They want relief from social anxiety, and Xanax helps them wind down. Others desire a loose, goofy feeling that’s similar to how people feel when they get drunk. In high doses, both substances make people feel carefree. In a 12-month period between 2014 and 2015, more than 5 million people in the U.S. reported they had misused benzodiazepines. That’s out of 30 million adults who used the drugs at all that year.
What does Xanax treat?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xanax for the acute, or short-term, treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorders. It can treat various symptoms of GAD, including high levels of anxiety, restlessness, and muscle tension. Doctors prescribe it for patients struggling with insomnia and mental health issues such as excessive worry, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Xanax is typically prescribed as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
How to reduce the risk of using Xanax again
Some nights half a tablet wouldn’t work, so I’d take another bite. The prescription was written for .25 mg, 2x per day; a one-month supply amounted to 60 pills, which could last two to three months. 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. Xanax works in an area of the brain called the hippocampus, according to an article by Arvat et al. published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Common side effects
Therapy can help individuals develop healthy ways to relieve anxiety and reduce a person’s need for anti-anxiety medications. Buspirone may be used to combat benzodiazepine withdrawal. Flumazenil can also be used to treat withdrawal symptoms in long-term benzodiazepine users.
- I didn’t know what was wrong, but my heart felt weird and I didn’t want to die in front of my kids.
- People will usually experience side effects of Xanax when they first start taking it or when they increase the dosage.
- If you become dependent on the drugs, you can have withdrawal symptoms and even seizures when you suddenly stop taking them.
- Insomnia, another symptom, can also contribute to these feelings of anxiety and agitation.
- Your doctor can help you find support resources in your area.
- They may visit multiple doctors to get Xanax prescriptions or buy it on the street.
If you think you or a loved one may have a problem with benzodiazepine misuse, contact a doctor or a drug hotline. Benzodiazepines, sometimes called benzos, are a type of medication known as tranquilizers. These drugs slow down your central nervous system, cause sedation and muscle relaxation, and lower anxiety levels. Often used to treat anxiety or insomnia, they’re some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the U.S. But they can be addictive, especially if you take them every day or use them long-term. As Schedule IV controlled substances, all benzodiazepines have the potential for abuse, addiction, withdrawal and diversion (illegal distribution).
Related medical questions
Certain medications can result in Xanax staying in the body for longer, which can lead to an overdose. To treat withdrawal symptoms when stopping Xanax, doctors sometimes prescribe another benzodiazepine in its place. They may recommend a type that works for longer, such as diazepam (Valium).
Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative, meaning that they help slow down brain and bodily functions. Studies have shown that individuals with a history of alcohol or opiate use prefer the rewarding effect of Xanax over other benzodiazepines, such as oxazepam or chlordiazepoxide. However, you can become addicted to Xanax even if you take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Studies with alprazolam have also shown an increase in dopamine levels in the brain, which are linked to the brain’s reward system.
He prescribed a mild dose of Xanax, said it would take the edge off, told me I could bite the pill in half for an even milder dose. If a person has been taking Xanax for a long time and wants to come off it, they should speak with a healthcare professional to work out a safe method for discontinuing the drug. The manufacturers recommend decreasing the dosage by no more than 0.5 milligrams every 3 days. A doctor will determine the most appropriate discontinuation schedule for the individual, as the experience may differ from person to person. People can become physically dependent on Xanax, especially if they take the medication every day or very often. Physical dependence means that their body does not function appropriately in the absence of Xanax.
Some studies evaluating anxiety treatments assess non-specific anxiety-related symptoms rather than the set of symptoms that characterize GAD or PD. When possible, the treatments described in this section will differentiate between GAD and PD; otherwise, treatments refer to anxiety-related symptoms in general. In the darkened screening room, Livia, who is 24 years old, asked, “Did taking Xanax feel like going into your mother’s arms? ” Though my experience was nothing like Goldin’s, the line Livia drew from Goldin to me pierced, reminding me that for most of my children’s lives I had not been myself.
The way a person behaves while living with an addiction can vary widely. You may notice changes in mood, behavior, appearance, or performance at work or school, but many of these can be attributed to other factors as well. Superintendent Addison said the pair charged with trafficking in controlled drugs were granted police bail to appear in court in October. «However, clearly there is the issue where they are being cut down and potentially mixed with those drugs we’ve mentioned.»
A drug test can detect the presence of most benzodiazepines or their metabolites (substances produced when the drugs break down in your body). And most tests can’t tell how much of the drug is present. After a period of regular use, it is best to slowly stop the medication under your doctor’s direction. Withdrawal symptoms can begin quickly in some people, even after just https://rehabliving.net/i-need-help-dealing-with-my-angry-and-alcoholic/ a week or two of benzodiazepine use. Physical tolerance and addiction are multifactorial processes that involve drug pharmacology, patient factors such as past or current drug use, and social and environmental cues. In general, potent benzodiazepines with shorter elimination half-lives may be more prone to causing problems with tolerance, dependence and addiction.
Get cost-effective, quality addiction care that truly works. One type of benzodiazepine that’s legally manufactured in other countries but illegal in the U.S. is flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). Often called «roofies,» it’s well known as a date rape drug. Do not share, sell or give away your Xanax to anyone else. Keep this medicine in a safe place and away from children and pets. Like many drugs, the presence of Xanax can be detected with laboratory tests.
Health authorities said nitazene — a highly toxic drug more powerful than morphine – has been found mixed into other illicit substances. According to People he hasn’t touched drugs or drink since. ‡—Not FDA approved for PD, although there is some evidence to support its use; approved for GAD. †—Not FDA approved for this use, although there is some evidence to support its use.
Before you start treatment with Xanax, tell your healthcare provider if you have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs. A number of different types of therapy are used in the treatment of substance abuse disorders. Even at relatively low doses, Xanax addiction can develop—in part because the drug has a relatively short half-life of 11 hours, which means that its effects wear off quickly. Other commonly prescribed benzodiazepines that pose a risk of dependence include Valium (diazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam).
By Corinne O’Keefe OsbornCorinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology. Data related to the seizure of controlled substances by worldwide law enforcement organizations further highlights the growing problem of benzodiazepine use. According to the 2018 World Drug Report, there was a 700% increase in the quantities of benzodiazepines seized in 2016. In some users, these behavioral changes include irritability, anger, aggression, difficulty controlling impulses, and an increased level of excitement. Rarely, users may develop antisocial behaviors, causing them to experience fits of rage or lash out at others.
In 2006, I started taking Xanax and continued, more rather than less, for the next 17 years. The drug was first prescribed to me after I experienced a panic attack. We were at home—my husband had gone for the day and the babysitter was late.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that a person can become physically dependent on Xanax after 2 or more weeks of daily use. Research from 2015 suggests that 20–50% of https://rehabliving.net/ people experience withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing high dosage benzodiazepines. Xanax is a prescription medication that treats conditions such as anxiety and panic disorder.
Quitting Xanax cold-turkey can cause seizures and other dangerous side effects. Medications should be titrated slowly to decrease the initial activation. Because of the typical delay in onset of action, medications should not be considered ineffective until they are titrated to the high end of the dose range and continued for at least four weeks. Once symptoms have improved, medications should be used for 12 months before tapering to limit relapse.11 Some patients will require longer treatment. A number of medications are available for treating anxiety (Table 4).
