Xanax Addiction: Signs, Effects, & Treatment

Dependence is a physiological adaptation that occurs due to chronic substance use, which results in withdrawal symptoms after you abruptly stop or cut down your dose. Yes, support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) offer a supportive environment for individuals struggling with Xanax addiction. These groups provide xanax addiction encouragement, shared experiences, and accountability crucial for recovery. If you’re unsure where to start, The Edge Treatment Center’s caring staff and evidence-based treatment methods are the perfect jumping off point.

Signs and Symptoms of Alprazolam Abuse

Additionally, some people are predisposed to substance addiction, possibly due to genetic factors and altered activity of neurotransmitters in the brain. Due to these risks, the FDA issued a boxed warning in 2016 against the concomitant use of benzodiazepines and opioids. The use of Xanax and other sedatives and hypnotics has some association with an increased risk of death.

How long does Xanax withdrawal last?

Inpatient programs are residential programs wherein the user will be living in the treatment center for a period that typically ranges from between 30 days and 90 days. Their time will focus on learning new skills in order to be happy and healthy without using substances. WellBrook Recovery provides outstanding rehabilitation care for individuals struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders. Using an individualized approach in a comfortable setting, WellBrook Recovery’s expert team addresses the root of the issues, promoting lasting inner peace.

Persistent Insomnia (Sub-Acute Withdrawal)

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 Oxford House every day or use them long-term. Tolerance to Xanax develops quickly, requiring the user to take more of the drug to achieve the desired effects. Someone with a Xanax addiction may take up to 20 or 30 pills per day.

• The process of reaching abstinence may involve detoxification (often referred to as “detox”) and behavioral therapies.
• The calm is described as similar to the buzz from alcohol and can be psychologically and physically addictive.
• Before you start treatment with Xanax, tell your healthcare provider if you have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines or street drugs.
• This is because the body has difficulty metabolizing the two substances simultaneously, allowing more of each substance to remain active in the body for a more extended period.
• You might wonder if it’s drugs or something different, such as a demanding job or a stressful life change.
• As Schedule IV controlled substances, all benzodiazepines have the potential for abuse, addiction, withdrawal and diversion (illegal distribution).

Behavioral Therapies

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that an SUD can lead to changes in a person’s brain.
• 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.
• Our dedicated team will guide you through understanding the roots of your addiction, and provide the necessary therapies and coping skills you need for a successful recovery.
• After a period of regular use, it is best to slowly stop the medication under your doctor’s direction.
• Doctors recommend waiting until all benzodiazepines pass out of your system before you drink alcohol.
• The risk of experiencing benzodiazepine withdrawal syndromes is high with prolonged use.

The generic version, alprazolam, is the most frequently prescribed psychotropic medication in the United States. A psychotropic is a medication that affects how the brain functions. Detoxification is the process of allowing the body to process and eliminate a substance. Typically, detox is completed on an inpatient basis in order to monitor the vital signs of the user. Benzodiazepine dependence and overdose are on the rise, increasing more than four times between 2002 and 2015. This means discontinuing the drug after supervised decreases by a medical provider.