Keep reading to learn more about Xanax addiction, how people can treat it, and how to reduce the risk of misusing the medication again in the future. Alprazolam, which is available under the brand name Xanax, is a form of benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative, meaning that they help slow down brain and bodily functions. No medication has been shown to be effective for treating benzodiazepine use disorder. Once you’re no longer using benzos, you’ll need support from your family and friends and, if possible, from a mental health professional, to prevent relapse. In this second, more difficult stage, you may need help finding housing and employment.
BENZODIAZEPINE PHARMACOLOGY
Xanax is addictive because of how it works in the brain, its short duration of action, and the potent calming and anxiety-relieving effect of the medicine that some people may abuse. Research has shown that when used alongside tapering, CBT is effective in reducing benzodiazepine use over a 3-month period. Ask your doctor or another health professional for a recommendation. You can also search for a treatment center close to where you live with the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator.
Behavioral
The pills come in different shapes and colors depending on their strength. The 2 mg tablets are white, green, or yellow in color and rectangular in https://ecosoberhouse.com/recovery-residence/ shape. The rest are oval shaped and colored white (0.25 mg), orange (0.5 mg), or blue (1 mg). Once a Xanax addiction has taken hold, daily responsibilities such as school, work, or family are ignored as energy is redirected toward drug-seeking behavior.
What Schedule Is Xanax?
This increased sensitivity is directly related to the accumulation of BZDs and related active metabolites. The elderly have subsequent increased intensity of BZD-mediated responses and the duration of BZD-mediated effects. It’s common to experience both physical and mental health symptoms during withdrawal. At many treatment centers, after inpatient or outpatient treatment, the treatment team will help to prepare an aftercare plan for each patient. Aftercare is a plan for future sober living and helps to prevent relapse and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Group therapy is a central part of substance use disorder treatment at many facilities, including The Recovery Village.
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- Outpatient treatment is either the second step after inpatient treatment or the first step for those who have less severe addictions or varying circumstances.
- It takes time for the central nervous system to regain its equilibrium following physical dependency on drugs.
- Reckless prescribing practices have contributed to thousands of cases of dependence and misuse.
- The more Xanax the individual takes, the more serious the addiction becomes and the more they will need professional addiction treatment help.
- Urine drug screening should be used as a tool to engage the patient rather than as a punitive measure.
Daily use of benzodiazepines for six weeks or xanax addiction more will result in dependency for four in every 10 users, the Royal College of Psychiatrists states. Xanax was first approved for the treatment of panic disorder in the 1970s. Over the years, it has come to be recognized as an effective remedy for anxiety, nausea caused by chemotherapy, depression, and other health issues. 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. For people who struggle with anxiety, feeling relaxed and at peace can be an addictive sensation. Doctors prescribe Xanax as needed, but someone with anxiety may take alprazolam more often, even regularly, because they feel like they need it to be normal.
General Health
- A doctor can help supervise a taper and recommend additional supportive treatments.
- These side effects, among others, are common occurrences that land many in emergency rooms when they try to detox without professional help.
- Insomnia, another symptom, can also contribute to these feelings of anxiety and agitation.
- This means discontinuing the drug after supervised decreases by a medical provider.
- The doctor should work with the person to optimize their safety and wellness during treatment.
- At this point, drug rehabilitation or medical intervention is the safest method for someone attempting to overcome their addiction.
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.
Xanax Effects
A medical study published in 2017 found that young adults ages 18 to 29 reported the highest rates of benzodiazepine abuse. Younger adolescents, however, appear to be abstaining from many substances of abuse except Xanax. Some longer-lasting benzodiazepines have been prescribed to treat epilepsy and seizure disorders, but Xanax is a short-acting medication, so it is not effective for consistent treatment. Instead, doctors tend to prescribe this sedative to manage immediate problems as needed, and they do not recommend taking the drug consistently. During this stage, attempting to stop taking the drug seems like an unbearable challenge.
Recovery from Xanax addiction is possible, and with proper treatment, you can begin to live a happier, healthier, and drug-free life. When it comes to the long-term management of getting off benzodiazepines, there are two directions you can go. Research shows that most stable, healthy adults will achieve long-term abstinence after completing a taper.
- 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.
- Xanax is a short-acting drug, which means your body metabolizes it very quickly.
- Some people experience additional symptoms as part of a condition called post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
- This means that you will likely experience Xanax withdrawal, or the uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms of discontinuing the drug.
Find out how it impacts your body and brain to develop a better… BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor. It increases the activity of natural chemicals in the brain, impacting the central nervous system to reduce nervousness and tension. It also binds to brain receptor sites for calmness and relaxation. Upjohn Laboratories introduced Xanax in the United States in 1981. Unlike Valium, the most popular anti-anxiety drug during the 1970s, Xanax was marketed as the first drug to reduce panic attacks.