 |
 |
Break the xanax and drug prescription addiction and regain control of your mind and your body today. Call 1-800-993-3869 and speak with a trained coordinator who understands addiction, detox and treatment. Calls are confidential and free of charge.
Xanax, or alprazolam, is one of a group of medications in the benzodiazepine drug class. This drug comes in tablet, extended release tablet, and oral and injectable liquid solution. It is most commonly prescribed to treat panic attacks with or without agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is a disorder that leads to an excessive fear of leaving one’s home or being outside in open places, especially around other people.
Xanax reduces the brain's baseline electrical activity by inhibiting the firing of stimulatory neurons which can help decrease anxiety and panic attacks. It is a Schedule IV drug and is classified as such by the DEA due to its addictive properties. Xanax is habit-forming, which means one can become addicted to the drug, especially when taken for medical reasons for more than 2 weeks, or when taken for non-medical reasons.
“The Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK concluded in various statements (1988 and 1992) that benzodiazepines are unsuitable for long-term use and that they should in general be prescribed for periods of 2-4 weeks only”. (source: Web4health.info) However, many patients start taking Xanax and continue to take it for long periods of time, despite this warning. Furthermore, it is likely that the dosage is increased over time.
Xanax is considered to be a short-acting benzodiazepine. Because the duration of action is short, the medication must be taken at frequent intervals. Also, drugs with short half-lives tend to produce more euphoria and are more addictive than those with longer half-lives.
For most people who use Xanax as prescribed and only for a short period of time, the risk of addiction is only moderate. For those who choose to use Xanax for more than the recommended 2 weeks period, the risk of addiction is extreme and Xanax withdrawal symptoms are likely on cessation of use.
Once the body adjusts to a specific dosage, this sense of relaxation or euphoria is diminished or does not occur at all. The Xanax abuser will then seek to recapture that fleeting moment of relaxation by increasing the dosage. Unfortunately, as the body builds a tolerance, the sensation will never completely return. In this manner, one becomes addicted to high doses of Xanax that are having little to no effect. At this point, the only reason to use this drug is to avoid Xanax withdrawal symptoms. Xanax traps users in a prison of addiction. The user does not have any positive effect from the drug, but must use it to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Like other addictions to prescription medications such as OxyContin, Vicodin, or codeine, the body's tolerance for Xanax continues to increase. Once the original dosage prescribed is no longer large enough, Xanax withdrawal symptoms will begin unless the dose is increased.
Xanax addiction is a vicious cycle. The more the tolerance to Xanax grows, the more the drug will be taken. The user is no longer experiencing a calm high, though he or she may be nodding out due to a complete inability of the brain to physiologically regulate normal body processes, such as wakefulness and proper judgment. Usage becomes about feeding the body its 'fix'. Once Xanax addiction occurs, abruptly discontinuing usage is dangerous and potentially deadly.
For women who are pregnant and addicted to Xanax, they should seek professional medical assistance immediately. Xanax can cause increased risk of birth defects, including cleft palate. However, abruptly stopping the use of Xanax is dangerous both for the mother and the fetus and the withdrawal process must occur in an inpatient setting under strict medical care lead by a physician who is trained in addiction medicine.
If you are struggling with abusing Xanax or you are taking the pills with increasing regularity, you may be suffering from addiction. Xanax is a highly addictive drug. Once addicted you need professional addiction treatment to stop using the drug. Call 1-800-993-3869 and let a Recovery Connection coordinator answer you questions about treatment, detox and recovery.
Xanax, like other benzodiazepines, can have severe and life threatening side effects that can occur when used as prescribed, can occur when used for non-medical purposes, or occur when used contrary to prescribed recommendations. There are a series of questions that one can ask oneself to help determine whether addiction treatment is needed. According to the manufacturer of Xanax, a user suspecting addiction should ask these questions:
If you answered yes to a number of these questions, you should seek medical attention immediately.
People addicted to opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates need to seek medical attention to detox safely from these drugs. Xanax is a powerful drug that cannot be abruptly stopped without causing serious and potentially fatal health consequences. Withdrawal symptoms from Xanax are life threatening due to risk of seizures. Withdrawal from Xanax addiction will occur even with professional treatment, but Xanax detox can be managed under medical supervision. Xanax detox alone will not provide the addict with the necessary tools to combat relapse.
Detox should immediately be followed by Xanax addiction treatment. The user needs to understand the dynamic of the cycle of addiction and the strategies to overcome cravings, triggers, and stressors which can lead to relapse.
 |
1-800-993-3869 |  |
 |
