Xanax Addiction: Signs, Effects, & Treatement

Doctors may prescribe this medication to ease the symptoms of withdrawal. Anyone taking a full narcotic for medical reasons should be sure to tell medical personnel so they can avoid giving them a partial agonist like buprenorphine for pain. Suboxone is sometimes prescribed for pain and not opioid withdrawal, but its effectiveness if often less than great, unless you happen to be a cat. Cats appear to get a great deal of pain relief from buprenorphine. If you are using Xanax without a prescription, you can still work with a doctor to taper down your dose.

Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings recommended by the FDA. They alert doctors and patients to side effects that may be dangerous. As Schedule IV controlled substances, all benzodiazepines have the potential for abuse, addiction, withdrawal and diversion (illegal distribution). Schedule 4 drugs have a lower potential for abuse relative to other drugs in Schedule 3, but can still be abused.

Signs and Symptoms of Xanax Addiction

Individuals battling mental illness may be on Xanax to treat symptoms or simply abusing it in attempts to self-medicate, and this abuse can often cause mental health conditions to worsen. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports around half of all people with severe mental illness also have co-occurring substance abuse problems, so this issue is a common one. The mental impact of withdrawing from Xanax can be turbulent.

And while the drug can be identified in the body, there are no blood or lab tests that can diagnose Xanax addiction. The diagnosis of Xanax addiction is based on whether a person meets certain diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5. Xanax overdose causes central https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-stop-alcohol-cravings/ nervous system (CNS) depression, which is a direct result of the drug’s effect on reduced neuronal excitability. CNS depression leads to impaired respiration and bradycardia (slow heart rate), which can cause coma or cardiac arrest (interruption of the heartbeat).

What Are the Risks of Xanax Addiction & How To Recover?

Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. Doctors like prescribing Xanax because it has a short half-life, meaning its effects wear off more quickly than long-acting benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam). People who xanax addiction need the drug can take it for the short-term treatment of anxiety or panic attacks without disrupting their entire day. To recover from Xanax addiction, people should taper off the prescription drug by taking lower doses over the course of several days or weeks.

• Alprazolam has a half-life of 12 hours, which means it takes 12 hours for half of the dose to clear the bloodstream.
• A.D.H.D. that has been poorly managed or undiagnosed is particularly common in meth patients.
• If you have experienced addiction or misused drugs before, talk with your doctor.
• On those days, the Kalamazoo Harm Reduction workers will instead load their safe supplies onto sleds, and set out for the woods.

People who need anti-anxiety medication to control anxiety or panic disorders may be dependent on Xanax and never experience negative consequences. As long as they communicate with their doctor about their treatment, they can develop a plan to discontinue Xanax when necessary. 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. Before your doctor prescribes Xanax for you, they’ll evaluate your risk for misuse and addiction.

What is Xanax?

Withdrawal symptoms can be felt within six hours of the last dose. Due to the risk of extreme sleepiness, your doctor may recommend that you avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how the combination of Xanax and opioids affects you. If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely. An important side effect to consider in older adults is trouble with balance and coordination. This means all the medication is released into your system soon after the tablet dissolves.

Cocaine and methamphetamine, for example, both increase levels of dopamine in the brain, albeit through different processes. As a result, people using cocaine may respond and behave very differently from those using methamphetamine. Your doctor will likely prescribe a dosage taper schedule to help you avoid withdrawal reactions. Your daily dose will likely be decreased by 0.5 mg in 3-day (or longer) intervals.