Xanax Addiction: Can You Overdose?
The easy availability and euphoric effects of Xanax position it as the most misused drug in its class. Among benzodiazepines, Xanax is predominantly mixed with alcohol for abusive purposes. Notably, benzodiazepines contribute to nearly one-third of intentional overdose incidents or suicide attempts. Xanax can cause death when mixed with alcohol, leading to breathing problems and respiratory failure.
All benzodiazepines can induce apnea, characterized by halted or reduced breathing, yet Xanax presents the highest risk. The danger escalates significantly when people combine Xanax with alcohol and opioids. This combination increases the addictive qualities of each substance and can result in dependence. Using Xanax alone may be okay, but mixing it with other substances can significantly increase the risk of death.
What Is Xanax?
Xanax is a medication that doctors prescribe to help with anxiety disorders and panic disorders. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance that has a limited risk of misuse and addiction. Generic name alprazolam, a sedative drug that belongs to the benzodiazepine category of medicines and affects our central nervous system.
Doctors frequently recommend alprazolam in the US, and it can generate sensations of joy and calmness. Nonetheless, it possesses habit-forming characteristics that may cause physical dependence. Although some people use it for pleasure, its misuse can lead to dangerous consequences.
Side Effects of Xanax
Xanax is a potent medication used to treat anxiety. It is part of a group of drugs made to help with anxiety. You can feel its impact within 30 minutes, lasting approximately six hours.
Xanax makes you feel relaxed and happy, but its side effects come from its specific chemicals designed for therapy. Typical adverse reactions encompass sleepiness, tiredness, and memory loss.
Other side effects of Xanax include:
- Sleeplessness
- Impaired speech
- Lack of equilibrium or coordination
- Migraine
- Agitation
- Vision distortion
- Loose stools
- Bowel irregularity
- Memory problems
- Sickness
- Fluctuations in hunger or body mass
- Edema in hands or feet
- Muscular feebleness
- Reduced sexual drive
Regularly taking alprazolam is linked to long-term memory loss, hostile behavior, and mania. Furthermore, taking alprazolam continuously is linked to specific forms of mental decline.
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms
Stopping Xanax might cause withdrawal symptoms that you usually don’t see with other similar medicines. When people stop taking alprazolam, they may feel confused and have strange thoughts. However, this is less likely to happen with other similar medicines.
Withdrawing from Xanax often presents particularly severe symptoms, so that some patients may need emergency room care. Furthermore, people know benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome for its intense symptoms.
Typically, it includes the following:
- Sleeplessness
- Heightened worry and unease
- Episodes of panic
- Shaking hands
- Perspiration
- Trouble focusing
- A sensation of being ill
- Loss of weight
- Head pain
- Muscular discomfort and rigidity
- Rapid heartbeat
- Diverse alterations in mental perception and thinking
In high-dose, chronic users, more severe symptoms have been observed, including seizures and psychotic reactions, which can be life-threatening.
Withdraw from Xanax
A gradual dose reduction, or tapering, is advised to mitigate withdrawal risks. Specifically for Xanax, it is recommended by the manufacturer that the daily dose not be decreased by more than 0.5 mg every three days.
For some users, tapering may need to be slower than the recommended rate. For prolonged, regular usage, it is advisable to transition to a benzodiazepine with a more extended effect duration, like clonazepam or diazepam, and slowly reduce the dosage.
These strategies facilitate a smoother detox process and typically lead to fewer withdrawal side effects. However, in some rare instances, these methods may not effectively prevent Xanax withdrawal symptoms.
Xanax and Suicide
There are reports of depression and suicide attempts linked to people taking alprazolam. However, the connection remains unclear due to the common practice of combining it with other substances.
Overdosing on Xanax
Xanax overdoses lead to a decrease in blood pressure, pulse, and breathing. While overdoses solely from alprazolam are rare, fatalities from overdoses involving alprazolam along with alcohol and opioids are increasing.
Can You Overdose on Xanax?
Overdosing on Xanax alone is rare. When people mix alprazolam with other substances, they significantly increase the risk of overdose and fatal outcomes.
Benzodiazepines, alcohol, and opioids are all types of drugs that slow down your breathing. Drinking too much alcohol and taking benzodiazepines can cause you to stop breathing.
This is similar to what happens during a heroin overdose. In an overdose, the brain fails to signal the body to breathe. Moreover, the likelihood of respiratory failure and fatality notably increases when combining alprazolam with opioids.
Xanax Addiction Treatment
Xanax addiction can be dangerous, especially since it has gained popularity among current drug users. This trend places people with substance use disorders in a precarious situation. With the right treatment, you can prevent overdose, handle withdrawal symptoms, and stay in recovery using coping strategies.
If you or someone you know is struggling with abusing Xanax, please reach out to White Oak Recovery Center. You don’t have to face this alone. Substance use disorders are widespread and treatable, and seeking help is a brave step.
We are here to support you with 24-hour medical supervision during detox and comprehensive therapies and treatments. Reach out now.
Medical Disclaimer:
