Xanax addiction is common, with an estimated 5.7 million people, or 2.1% of the U.S. population, reported misusing prescription tranquilizers in 2018. Moreover, 1 million individuals, representing 0.4% of the population, saw the misuse of prescription sedatives, as stated by the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS). Benzodiazepines are not only effective but also highly bioavailable, with 90% absorption when administered orally. 2018 in “Lorazepam.” Despite their clinical utility, benzodiazepines are prone to abuse and addiction. Xanax is prescribed to mitigate the severity of panic attacks by quickly calming the central nervous system and aiding individuals to regain control during an episode.
Signs and Symptoms
- Young adults are the most likely to use alprazolam or similar drugs like lorazepam non-medically, according to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- Xanax works by increasing the levels of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the brain.
- The treatment options for Xanax addiction include medical detoxification, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and behavioral therapies.
- Overdosing on Xanax can happen if someone takes more than the prescribed dose, combines it with other substances like alcohol or opioids, or takes it without a prescription.
There’s evidence that in states where weed is legal, fewer people are filling their xanax addiction prescriptions for anxiety medications like Xanax and other benzodiazepines. Both alcohol and benzos are highly addictive substances linked with potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms, whereas the relationship between cannabis and addiction remains cloudy at best. It is worth noting that Xanax belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines.
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Zoloft is an antidepressant used to treat major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic … The severity of the disorder can be classified as “mild” if two to three criteria are met, “moderate” if four to five are alcoholism symptoms met, and “severe” if six or more are met. These classifications may help direct the most appropriate course of treatment. And while the drug can be identified in the body, there are no blood or lab tests that can diagnose Xanax addiction.
How Can Family Members Support A Loved One Struggling With Xanax Addiction?
- Self-medicating can increase the risk of misuse which complicates depression treatment.
- Ask your doctor more about the differences between physical dependence and drug addiction, and your risk factors when taking Xanax.
- These symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically begin within hours to a few days after stopping Xanax.
Acute withdrawal can result in death in some cases if the medication is stopped without medical supervision. Among older adults, long-term use of Xanax can also lead to cognitive issues that may resemble dementia. Benzodiazepines (also known as “benzos”) are commonly referred to as sedatives, hypnotics, or minor tranquilizers. They work by increasing the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. This reduces the excitability of neurons (nerve cells), resulting in decreased feelings of anxiety.
Which medication has a higher risk of dependence?
In blood tests, Xanax is detectable for up to 24 hours, while in urine, it remains traceable for 4 to 7 days. Saliva tests detect Xanax for approximately 2.5 days, whereas hair follicle tests have the longest detection window, showing traces of the drug for up to 90 days. According to a study in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, factors such as metabolism, dosage, and duration of use influence how long Xanax stays in the system, leading to variability in detection times among individuals. The street names for Xanax are “Bars,” “Zannies,” “Xan,” and “Planks.” These names originate from the drug’s common form, particularly the rectangular “bar” shape of higher-dose tablets.
- Detoxification is the initial step in treating Xanax addiction, involving a medically supervised process to remove the drug from the body while managing withdrawal symptoms.
- This adaptation results in tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect, and dependence, where the absence of the drug leads to withdrawal symptoms.
- These names often derive from the drug’s appearance, effects, or the culture surrounding its use.
- Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine substance better known by its brand name, Xanax.
- Some people combine Xanax with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs because the combination enhances the effects of each to a large degree.