But people often take them with alcohol or other drugs, either of which can be dangerous or even deadly. About 3/4 of deaths that involve benzodiazepines also involve an opioid drug. Synthetic benzodiazepines, sometimes called “street,” “designer,” or “novel” benzos, are classified as schedule I. These drugs are made in illicit labs and sold for recreational use. Benzodiazepines are a controlled substance, which means it’s illegal to have https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-overcome-shame-and-guilt-in-recovery/ them without a doctor’s prescription.
Benzodiazepine Pharmacology and Central Nervous System–Mediated Effects
It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. The most effective treatment for benzodiazepine use disorder is to gradually reduce how much of the drug you use under the supervision of a medical professional. You can do this in a treatment facility or hospital, or at home with the help of your doctor. With Xanax, the effects of drug withdrawal can be severe and even dangerous, so detox is often a gradual process, especially if it had been used in high doses and/or for a prolonged period of time. For example, to reduce the risk of seizures, the Xanax dose is gradually tapered over weeks under medical supervision.
BENZODIAZEPINE-INDUCED CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TOXICITY AND ALTERED STATES
The detox period for Xanax may be longer than the detox period for other drugs. In both cases, you take less and less of the drug until it’s out of your system. Symptoms of Xanax withdrawal can be more severe than that of other benzodiazepines. Mild symptoms of withdrawal can occur after taking the drug for as little as 1 week if stopped abruptly. Some are related to your environment and life experiences, such as having friends who use drugs. When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.
BENZODIAZEPINE PHARMACOLOGY
Substance use disorder (SUD) develops over months and years, and may not be easy to identify at first. If you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Practicing relapse prevention and management can improve your recovery outlook in the long term. Although an intervention may encourage your loved one to seek treatment, it can also have the opposite effect. Confrontation-style interventions may lead to shame, anger, or social withdrawal. If you’re thinking about staging an intervention, remember that it might not result in a positive outcome.
Signs of Xanax Abuse or Addiction
There are several proposed explanations for why these groups may be at risk. Research shows that young adults who use Xanax tend to use it along with illegal drugs and are also more likely to have psychiatric conditions, which might be undiagnosed or untreated. However, even after the symptoms of a Xanax overdose wear off, the consequences to the body may persist, potentially with lasting effects. For example, pulmonary aspiration during a lethargic state can lead to aspiration pneumonia or permanent lung damage. Acute withdrawal can result in death in some cases if the medication is stopped without medical supervision.
- Benzodiazepines, sometimes called benzos, are a type of medication known as tranquilizers.
- Cognitive impairment may also limit the patient’s ability to work effectively as well.
- However, this medication is prone to misuse, which can lead to addiction.
- When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.
Xanax is the brand name for a prescription drug called alprazolam used to treatanxietyandpanic disorders. If you plan to or have become pregnant, you will need to discuss your options with a doctor. Part of that conversation should include reviewing the risks and benefits of continuing versus tapering benzodiazepines during your pregnancy. Some people continue taking benzodiazepines throughout their pregnancy while others follow a dose tapering schedule. The best way to try to lessen the severity of your Xanax withdrawal symptoms is by slowly tapering down your dose of Xanax. Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses over the course of several weeks.
Xanax Addiction
- Benzodiazepine drugs are also sometimes used as “date rape” drugs because they impair the functions that normally allow a person to resist sexual aggression or assault.
- The management of dependence involves either gradual benzodiazepine withdrawal or maintenance treatment.
- Detoxification includes the withdrawal process, which can be a temporarily unpleasant but necessary part of the process.
Benzodiazepine drugs are also sometimes used as “date rape” drugs because they impair the functions that normally allow a person to resist sexual aggression or assault. The drug is usually added to alcoholic drinks or even soft drinks in powder or liquid forms and can be hard to taste. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. Because Xanax is a CNS Depressant, common effects of the drug include slurred speech, loss of coordination, and anxiety.
- Elimination half-life does not reflect time to recovery from drug effects.
- Xanax is a powerful benzodiazepine that is often prescribed to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorders, and insomnia.
- They can give you a schedule of when and how to reduce your dosage.
- With this combined form of treatment, users can take charge of their lives again.
- Xanax addiction affects the lives of millions of people each year.
Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence
Everyone who takes the drug regularly will develop tolerance, meaning they’ll require higher doses to feel the same therapeutic effect. Patients with a high tolerance to Xanax may require doses greater than 4 milligrams per day, increasing their risk for dependence. 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 need the drug can take it for the short-term treatment of anxiety or panic attacks without disrupting their entire day.
If you become dependent on the drugs, you can have withdrawal symptoms and even seizures when you suddenly stop taking them. Only a very small percentage of people who take normal doses for short periods will become dependent on xanax addiction benzodiazepines. Xanax is one of the most popular anti-anxiety medications in the United States. The drug has legitimate medical uses, but many people abuse Xanax to feel relaxed or carefree. Quitting Xanax cold-turkey can cause seizures and other dangerous side effects.
What is the most important information I should know about Xanax withdrawal?
As many as 44 percent of chronic benzodiazepine users ultimately become dependent on their drug of choice, the Journal of Addictive Behaviors notes. Addiction is often due to psychological factors that influence individuals to keep using. The long-term abstinence rates after recovering from Xanax addiction vary significantly.