed, and even sleepy. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) groups symptoms of addiction into four major categories. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes the clinical difference between addiction and dependence.