Some people may first begin experiencing the effects of Xanax within 5 to 10 minutes of taking the pill. Almost everyone will feel the effects of the drug within an hour. If the drug appears to be having a significant impact on you, you should seek emergency medical attention. The sedating effect can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and calm your body’s response to the anxiety or stress. Please note that these resources are for informational purposes only.

• We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.
• Before taking alprazolam, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other benzodiazepines (such as diazepam, lorazepam); or if you have any other allergies.
• Acute withdrawal can result in death in some cases if the medication is stopped without medical supervision.
• The connection between anger and mood disorders, such as panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, isn’t well studied.
• Having an addiction to a substance, such as Xanax or alcohol, is what experts refer to as a substance use disorder (SUD).

If you have a loved one who’s struggling with addiction, staging an intervention is often the first necessary step towards sobriety, but it’s important to be strategic and loving in your approach. Even the most well-meaning of interventions can have a negative effect if they aren’t handled correctly. With more GABA available in the brain because Xanax is https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/dealing-with-internal-and-external-relapse-triggers/ bound to neurons’ receptors, the individual will feel calmer, relaxed, and even sleepy. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) groups symptoms of addiction into four major categories. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Xanax only for the indication prescribed.

Reasons to Consider a Multigenerational Approach to Family Therapy

This drug passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that xanax addiction needs alertness until you can do it safely. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. When this medication is used for a long time, it may not work as well.

They can talk with you about the benefits and risks, and help you determine the best way to feed your baby. Some important things to discuss with your doctor when considering treatment with Xanax include your overall health and any medical conditions you may have. During your Xanax treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments.

Can you die from Xanax withdrawal symptoms?

There are also encouraging case reports and case series with the use of other antiseizure medications to help alleviate symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal. 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). In addition to its pharmacological properties which may contribute to its increased misuse potential, alprazolam uniquely affects the dopaminergic function in the striatum similarly to stimulants. 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). Nonmedical use of opioids and benzodiazepines like Xanax has been a serious and risky feature of the opioid addiction and overdose epidemic. More than 30 percent of opioid overdoses involve benzodiazepines, according to NIDA.

Tolerance to Xanax develops quickly, requiring the user to take more of the drug to achieve the desired effects. Someone with a Xanax addiction may take up to 20 or 30 pills per day. If the user decides to stop taking Xanax, they may experience withdrawal effects such as anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and tremors. The onset of withdrawal symptoms is a sign that a physical dependence has developed.

Your Guide to Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms and Treatment Options

When a person seeks treatment for an addiction, the doctor should listen to them and understand their wants and needs before agreeing on suitable treatment goals. The doctor should work with the person to optimize their safety and wellness during treatment. Although people often use the two terms interchangeably, dependence and addiction are not the same. If a person experiences any serious side effects when taking Xanax, they should seek immediate medical attention. Keep reading to learn more about Xanax addiction, how people can treat it, and how to reduce the risk of misusing the medication again in the future. The long-term abstinence rates after recovering from Xanax addiction vary significantly.

There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Outpatient treatment may require a stronger sober resolve, because you will be living in the original abuse environment. Overall, you want to approach a person addicted to Xanax with the intention of communicating your support of their sober efforts.

Factors That Affect Xanax Withdrawal

Doctors also report that people with depression that’s treated with Xanax may also have increased episodes of mania. With mania, you have high energy, abnormally elevated mood, or extreme changes in emotions. If you plan to or have become pregnant, you will need to discuss your options with a doctor.