Xanax Withdrawal: Symptoms, Severity, Length, and Treatment

Alprazolam restricts the action of a certain population of inhibitory neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the brain, allowing more of the neurotransmitter dopamine to be released. Without the inhibitory mechanism of action, dopamine levels rise, thus causing pleasure and reinforcing pleasure-seeking behavior. After a month or so, your brain gets used to sending off more neurotransmitters just so some can get past the benzodiazepine blockade. When benzodiazepines attach to your neurons, they invite a bunch of chloride ions inside. These ions change the neuron’s electrical charge, so it has to work much harder to activate and send signals. Among respondents whose symptoms lasted months or years, over half said caffeine or alcohol worsened their PAWS symptoms.

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For example, to reduce the risk of seizures, the Xanax dose is gradually tapered over weeks under medical supervision. People successfully recover from Xanax addictions using both inpatient and outpatient treatment programs. However, people with more severe addictions might need the stability of an inpatient treatment center to recover. The detox and withdrawal from Xanax can cause deadly seizures, so professional guidance is vital during this time of treatment.

Tapering off supratherapeutic doses

Read on to learn more about benzodiazepine withdrawal, including the signs, how long it lasts, and how to get support with tapering off safely. Benzodiazepines are a powerful class of medication used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorder. Examples of benzodiazepines include alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium). xanax addiction Many people make the mistake of thinking that Xanax use is harmless. Since it is often prescribed by a doctor for long-term use anyways, some people assume it is fine to use it recreationally as well. However, even if you have one of the conditions commonly treated by Xanax, it is never safe to take it on your own.

Taking Xanax with other drugs

In addition to the immediate health risk, benzodiazepine withdrawal can seriously affect your quality of life. Benzodiazepines have a sedative effect because of how they work in your brain. These drugs mimic the effects of a neurotransmitter called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA).

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. It is not recommended to taper without the assistance and recommendations from your prescribing doctor. If you have been taking Xanax several times a day, then quitting is going to take time, patience, and determination. The only safe way to quit is to slowly taper down your dose under the direction of a doctor.

Treatment and support

A small percent of those young adults are introduced to the drug in high school. Xanax is more than twice as popular among high school seniors as the next most popular benzo. In 2015, more than 17 million people used Xanax and generic alprazolam products. More than 4 million of those people misused the products, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That’s more than the combined number of people who misused lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin) and diazepam (Valium) products.

• Schedule 4 drugs have a lower potential for abuse relative to other drugs in Schedule 3, but can still be abused.
• If you take an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine, like alprazolam, or a long-acting benzodiazepine, like diazepam, it may take longer for withdrawal symptoms to appear.
• While a self-administered nasal spray derivative of ketamine called Spravato is covered by some insurance plans, intravenous ketamine is not.
• This class works in the brain by binding to and enhancing the inhibitory effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA).
• Depending on the severity of your symptoms, the level of anxiety you experience during Xanax withdrawal may be more intense than what you experienced before taking Xanax.

Xanax is one of the most addictive benzodiazepines when not properly used. People who misuse the drug experience unpleasant symptoms when they stop taking it. They can experience anxiety, trouble sleeping and unhappy thoughts. Taking Xanax with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous side effects or death. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Dependence becomes a problem when individuals take Xanax for nonmedical reasons or when they don’t communicate with their doctor. Some people take the medication recreationally https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to feel carefree or overly relaxed. These drugs are some of the most highly addictive prescription drugs on the market, and they can hook a user within a matter of mere weeks.

Xanax Addiction Treatment and Recovery

• Professional guidance can be very helpful in preparing you for this important conversation.
• California last year became the first state in the nation to receive a federal waiver to use in-person contingency management in its Medicaid program.
• When you have an addiction, you continue to use a drug regardless of any negative consequences.
• The authors advised against the use of benzos, especially in older individuals.
• By Corinne O’Keefe OsbornCorinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology.
• Keep in mind that certain drugs, when used together with Xanax, may increase your risk for side effects or decrease how well Xanax works.