Detox from every drug is different. Xanax is an especially tricky medication to stop using because the withdrawal symptoms can be extremely powerful. Managing them usually requires medical supervision. Understanding the Xanax withdrawal process is crucial to a successful recovery.
What Is Xanax?
The brand name form of alprazolam, Xanax is a benzodiazepine. Medications in this class help to manage anxiety or insomnia. Although Xanax is commonly prescribed in the United States, it comes with a high potential for addiction.
Doctors and physicians typically prescribe Xanax for a short period of time. It peaks in the bloodstream after an hour or two and is designed to be taken when symptoms intensify. The drug’s rapid onset also makes it easy to abuse.
When you take Xanax, you feel calm because the drug counteracts abnormal brain activity. Some users take back-to-back doses to continue to feel the high. Others may snort Xanax to feel the effects more quickly.
Although the active chemical in the medication only delivers effects for a few hours, the drug can show up in the bloodstream or urine for much longer. People who have used high levels or frequent doses of Xanax may have a harder time eliminating it from their systems.
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms
Chronic Xanax users quickly develop a dependence. The body starts needing more of the chemical to experience the same effects. If you suddenly stop taking it, you feel intense side effects.
Because the drug acts so quickly, it produces negative withdrawal symptoms more rapidly than many other substances. Most people who stop using Xanax experience side effects such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hypersensitivity to sensations
- Memory problems
- Heart palpitations
- Trouble sleeping
The Xanax withdrawal period may be more intense than the detox experience from other drugs. However, it’s usually shorter than the withdrawal time frame for other benzodiazepines. Acute Xanax withdrawal typically lasts about one week. Acute Valium withdrawal can last for a month and a half.
Gradual Detox Is Important
People with a Xanax addiction aren’t advised to quit cold turkey. If the drug was initially prescribed for a medical condition like anxiety, individuals may have trouble managing the symptoms of their disorder when they stop using the medication. These side effects are usually more intense than ever as the drug leaves the system.
Abrupt discontinuation of Xanax can also lead to seizures. During treatment, weaning off of the medication can help you safely eliminate the substance from your system.
At Ashley Addiction Treatment, we offer a variety of addiction treatment programs, including:
- Medication-assisted Xanax detox
- Management of co-occurring disorders
- Medical care available 24 hours a day
- Clinical care
- Psychological and psychiatric care
- Holistic care
At Ashley Addiction Treatment, our substance abuse programs transition you out of the grip of substance abuse and back into a healthy lifestyle. Call us at 866-313-6307 to find out how we can help you stop using Xanax without danger, fear, or pain.
