Xanax Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, Statistics & Treatment
Xanax Addiction
Xanax – a branded version of alprazolam – is an anti-anxiety medication in the benzodiazepine family.
Between 1998 and 2008, there was a 300% increase in the number of people seeking treatment for addiction to benzos.
Today’s guide will outline the dangers of becoming addicted to Xanax as well as the safest and most effective method of detoxing from alprazolam.
What is Xanax Addiction?
Xanax addiction occurs whenever a person taking the prescription medication (whether prescribed or otherwise) develops a physical and/or psychological dependency on the drug.
Xanax (alprazolam) is a branded benzodiazepine from the same class of medications as Valium (diazepam) and Klonopin (clonazepam).
Alprazolam is one of the most prescribed psychotherapeutic medications in the United States.
The medication, like all benzos, reduces activity in the CNS (central nervous system) and the brain. When you take Xanax, the medication intensifies the effects of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is a chemical that occurs naturally in the brain. This serves to induce a sense of calmness and relaxation which is typically why this drug is abused.
Many people taking this drug find a variety of negative Xanax side effects present at the beginning of treatment. These include:
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Depression
Xanax was approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in 1981. Data for 2020 shows that over 3.6 million people in the United States received 16.7 million prescriptions for Xanax. The FDA approves several different types of benzodiazepines for prescription use, they come in many different colors and sizes including blue Xanax, green Xanax, oval Xanax, and more.
Unfortunately, although Xanax can be highly effective if used short-term and exactly as prescribed, the medication is not designed for long-term use.
XANAX ADDICTION STATISTICS
38%
percentage of Xanax prescriptions out of all benzodiazepine prescriptions in 2019.
16%
overdose deaths in 2019 involving benzodiazepines.
92 MILLION
number of Xanax prescriptions filled in 2019.
Is Xanax Addictive?
Xanax, like all benzos, can rapidly relieve acute symptoms like rapid-onset anxiety or panic attacks. Regrettably, the medication also has a strong potential for abuse and addiction.
Misuse of Xanax – any use without a supporting prescription – can trigger aggression, depression, and impulsive or reckless behaviors. Long-term Xanax abuse can easily cause dependence to form. Addiction often but not always follows.
Using Xanax daily means tolerance to the medication will form. When this occurs, the medication becomes less effective, often prompting an increase in doses or in the frequency of doses to achieve the same effects.
Signs of Xanax Addiction
Xanax addiction signs will depend on many variables, although taking even small doses of Xanax as prescribed could trigger physical dependency in a month or less. Both tolerance and physical dependence are diagnostic criteria for addiction.
If you are concerned about an addiction to Xanax developing, ask yourself these questions:
- Have you made unsuccessful attempts to moderate or discontinue use of Xanax?
- Do you require higher doses of Xanax or more frequent doses of Xanax?
- Have you experienced withdrawal symptoms when the effects of the medication wear off?
- Do you spend large chunks of time thinking about Xanax and using Xanax?
- Are you preoccupied about maintaining a constant supply of Xanax?
- Do you continue to use the medication despite obviously adverse outcomes?
- Are you spending less time doing things you once enjoyed?
Is Xanax a Painkiller?
Xanax is not a painkiller. It is a benzodiazepine medication that is primarily used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorders. Benzos work by enhancing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain, which helps to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
While Xanax is not a painkiller, it may be used in combination with painkillers in certain situations – when someone with chronic pain also experiences anxiety or panic attacks, for instance. That said, benzodiazepines like Xanax can be habit-forming and should only be used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Short-Term Effects of Xanax
The following short-term side effects may present from the initiation of Xanax treatment:
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Appetite changes
- Weight loss
- Appetite loss
- Weight gain
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Reduced energy levels
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Tremors
- Impaired coordination
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Drowsiness
- Reduced sex drive
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Memory impairment
- Rash
- Incontinence
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Inflammation of skin
- Abnormal involuntary movements
- Hyperventilation
- Drowsiness
- Heart palpitations
- Tachycardia
- Cramps
- Muscle twitching
- Increased libido
- Excessive saliva production
- Dry mouth
- Upper respiratory infection
- Nasal congestion
- Menstrual disorders
- Hypotension
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus
- Excessive sweating
- Chest pain
- Slurred speech
- Unusual dreams
- Fear
- Edema
Continued abuse of Xanax can provoke hostile and aggressive behavior, as well as pronounced mood swings.
Long-Term Effects of Xanax
Xanax is especially dangerous because it can cause both tolerance and physical dependence to set in. This often but not always leads to benzo addiction.
Abusing Xanax long-term triggers functional and structural changes to the brain. Over time, the brain becomes unable to operate effectively without Xanax. You require the medication simply to feel normal and to stave off withdrawal symptoms. At the same time, the therapeutic benefit of the medication diminishes.
Xanax abuse and addiction can disrupt the following functions and processes:
- Emotional response
- Thought processes
- Memory
- Muscular coordination
- Consciousness
Xanax addiction is also associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
The withdrawal symptoms that present during Xanax detox can be dangerous. The seizures sometimes triggered by benzodiazepine withdrawal can induce potentially fatal coma.
Additionally, Xanax has the potential for lethal overdose. The risk of Xanax overdose increases when you use Xanax in high doses. You also increase the likelihood of overdose if you use Xanax in combination with alcohol or other depressants of the CNS (central nervous system).
What is Xanax Used For?
Xanax is primarily prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders and panic disorders. The medication can also be used to treat alcohol withdrawal and seizure.
Xanax Addiction Treatment
If you are addicted to benzos, it is always inadvisable to discontinue use abruptly. Home detox and the cold turkey method are not the safest ways to detox from Xanax.
Quitting Xanax or any other benzodiazepine once addiction sets in will lead to the presentation of acute withdrawal symptoms like those experienced during barbiturate withdrawal or alcohol withdrawal. The intensity of these symptoms depends on how long you have been using Xanax and how much of the medication you have been using. In the worst scenarios, Xanax detox can be life-threatening.
The most Xanax withdrawal process involves gradually tapering the dosage. Often, a long-acting benzo is prescribed as a substitute for the short-acting alprazolam. A Xanax tapering approach will significantly reduce the severity of withdrawal, while at the same time mitigating many of the inherent risks. Dosage will be tapered once every three days in increments of 0.5mg.
Connecting with a supervised medical detox at a licensed medical detox center followed by an inpatient or outpatient treatment program for benzo addiction provides the firmest foundation for recovery from Xanax addiction.
History of Xanax
Xanax, a controlled substance, was created in the U.S. in the 1970s. It’s currently the most commonly prescribed and abused benzo in the nation. When Xanax pills were created in a lab in Kalamazoo, Michigan, they were predicted to not be addictive or easily abusive.
Today, 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety. In 2018, doctors reported a “skyrocket” increase in teens and adolescents abusing Xanax. Teens use Xanax as a substitute for opioids and heroin because they get a similar feeling of euphoria. Some teens obtain the prescription pills from their parents or grandparents. Some teens get Xanax from the Internet’s black market or make designer pills in their bathtubs.
Don’t Let Xanax Addiction Hold You Back
Recover from Xanax Addiction with Gratitude Lodge
Xanax Rehab at Gratitude Lodge
For the best treatment for Xanax addiction, choose one of our three Southern California Gratitude Lodge locations at Long Beach or Newport Beach.
Our luxury rehab centers are pet-friendly and inclusive, providing an environment free of distractions, temptations, and triggers.
Kickstart your recovery from Xanax addiction with a supervised medical detox. A team of credentialed addiction specialists and medical professionals will administer a tapered reduction in your Xanax dosage, streamlining the withdrawal process and purging benzodiazepines from your system.
Once detoxed, transition directly into our residential rehab program or consider an intensive outpatient program if you need a more flexible and affordable route to recovery.
All Gratitude Lodge addiction treatment programs connect you with the following holistic therapies and evidence-based treatments:
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Family therapy
- Psychotherapy
- MAT (medication-assisted treatment)
- Holistic therapies
- 12-step immersion program
Call the friendly admissions team today at 800-994-2184 to engage with safe and effective treatment for Xanax addiction.
DRUG ADDICTIONS WE TREAT
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we work with most insurance plans to cover the costs of treatment.
Xanax Addiction FAQs
Using Xanax every day is not recommended without the guidance and prescription of a healthcare professional, as it can lead to dependence and other potential health risks.
Xanax, or alprazolam, is primarily a central nervous system depressant and does not have specific effects on the eyes. However, common side effects of Xanax can include blurred vision, difficulty focusing, or changes in visual perception, which should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Xanax, or alprazolam, is a medication classified as a benzodiazepine, and it is comparable to other drugs in the same class, such as Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam). These medications are prescribed to treat similar conditions like anxiety, panic disorders, and certain types of seizures.
