Xanax Abuse Symptoms and Signs

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Xanax Addiction and Abuse

Xanax is often a prescribed benzodiazepine treatment used to relieve depression and anxiety problems. However, if used for prolonged periods or otherwise misused, it is relatively simple to become addicted to the drug and other similar substances similar. Xanax is often abused for recreational purposes due to its numbing high.

Xanax to Self-Medicate Anxiety or Insomnia

Others can use it to self-medicate their anxiety or insomnia. Xanax is most widely used by people who try to minimize side effects or to ease the occurrence of a high stimulant (such as cocaine, meth, or Adderall).

Irrespective of whether you have become physically hooked on Xanax, you will require medical assistance to quit to overcome a withdrawal syndrome, that could be both physically and mentally severe (and often life-threatening in the case of seizures).

Abuse Can Result in Dependency

Xanax binds to certain sensory receptors in the nervous system, thereby increasing an inhibitory neurotransmitter activity known as GABA. The consequent increase in GABA activity creates a temporary calming and sedative effect. While benzodiazepines can be effective anxiolytic drugs, their abuse can easily result in physical dependency.

Physical and mental dependence is often an indication of addiction. However, people who are not addicted and are still taking Xanax as prescriptions may encounter a certain degree of withdrawal from Xanax symptoms after the stoppage.

Addiction Effects

Addiction involves much more than merely going through withdrawal upon quitting the substance; it involves obsessively seeking and using drugs even when it has enormous adverse effects on your life, such as:

• Job loss
• Problems at school
• Family conflict/strained relationships
• Legal charges
• Damage to physical or mental health

Individuals who use Xanax on a prescription basis may not know that they need any support when they decide to stop. However, for someone who has developed a substantial physical dependency on benzodiazepine, there is a high degree of risk associated with sudden cessation. Medical detox offers a healthy withdrawal atmosphere and minimizes the risk of relapse or severe medical complications.

Symptoms of Xanax Abuse

Xanax is a highly toxic benzodiazepine drug widely used to treat panic attacks and extreme anxiety.  It is potentially addictive, and it is commonly used for anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks. It’s a short-acting Benzo with a high chance for abuse. The majority of its effects will be identified within an hour of use and will continue for up to six hours.

This is typically administered for a limited period (2-6 weeks) to avoid addiction. Many patients who do not misuse Xanax and take it exactly as prescribed may become addicted without knowing that tolerance will develop fast. Xanax abuse can have severe effects that affect every part of an individual’s life.

Xanax is Very Habit-Forming

Xanax is very habit-forming and is not recommended for long-term use. An individual who misuses Xanax will regularly appear extremely tired. They may lack their usual liveliness and motivation to connect with family and friends. Abusers may as well lose interest in their normal daily activities.

Xanax is Misused with Other Drugs

Xanax is mostly misused with other drugs, notably alcohol and narcotics. Combining Xanax with some other substances can result in severe side effects, such as heart distress, coma, or even death. Xanax symptoms of addiction vary with patients based on the type of drug used.

A person addicted to Xanax may have some physical, behavioral and psychological symptoms, including:

• Lack of coordination
• Slurred words
• Needing more drugs to get the required effects
• High body temperature
• Feeling symptoms of withdrawal
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Concentration problems
• Lack of motivation
• Loss of interest in normal daily activities
• Intense cravings for the drug
• Avoiding tasks that require sustained attention
• Financial issues resulting from unnecessary money spent on drug acquisition

There’s a distinct discrepancy between Xanax misuse and Xanax addiction. The substance is typically misused for a brief spell, such as a party, including personal usage.

To produce the desired relaxation, the individual may mix Xanax with alcohol or other drugs. These same people can generally stop taking the drugs without serious side effects. Those who take Xanax on a medical basis also exert considerable influence over their lifestyles and substance usage.

Adverse Dangers of Xanax

Xanax can be severely ruinous when consumed in large quantities and/or in a mixture with alcohol or other substance. When mixed with alcohol, even a small dose of Xanax may be fatal due to the risk of respiratory failure, acute injury, and coma caused by the combination of two central nervous system depressants.

Since Xanax is a sedative, there is a chance of car or machine accidents due to decreased alertness and reaction time. When a hefty dose of Xanax is used, the patient can feel extreme sedation for up to a few days. This may put the user at serious risk if they are sedated in a hazardous environment.

Long-term use of Xanax can trigger harmful side effects, some of which may be irrecoverable. These side effects include:

• Depression
• Delirium
• Aggression and impulsivity
• Cognitive impairment
• Increased risk of dementia
• Psychosis

What Are My Treatment Options?

Withdrawal sign can persist for an extended period of time, but the symptoms will differ according to the phase of recovery:

• When you quit at first, you’ll go through health-threatening, acute withdrawal symptoms. A huge and fast reduction or total cut off on Xanax may trigger several painful and lethal adverse effects, like seizures. A clinical withdrawal strategy can help patients taper off the drug and reduce the chance of dangerous health consequences.
• Long-term recovery options and aftercare participation will assist with the more borne-out, extended symptoms — keeping patients on course and maybe having relapses less possible in reaction to chronic symptoms.
• Detox recovery programs may differ with each patient and may be determined by several factors, including any dependency on polysubstance and the person’s general emotional and physical fitness. In some cases, the physician might order a decelerate taper off Xanax first to give the system time to adapt safely to smaller doses. Reducing the dose helps alleviate, and may even prevent, many common symptoms experienced during withdrawal.

Sometimes, the doctor can first shift the patient to a longer-acting sedative, such as chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, or phenobarbital, which is then gradually and safely withdrawn avoid complications such as withdrawal seizures.

Many patients may have Xanax taper under the supervision of a doctor on an outpatient procedure. Nonetheless, this choice is only acceptable if the person’s doctor has thoroughly evaluated the risks and decided that they are healthy.  Besides, while some people may prefer the idea of outpatient detoxification, many reported that inpatient treatment worked best for them.

How Can I Recover?

Many Xanax addicts may be afraid to seek help because they cannot see how they’re dealing with anxiety without Xanax. Treating an addiction to Xanax requires more than simply being detoxified to eliminate the substance from the system. After detoxing, a follow-up treatment program, either on an inpatient or outpatient basis like the ones at Resurgence, is needed to help you cope with the addiction itself.

You will need to learn improved coping skills that do not involve turning to Xanax or any other substance when you feel triggered or overwhelmed. Many non-pharmacological therapies can help a person cope with anxiety without benzodiazepines.

These include:

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or CBT Studies have shown that CBT is beneficial for several people with various types of distress, for example, panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or DBT. This therapy typically involves learning skills such as mindfulness to cope with erratic emotions and feelings. DBT has been beneficial to many people who have anxiety disorders.

Xanax Addiction Treatment at Resurgence

If you consider taking Xanax or are curious about its potential to help you feel less anxious, consult your doctor. It is always beneficial to inform your doctor if you are using the medication recreationally.

If you need help with addiction, call us. We will work with you to set up a treatment plan that works for you.