Peak effects begin after 30 minutes, and the effects usually wear off after six hours. Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use.

Xanax Addiction Treatment and Recovery

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how alprazolam will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Get cost-effective, quality addiction care that truly works. “Alcohol and benzos are the most potentially serious withdrawals xanax addiction because you can have seizures,” Dr. Kevin Wandler told Drug Rehab.com. Wandler is the chief medical officer of Advanced Recovery Systems, which operates rehab facilities across the United States. People who take Xanax usually feel some effect within 10 to 15 minutes.

• Doctors prescribe the medication to treat anxiety, depression, panic disorders and phobias.
• This means discontinuing the drug after supervised decreases by a medical provider.
• It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).
• Xanax may also sometimes be prescribed off-label for sleep problems.
• Doctors usually start someone on the smallest effective dose to avoid the potential for addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
• Many Xanax users refer to this phenomenon as rebound anxiety.

How Long Does It Take to Get Addicted to Xanax?

For those who have used Xanax for longer than a few weeks, their doctor may create a taper schedule. During a taper, a person gradually reduces their daily dose. Tapers are an effective way to prevent withdrawal symptoms. With dependence, your body becomes reliant on a drug to function as usual.

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Some medical professionals believe that this trend indicates that benzodiazepines are being abused in riskier ways. Although the increase in filled benzodiazepine prescriptions leveled off around 2010, overdoses remained at alarmingly high rates.

Do not share, sell or give away your Xanax to anyone else. Keep this medicine in a safe place and away from children and pets. Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist that can be given intravenously (IV) as an antidote in the emergency setting to help reverse the effects of a benzodiazepine overdose. Studies have shown that individuals with a history of alcohol or opiate use prefer the rewarding effect of Xanax over other benzodiazepines, such as oxazepam or chlordiazepoxide. However, you can become addicted to Xanax even if you take it exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

• It is important for a person to remember that not every treatment works for everyone.
• It boosts a brain chemical called Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), which slows down the nerve cell activity in the brain.
• Express to them plainly but without judgment how the drug has impacted their life and yours.

You may start by calling your provider to inquire about covered programs or reaching out to individual programs to ask whether they accept your coverage. Xanax abuse and addiction has become a major problem in the U.S., with many people taking it recreationally and sometimes in combination with other drugs. Overcoming an addiction to Xanax isn’t easy, but people do it every day. Medical detox and treatment programs can be helpful when treating a Xanax addiction.

When you and your doctor agree that you should stop taking Xanax, they’ll reduce your dose slowly over time. Xanax and Valium may be used to treat anxiety disorders, although both drugs have other uses that differ. You should take Xanax exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It’s important that you do not increase your dose or take more than prescribed unless you first talk with your doctor.

How to recognize addiction in others

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use alprazolam only for the indication prescribed. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. MISUSE OF ALPRAZOLAM CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH and should be used only by the person for whom it was prescribed. While https://ecosoberhouse.com/ monitoring clients, treatment centers slowly taper them off Xanax by gradually reducing their daily dosage. Long-acting benzos, such as Klonopin or Librium (chlordiazepoxide), may be substituted for Xanax during tapering. Urine screenings, which are sometimes used during treatment to encourage abstinence, can detect Xanax for up to a week after last use.