Key Takeaways:
- Xanax (alprazolam) is a highly addictive benzodiazepine commonly prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, but long-term or improper use can lead to physical dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Xanax withdrawal symptoms can be both physical and psychological, including anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, tremors, elevated heart rate, nausea, seizures, psychosis, and rebound anxiety that may feel worse than the original symptoms.
- Withdrawal timelines vary by individual, but symptoms often begin within hours of the last dose, peak during the first several days, and may continue for weeks or longer in some cases.
- Medical supervision is strongly recommended during withdrawal, because quitting Xanax suddenly can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening, especially due to seizure risk. Gradual tapering and professional treatment can help manage symptoms safely.
Question:
What are Xanax withdrawal symptoms like and can a rehab center in Oklahoma City help me get through them?
Answer:
The article explains that Xanax, also known as alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine medication commonly prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders but carries a high risk of dependence and addiction. When someone stops taking Xanax suddenly, withdrawal symptoms can develop quickly because the drug is short-acting and strongly affects the central nervous system. Common Xanax withdrawal symptoms include severe anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, tremors, elevated heart rate, nausea, mood swings, and rebound anxiety that may feel more intense than the original condition being treated. In more serious cases, withdrawal can cause seizures, psychosis, delirium, and other potentially life-threatening complications. The article notes that symptoms often begin within 6 to 12 hours after the last dose, peak during the first several days, and may continue for weeks or longer depending on the individual. Because withdrawal can be dangerous, the article strongly recommends medical detox and supervised tapering schedules to reduce risks and improve comfort throughout the recovery process.
What is Xanax?
Xanax (alprazolam) is a medication commonly used to treat anxiety symptoms, panic disorder, depression, and insomnia. It often comes in long, skinny tablets called Xanax “bars.”
The generic form of Xanax is alprazolam. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine, a tranquilizer medication often prescribed for anxiety and panic attacks. Benzodiazepines like Xanax are also sometimes used to treat insomnia and seizures. The drug affects the central nervous system. The severe downer effect is one of the signs of Xanax addiction to look out for. Benzodiazepine dependence is a substance use disorder that may require addiction treatment programs like inpatient treatment or outpatient programs to heal and recover.
Xanax is the most prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States. According to one study, up to 48 million Xanax prescriptions are written each year.
This wide availability has led to Xanax becoming a popular street drug, abused for its calming and euphoric effects.
On the street, Xanax goes by several names, such as:
- Xannies/Zannies
- Benzos
- Bars
- Bricks
- Planks
- Xanbars/Zanbars
Concerns over a Xanax “epidemic” have been growing in recent years, with one report finding it the fifth most common drug involved in fatal overdoses in the US.
Xanax comes in many forms, including Xanax bars. People who misuse Xanax bars often take them with opioids or alcohol. In this case, the effects of each drug are greatly increased. The risk of overdose also goes up significantly. When taken with alcohol or opioids, a Xanax overdose can be deadly.
Xanax is a highly addictive substance, even more so than other benzodiazepines. For this reason, it’s classified as Schedule IV under the Controlled Substances Act. It should never be taken without a prescription or purchased anywhere else.
Read on to learn more about the dangers of Xanax use, Xanax withdrawal, and treatment for Xanax addiction.
What are Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms Like?
Benzo withdrawal can cause severe symptoms, especially with rapid discontinuation. A tapering schedule can help withdrawal symptoms of Xanax be less difficult. The tapering process is part of the broader withdrawal process and usually requires medical management. Some of the symptoms, such as psychosis and delirium, are different from other benzodiazepine medications
Other symptoms of Xanax withdrawal are common to other benzodiazepines but more severe. Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can occur even during dose reduction, and several factors such as prolonged use, high doses, and other medical conditions can affect how intense they become. An estimated 50% to 80% of guests who have taken benzodiazepines for a few weeks or longer experience symptoms when reducing their dose, even before stopping completely.
For example, those who take Xanax for anxiety may experience what is known as rebound anxiety. This is when the anxiety comes back stronger than it was when they first started taking the medication.
Other Xanax withdrawal symptoms include psychological and physical manifestations:
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Panic attacks
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Seizures
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Insomnia
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Bricks
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High blood pressure
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Elevated heart rate
These symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, nausea, and, in more serious cases, hallucinations. Some people also notice muscle twitches, clouded thinking, or weight loss as symptoms occur during withdrawal, while others may struggle with suicidal thoughts and need immediate support to stay safe.
Because Xanax withdrawal can be severe and even potentially life-threatening, medical detox is essential and should always be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Abrupt stopping can trigger benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome, and providers work to prevent seizures through close monitoring and tapering. They can help manage severe symptoms that may occur and may recommend a gradual tapering of the medication, often reducing the current dose by about 5% to 10% every 2 to 4 weeks, to reduce withdrawal severity.
Get confidential help from our addiction treatment specialists in Orange County. Call to join our rehab program today!
Call 866-881-1184What is the Timeline for Xanax Withdrawal?
Xanax can cause physical dependence. Withdrawal symptoms for Xanax can begin within hours of the last dose and last anywhere between 10 to 14 days, though timing depends on several factors, including dose, duration of use, other mental health conditions, and underlying medical conditions. Because Xanax is one of the short acting benzodiazepines, symptoms often start sooner and feel more intense than they do with a longer acting medication.
The following is a general timeline for Xanax withdrawal, but remember that individual experiences can vary greatly:
6-12 Hours After the Last Dose
The first symptoms of withdrawal can begin to appear. This is because Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine, which means it leaves the body relatively quickly. Early withdrawal symptoms can include rebounding anxiety, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping.
1-4 Days
Withdrawal symptoms often peak during this time. Symptoms can include severe anxiety, panic attacks, shaking, muscle spasms, and possibly seizures. This stage is often the most difficult to get through.
5-14 Days
Symptoms generally decrease in intensity during this period but can still be severe. Physical symptoms may lessen, but psychological symptoms like anxiety and depression can persist.
15+ Days
Many people will see a significant reduction in acute withdrawal symptoms at this point, but some guests may continue to experience protracted withdrawal symptoms after acute withdrawal ends.
In some cases, people may experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), following benzodiazepine withdrawal, which is also known as protracted withdrawal syndrome and may affect about 10% of people. These symptoms can last for several days to several weeks, depending on the individual. In some long term benzodiazepine cases, cognitive deficits and reduced cognitive abilities can persist for months or years, though improvement is common over time. Withdrawal symptoms are a sign that someone needs substance abuse treatment at a recovery center. A slower taper may help lower this risk, and in some detox settings a longer acting benzodiazepine is used to make tapering smoother.
Finding Help for Xanax Addiction
The effects of Xanax abuse are a huge problem. If you or a loved one are looking for help treating a Xanax addiction, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help. The first step in treating Xanax addiction is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage Xanax detox and withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking the drug.
Our medical detox program is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
After detoxing, treatment should involve therapy to treat the drivers of addiction, such as depression and anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is particularly helpful for addressing the root causes of Xanax addiction and for learning coping strategies to deal with them. We also offer other treatment programs including individual therapy, art therapy, medication-assisted treatment, dual diagnosis treatment for mental health disorders, holistic therapies, family therapy, sober living, and more.
We also offer a variety of treatment options based on the guest’s needs:
- Residential treatment, also called inpatient rehab
- Partial hospitalization program
- Intensive outpatient program
Recovery is a long road, but it begins with accepting substance use disorder treatment. Treatment significantly reduces benzodiazepine dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms. If you have any questions, please call us at 866-881-1184 to learn more about the admissions process. Our addiction specialists at our recovery center are available 24/7 to take your call about detoxing from Xanax and living a happy and healthy life.
