Xanax Addiction

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If you have a Xanax addiction there are Xanax treatment centers ready to help you NOW. Your Xanax addiction is slowly destroying your body and mind. You need help for your addiction to Xanax, which is taking over your life, hurting those closest to you and stealing your dreams. You have tried to stop using Xanax, but can't stop. You have always returned, worse than before. We know, we've been there and couldn't do it by ourselves either. Call Recovery Connection NOW for help. Call 1-800-99-DETOX.

Xanax addiction usually occurs accidentally. Xanax is prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks or moderate to severe stress. A medication that is available by prescription only, Xanax, produces a calming effect on the brain by "slowing it down." Xanax, the brand name for alprazolam, slows down neurotransmitters called gamma-aminobutric acid. Individuals that suffer from anxiety disorders or panic attacks seem to have overactive neurotransmitters and by slowing them down the drug tends to relieve feelings of stress and impending doom. When these calming effects cannot be duplicated unless Xanax usage is increased, a Xanax addiction can result.

The Effects of Xanax Addiction

Those who abuse Xanax find pleasure in the drowsy feeling that it causes. Xanax electrifies the brain’s pleasure centers with an initial euphoric feeling that is rarely recaptured. The chase is on to recreate that feeling and a Xanax addiction is born.

Upon taking Xanax, one may experience drowsiness, loss of concentration, loss of motor skills or slurred speech. Generally, these symptoms dissipate after several days. Unfortunately, after experiencing the calming effect this medication can produce, many people continue to seek an even a greater feeling of calm and will begin to increase the amount of medication they take. With an increase in Xanax use and an ever-increasing tolerance, a Xanax addiction soon emerges. As with other prescription medications such as, OxyContin, Vicodin or codeine, when tolerance increases and prescriptions run out prematurely, the person must find additional Xanax and will do whatever is necessary to avoid running out of the drug and experiencing the symptoms associated with Xanax addiction withdrawal.

At some point in their Xanax addiction, the addict might be taking between 20 - 30 pills a day. Even before this point, it is extremely dangerous to discontinue Xanax use on your own. Discontinuing Xanax without medical supervision can produce seizures and convulsions, which can be life threatening.

Xanax Addiction – The Physical Effects

Xanax, a prescription medication, can prove to be physically and emotionally addictive. Prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders, there is a tendency for people to abuse this medication. Once Xanax abuse begins, side effects begin to show. These side effects may include:

Muscle cramps
Nausea
Diarrhea
Drowsiness
Lack of coordination
Loss of appetite
Loss of concentration
Slurred speech

After a period of time these symptoms may dissipate, even with increased use of the drug. The problem is that with increased use, comes tolerance and with tolerance comes an addiction. At this point, the person is continually abusing the medication in the hope of experiencing that initial calming effect again. What they don't understand is that the initial feeling can never be duplicated and the only solution left is to detox from the Xanax addiction.

Xanax Addiction and Withdrawal

Withdrawal from a Xanax addiction is extremely uncomfortable, but manageable. Always keep in mind that it is dangerous to abruptly discontinue Xanax without medical supervision and the right kind of Xanax treatment. Seizures, convulsions, even death, can occur if Xanax use is not decreased slowly.

One of the major difficulties with Xanax treatment for withdrawal is that it increases the initial symptoms the addict was trying to suppress. The brain, which was sedated by the Xanax, begins to race, creating even more anxiety. This, coupled with the anxiety produced by withdrawal can be extremely intense and difficult to cope with. It is well documented that the brain can actually go into seizure as it transitions from a period of medicated calm to one of hyperactivity, when the Xanax is discontinued.

Xanax Treatment for Xanax Addiction

In almost every case, Xanax treatment usually begins with an admission to a detox center for the management and treatment of any withdrawal symptoms. In most cases, Xanax addiction withdrawal symptoms are manageable under the care of a physician trained in addiction medicine and Xanax treatment. A physician trained in addiction medicine is referred to as an addictionologist.

After successfully completing detox, which can last between ten and fourteen days, most people recovering from Xanax addiction transition into residential Xanax addiction treatment programs. Due to the emotional trauma people have experienced, it takes time to learn how to cope with the feelings they suppressed for so long. It is best to begin this Xanax treatment process in a supportive therapeutic environment, which is designed to eliminate outside distractions and allow a person to focus on the issues surrounding their recovery. Residential Xanax addiction treatment is approximately three weeks in length.

Upon completion of residential treatment, the patient can choose between attending day treatment, out patient treatment or private therapy. While there are many factors that go into selecting the most appropriate level of care for a recovering addict, the most important decision is to continue with Xanax treatment.

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If you believe you or someone you know needs help with a Xanax addiction, or for immediate assistance finding drug rehab centers that specialize in Xanax use and Xanax addiction treatment, please call Recovery Connection now at 1-800-99-DETOX. Help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Don't wait - GET HELP NOW!

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