Xanax addiction treatment: What to expect from detox and how to help

Recognizing Xanax addiction signs and symptoms can help you know when to seek treatment for yourself or a loved one. Xanax addiction can be serious and affect a person’s mood, behavior and physical characteristics. The dosage is based on a patient’s medical condition, age and response to treatment. A course of Xanax should not last longer than one or two weeks, but sometimes it is prescribed on an “as-needed” basis for panic attacks. The development of tolerance is a major factor that drives a new substance addiction.

The Body on Drugs

Although Xanax put a temporary stop to my agony, it soon introduced a new kind. If a user wishes to stop taking Xanax after dependence on the drug has formed, it is not recommended to quit “cold turkey” or without medical supervision. The symptoms of Xanax withdrawal are similar to those of alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal, and the severity of the symptoms can vary.

What are Xanax Overdose Symptoms?

• Tapering Xanax is challenging because the amount of the drug in your system quickly goes up and down with each dose.
• He eventually got on methadone, a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid addiction.
• Some people experience additional symptoms as part of a condition called post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy successfully treat these conditions.

The first step in treating Xanax addiction is a medical detox. Doctors usually start patients who have never taken benzodiazepines on low doses of Xanax, such as 0.25 milligrams or 0.5 milligrams. 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 https://ecosoberhouse.com/ than 4 milligrams per day, increasing their risk for dependence. Understanding the causes, effects, and treatment options for Xanax addiction is crucial for individuals, healthcare providers, and society as a whole. With the right support and treatment, individuals struggling with Xanax addiction can embark on a path to recovery, regain control of their lives, and work toward a healthier future.

Treatment Options for Xanax Addiction

However, people respond to treatment differently, so finding the right treatment option is essential. Xanax withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours of the last dose. Compared to other benzodiazepine medications, a Xanax overdose is also more toxic. It requires immediate attention, so seek medical help immediately if you suspect you or a loved one has overdosed on Xanax. However, people often misuse Xanax with opiates and alcohol, so an overdose can be extremely dangerous in such situations. About 75 percent of deadly benzodiazepine overdoses involve opioids, according to a 2015 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

It is important for anyone suffering from an overdose to be honest with the emergency medical personnel about exactly what substances were taken and at what amount. While Xanax addiction cannot be completely cured — nor can any dependency on drugs or alcohol — treatment can help affected individuals address their behavior and return to a healthy lifestyle. Doctors usually start someone on the smallest effective dose to avoid the potential for addiction and withdrawal symptoms. The dose may be increased depending on the response to treatment.

Xanax Abuse: Short- and Long-Term Effects of Xanax

• Wandler is the chief medical officer of Advanced Recovery Systems, which operates rehab facilities across the United States.
• It can help lessen, and in some cases, might even prevent withdrawal symptoms.
• When a person is dependent, they cannot stop using a drug without experiencing withdrawal.
• The most effective treatment plan for Xanax addiction may vary from person to person, and it’s important that treatment is tailored to individual needs.
• Addiction is a challenging diagnosis best left to a professional.
• (Pear has since gone out of business.) But other digital health companies such as Affect Therapeutics, Chess Health and Q2i also now provide app-based addiction treatment.

In relation to blood pressure, Xanax may exert a hypotensive effect, meaning Xanax can potentially lower blood pressure. This occurs due to its central nervous system depressant properties, which lead to a reduction in sympathetic nervous system activity. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “fight xanax addiction or flight” response, which includes the elevation of blood pressure. By diminishing this response, Xanax may contribute to a decrease in blood pressure. Xanax, or alprazolam, affects the brain by enhancing the neurotransmitter GABA’s activity, which reduces anxiety, induces sedation, and relaxes muscles.

Polydrug use (using multiple drugs) is common among people with benzodiazepine addiction, with 54.2% abusing opioids and 24.7% abusing alcohol. All of the major research on contingency management, Saxon said, has been conducted on programs administered in-person, not using an app. If it affects those with addiction, their families, or their loved ones, we aim to cover it in a timely, fact-based manner. Our goal is to research the latest substance abuse trends and statistics to shed light on the most critical issues affecting people with mental health and substance use disorders. We share these findings via extensive guides, digestible and accessible articles, and FAQ pages. Our reviewers are experts in their medical fields who vet all content with the latest research, medical findings, and best practices in substance abuse and mental health care.

Zyn Nicotine Pouches: Risks, Effects and Benefits

While Xanax is sometimes prescribed for longer than a few weeks to manage certain anxiety disorders, prolonged use can lead to a rebound of anxiety symptoms when the drug is eventually stopped. If you wish to contact a specific medical detox center then find a specific treatment center using our addiction treatment locator tool. Even getting patients in the opioid treatment programs to use the app proved challenging. In April 2023, the state signed a 12-month $389,815 no-bid contract with DynamiCare.

• Part of that conversation should include reviewing the risks and benefits of continuing versus tapering benzodiazepines during your pregnancy.
• Ask your doctor or another health professional for a recommendation.
• For example, pulmonary aspiration during a lethargic state can lead to aspiration pneumonia or permanent lung damage.
• Because Xanax is a CNS Depressant, common effects of the drug include slurred speech, loss of coordination, and anxiety.
• Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses over the course of several weeks.
• To learn more about treatment options, contact our Admissions Navigators.

Xylazine is coursing through the illicit drug supply. Here’s what it does—and why it’s not the main concern.

Research has shown that when used alongside tapering, CBT is effective in reducing benzodiazepine use over a 3-month period. If you — or your loved one — are ready to get treatment, it may be helpful to reach out to a supportive friend or family member for support. 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. In some cases, a nonthreatening conversation is a better option.