Xanax is often only prescribed for a short period of time due to this potential. Learn more about the risks and side effects of substance use disorders, including the signs of intoxication and overdose. There are no standard tapering regimens and the rate of tapering depends on the starting dose, duration of therapy, risk of relapse and how well tapering is tolerated by the patient. In general, at higher doses (e.g. greater than 10 mg diazepam equivalents per day) the dose may be tapered more rapidly. Once the patient achieves 10 mg the dose should be tapered more slowly (e.g. 5 mg twice daily for two weeks, then once daily for two weeks, and then 2 mg daily for two weeks and then cease). Someone who abuses Xanax can develop a tolerance quickly, meaning they need to increase their dose to get the desired effects.
Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
One type of benzodiazepine that’s legally manufactured in other countries but illegal in the U.S. is flunitrazepam (Rohypnol). It is important to seek medical attention immediately if any of the above symptoms are present. The long-term abstinence rates after recovering from Xanax addiction vary significantly. About 80% of older adults Alcoholics Anonymous achieve abstinence, while about 25% of those with complicated addiction with polydrug use achieve abstinence. Detox is a process during which a person stops taking a harmful drug.
Mental Health Resources
However, flumazenil could worsen symptoms in patients with a history of seizures or head injuries. Dependence occurs when a person experiences physical or mental withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking a substance. But the drugs can cause life-threatening side effects when taken with other depressants, such as alcohol or opioids. The onset of action with alprazolam is about one hour, diazepam is 0.25 to 0.5 =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ hours, and lorazepam is 0.5 to 1 hour. Some are related to your environment and life experiences, such as having friends who use drugs. When you take a drug, certain genetic factors can increase your risk of developing an addiction.
Box. Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome – clinical features.
Benzodiazepines are a controlled substance, which means it’s illegal to have them without a doctor’s prescription. Legally manufactured forms of benzodiazepine are classified as schedule IV drugs in the U.S. Outpatient treatment options provide maximum flexibility by allowing people to maintain their obligations at work, school, and home while in a treatment and recovery program. It typically involves 5-20 hours of treatment per week, depending on the type of outpatient treatment chosen. A number of different types of therapy are used in the treatment of substance abuse disorders.
How Can You Prevent Xanax Addiction?
The first benzodiazepines were developed in the 1930s, but they were not introduced as prescription drugs to the public until 1957. By the 1980s, benzodiazepines including Valium and Librium were among the most prescribed drugs in the United States. When a person is dependent, they cannot stop using a drug without experiencing withdrawal. Therefore, the urge to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay reinforces substance use. After detoxing, treatment should involve therapy to treat the drivers of addiction.
Is Xanax a controlled substance?
Some people take the medication recreationally to feel carefree or overly relaxed. In many cases, people addicted to Xanax believe they need it to relieve anxiety. But the anxiety that they experience when they stop taking the drug is actually a symptom of Xanax withdrawal. After a period of regular use, it is best to slowly stop the medication under your doctor’s direction.
- American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information.
- Some common side effects include headaches, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, blurred vision, and convulsions.
- Addiction is characterized by both psychological and physical dependency.
- Xanax addiction can be serious and affect a person’s mood, behavior and physical characteristics.
Toggle Common signs of Xanax addiction may include
Schedule 4 drugs have a lower potential for abuse relative to other drugs in Schedule 3, but can still be abused. To learn more about treatment options, contact our Admissions Navigators. Benzodiazepines are sedative drugs commonly prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders. But they can be habit-forming, especially if you take them regularly or for a long time.
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. There has been a growing trend of fake Xanax being sold on streets across America.
- Instead, doctors tend to prescribe this sedative to manage immediate problems as needed, and they do not recommend taking the drug consistently.
- When someone takes a drug—as a prescription medication including opioids or Xanax—on a regular schedule, the medication will adjust the user’s brain chemistry.
- The benzodiazepine-dependent population is heterogeneous and this influences management.
Benzodiazepine FAQs
Harms from drugs such as zopiclone and zolpidem are less well characterised. Dependence is managed in the same manner as benzodiazepine dependence. It is important to prevent and recognise benzodiazepine dependence. A thorough risk assessment guides optimal management and the necessity for referral. By Corinne O’Keefe OsbornCorinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology.
As long as they communicate with their doctor xanax addiction about their treatment, they can develop a plan to discontinue Xanax when necessary. To recover from Xanax addiction, people should taper off the prescription drug by taking lower doses over the course of several days or weeks. Physicians and addiction professionals should oversee the tapering process to ensure safety. Doctors prescribe the medication to treat anxiety, depression, panic disorders and phobias. It’s part of the benzodiazepine family, which is a group of psychoactive drugs that affects the central nervous system.
