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Most prescribers with experience in addiction medicine consider alprazolam to have high misuse liability, especially when prescribed to individuals with a history of some type of substance use disorder (Griffiths and Wolf, 1990). Carbamazepine is also known to enhance catecholamine function and therefore may improve symptoms of sleep disturbance, anxiety, and mood instability, which are common in withdrawal. This explains its positive effects in general for the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
These drugs can prevent the pathway that’s responsible for eliminating Xanax from your body from removing it as quickly as should happen. Over time, this may lead to a toxic buildup of the drug and eventually an overdose. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Boxed warnings alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
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Yes, Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine prescription drug and is classified by the DEA as Schedule IV controlled substance. Call your healthcare provider, go to the nearest hospital emergency room, or call for emergency medical help (call 911 in the US) right away if you get any of these symptoms. Physical tolerance and addiction are multifactorial processes that involve drug pharmacology, patient factors such as past or current drug use, and social and environmental cues. Xanax is addictive because of how it works in the brain, its short duration of action, and the potent calming and anxiety-relieving effect of the medicine that some people may abuse. The school district is taking steps to increase awareness about the dangers of drug misuse with campaigns for both students and parents, Evans said. „The drug traffickers truly believe that no matter what they do in life, including cutting hearts out, beheading people, that they will go to heaven,“ Almonte said.
After taking Xanax, the peak effects of the drug are typically felt within one to two hours. As an intermediate-duration drug, Xanax stays in a person’s system for 12 to 15 hours. Because Xanax is a CNS Depressant, common effects of the drug include slurred speech, loss of coordination, and anxiety. Xanax is the brand name for Alprazolam, a prescription Sedative in the Benzodiazepines family. Benzodiazepines were originally developed as a replacement for Barbiturates. It boosts a brain chemical called Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), which slows down the nerve cell activity in the brain.
What Does Taking Xanax Actually Feel Like?
On the other hand, open discussions on platforms like Twitter and Reddit also provide valuable user experiences that may inform potential users about the risks involved. It’s a double-edged sword where information and misinformation coexist, impacting public perception and use of the drug. 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. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. By Heidi Moawad, MD
Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and expert in the field of brain health and neurological disorders. Dr. Moawad regularly writes and edits health and career content for medical books and publications.
If you are using Xanax without a prescription, you can still work with a doctor to taper down your dose. Start by visiting a primary care doctor or urgent care center and tell them that you are in or are planning to be in benzodiazepine withdrawal. This cycle often spirals into a long-term dependency, accompanied by a series of withdrawal symptoms like nausea, increased anxiety, and in severe cases, seizures. When combined with other substances like alcohol or opioids, it can lead to life-threatening situations, such as respiratory failure, coma, or even death.
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Most drugs involved in misuse or addiction consistently lead to dopamine release in the striatum (Di Chiara and Imperato, 1988; White and Kalivas, 1998; Willuhn et al., 2010; Vander Weele et al., 2014). Alprazolam is a high-potency triazolobenzodiazepine that is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. Alprazolam is biotransformed by hepatic microsomal oxidation, yielding 4 and α-hydroxyalprazolam as its principal metabolites, and is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 (Greenblatt and Wright, 1993). Individuals battling mental illness may be on Xanax to treat symptoms or simply abusing it in attempts to self-medicate, and this abuse can often cause mental health conditions to worsen.
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. Seek immediate medical help if you suspect an overdose or dependence on Farmapram or Xanax. Treatment options include the options above to help overcome addiction and start recovery. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and require medical supervision. Fortunately, there are telltale signs of Xanax misuse and addiction, such as secretive behavior and always keeping pills on hand. Individuals who take it recreationally often mix it with alcohol, marijuana or other drugs.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this https://ecosoberhouse.com/ medication do not have serious side effects. If you are concerned about the risks involved in Xanax tapering for any reason, discuss these concerns with a doctor.
- Recognizing Xanax addiction signs and symptoms can help you know when to seek treatment for yourself or a loved one.
- The mind becomes accustomed to the drug and can go through periods of insomnia, depression, paranoia, and irritability while trying to come off it.
- This can make it more and more difficult to stop taking the drug.
- Abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence.
- There are 3 case reports suggesting that valproate may be effective for the treatment of sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, but a double-blind, placebo-controlled study failed to replicate the results (Rickels et al., 1999).
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