A Review of Alprazolam Use, Misuse, and Withdrawal PMC
The active drug in Xanax is alprazolam, while the active drug in Ativan is lorazepam. Then they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. Those addicted to Xanax may take up to 20 or 30 pills, per day. Benzodiazepines depress the central nervous system, causing physical symptoms like slurred speech, loss of coordination or disorientation.
- Combining Xanax (or any other benzodiazepine) with an opioid can cause severe drowsiness, trouble breathing, coma, or death.
- Solis’ attorney said he did not yet know if his client would take the stand.
- To treat panic disorder, you’ll likely take Xanax three times per day.
- Ask your doctor or another health professional for a recommendation.
- Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs.
Once a person is ready for treatment, speaking with a doctor can help a person discover what treatments and resources are available to them. Women should https://ecosoberhouse.com/ inform their care team if they wish to become pregnant or think they might be pregnant. Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress.
Related medical questions
They may recommend over-the-counter laxatives to help relieve this side effect. Due to the risk of extreme sleepiness, your doctor may recommend that you avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until you know how the combination of Xanax and opioids affects you. An important side effect to consider in older adults is trouble with balance and coordination. Xanax may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. The kinds of side effects you can have may vary depending on the condition you’re using Xanax to treat.
The first step is to identify any misconceptions you might have about addiction. This can make it more and more difficult to stop taking the drug. The severity of the disorder can be classified as “mild” if two to three criteria are met, “moderate” if four to five are met, and “severe” if six or more are met. These classifications may help direct the most appropriate course of treatment.
How Xanax Causes Dependency and Addiction
Together, buprenorphine and naloxone combine to reduce an individual’s opioid drug dependence and slowly block symptoms of withdrawal to assist in the OUD recovery process. Narcan is used as an emergency treatment for someone experiencing a known or suspected opioid overdose to reverse the effects of opioids. Narcotic addiction, opioid dependence, and OUD are all similar terms that people use to describe a reliance on opioids, leading to problematic patterns and disruptions in daily life. Women are 11% more likely than men to be prescribed medication, but men are 22.9% more likely to misuse prescriptions. Both men and women are most likely to use pain relievers, with 32.5% more men than women using them.
You should also avoid combining Xanax with drugs — even over-the-counter ones — that can make you sleepy, slow your breathing, or cause extreme lethargy. The compounded effects of combining these drugs may be dangerous and put you at risk for health issues or death. 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. Other medications can affect the removal of alprazolam from your body, which may affect how alprazolam works.
Crime and Public Safety
Contact us to learn more about our renowned Bay Area programs and how we can help you or your loved one start the journey toward lasting recovery. Xanax is a type of sedative that people use to treat conditions such as anxiety and panic disorder. However, this medication is prone to misuse, xanax addiction which can lead to addiction. A substance use disorder can significantly impact your health, relationships and overall quality of life. If you feel like you’re becoming dependent on Xanax or are taking it more than what your healthcare provider has prescribed, seek help as soon as possible.
Severe withdrawal symptoms can include life-threatening seizures, making it imperative to seek expert assistance for the process. For many users, Xanax offers a sense of profound relaxation, drowsiness, and sometimes even a kind of euphoric high. It is important for a person to stop taking Xanax gradually.
This side effect was not reported in clinical trials of this drug but has occurred since the drug was approved. He saw a psychiatrist who prescribed Xanax, which offered him some much-needed relief. Xanax made Jagan feel safe and more able to face the fears and pressures of his daily life. Blunt Therapy is your source for tips, articles, and advice about the mental health topics that matter to you, from a licensed therapist who’s been there. It’s a blog about mental health matters, addictions, relationships, and parenting. In other words, Blunt Therapy is a blog about the kind of things that people go to therapy for.