Xanax Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, & Treatment

Tell your doctor or pharmacist right away if you have any withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, trouble sleeping, restlessness, hallucinations/confusion, depression, nausea, or seizures. Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. In addition to its pharmacological properties which may contribute to its increased misuse potential, alprazolam uniquely affects the dopaminergic function in the striatum similarly to stimulants.

As a result, users must take Xanax more often or take larger doses each time, increasing the risk of addiction. For individuals who decide to stop taking Xanax, sudden withdrawal can cause severe physical and psychological side effects, increasing the risk of seizures, coma, and even sudden death. Many providers feel pressurized by their patients to continue prescribing as they try to wean them off benzodiazepines, and more-so with alprazolam, given the positive subjective drug effects. 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.

Xanax Addiction & Abuse

Common complaints reported with varying frequency by patients treated with alprazolam include sedation, fatigue, ataxia, amnesia, slurred speech, poor concentration, hypersensitivity, and irritability. Most studies conducted to assess benzodiazepines misuse liability in head-to-head comparisons are more than 20 years old. Alprazolam is a high-potency triazolobenzodiazepine that is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. Alprazolam is biotransformed by hepatic microsomal oxidation, yielding 4 and α-hydroxyalprazolam as its principal metabolites, and is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 (Greenblatt and Wright, 1993). Xanax is a prescription medication that’s used to treat anxiety and panic disorder.

To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well. Symptoms such as insomnia, cravings for Xanax, and anxiety, might take longer to leave the body and brain.

Are you currently using Xanax?

If you develop tolerance to Xanax, you may need to use higher doses to maintain a therapeutic effect. This can lead to excessively high dosing, intoxication, and, in some cases, drug-seeking behaviors. Acute withdrawal can result in death in some cases if the medication is stopped without medical supervision. Although https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/xanax-addiction-signs-symptoms-and-treatment/ treatment outcomes are comparable to that of other chronic conditions, recovery is an ongoing process that can take time. 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.

• Treatment centers provide those suffering from Xanax addiction the support they need to find and maintain recovery.
• A rebound effect is the reoccurrence of a symptom after a person stops taking the medication that was treating it.
• Part of that conversation should include reviewing the risks and benefits of continuing versus tapering benzodiazepines during your pregnancy.
• Acute withdrawal can result in death in some cases if the medication is stopped without medical supervision.
• As a result, users must take Xanax more often or take larger doses each time, increasing the risk of addiction.
• 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.

It’s even more dangerous to take Xanax that you buy on the street because it’s impossible to know exactly what you’re buying. A pill labeled Xanax could actually be a stronger benzodiazepine or a totally different drug. Xanax produces its main effects by mimicking GABA, a neurotransmitter https://ecosoberhouse.com/ used by brain cells. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages in the brain. In addition to mimicking GABA, Xanax also increases levels of another neurotransmitter called dopamine. If you or someone you know is addicted to Xanax, seek help before the addiction worsens.

Is Xanax Addictive?

Some of these side effects are unpleasant, and others can be life-threatening. 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.