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Have you or a loved one become victim to Xanax addiction? Has this addiction worsened your symptoms of anxiety? You’re not alone.
ReAlign’s Orange County Xanax Detox Center has helped many people detox from Xanax, and we can help you. Through professional help and a doctor’s supervision, you can comfortably kick the habit!
Xanax is a drug most commonly used as a short-term treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, or “benzos” for short, which act on the central nervous system. Benzos work by attaching to GABA receptors, producing sedative effects.
Benzodiazepines are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. today. Alprazolam (Xanax) is among the top-25 most prescribed medications in the U.S. And, Clonazepam (Klonopin) is among the top-50 most prescribed drugs in the U.S. Lorazepam (Ativan) and diazepam (Valium) are in the top-100.
The different benzos all work in somewhat unique ways with varying degrees of potency:
The most popular benzo. It’s highly potent and short-acting. It starts with .25 mg tablets, which can move up to a maximum of 4 mg daily for anxiolysis. Most commonly used for panic and anxiety disorders. Its short-acting nature makes users more prone to “rebound anxiety” once its effects wear off.
The second most popular benzo. It’s about as potent as Xanax, though it’s a long-acting benzo. It has also been seen to slightly increase serotonin levels. It’s most commonly used for treating panic disorders as well as certain seizures disorders.
The third most popular benzo. It’s slightly less potent than Xanax, but both drugs are short-acting. Its amnesic effects are lesser than Xanax’s, and it’s also less damaging to the kidneys and liver. It’s sometimes used in conjunction with antipsychotic medications.
The fourth most popular benzo. It’s long-acting with a medium potency. At low doses, it can effectively treat anxiety. At higher doses, it works well as a muscle relaxant. Because of the potential for metabolite buildup, it can have severe side effects if used often at high doses.
Though these drugs have legitimate therapeutic uses, benzos have the potential for abuse. Of abused benzos, Xanax and Klonopin are most abused and most commonly requested by drug abusers.
Benzodiazepines like Xanax are not often abused by themselves. They are most commonly abused by those who have also been prescribed opioids and those who use alcohol. And because they’re all central nervous system depressants, simultaneous use can be deadly.
Through the years, ReAlign’s Alcohol and Drug Detox Center in Orange County has noticed that Xanax addictions often come with additional substance abuse. This substance abuse typically comes in the form of alcohol abuse or opioid abuse.
The abuse of Xanax seems to considerably enhance euphoric effects of other drugs like alcohol or heroin. The respiratory depression caused by these drugs is compounded, making their simultaneous usage exponentially dangerous.
Often, the accidental combination of alcohol with prescription Xanax leads to the self-discovery of the euphoric cocktail. This accidental misuse can lead to a road of abuse and addiction that quickly progresses.
When Xanax is taken regularly or when it is taken in doses that are greater than the doctor’s recommendation, a user can become addicted very quickly. Tolerance to Xanax develops rapidly. This tolerance causes the people who use the drug to take increasingly higher dosages to achieve the effects that they desire.
As the users build a tolerance to Xanax, they become physically and mentally dependent on their medication. They may then have trouble functioning without the drug in their system. If they decide to quit using it, they may begin to experience the effects of withdrawal.
Even Xanax users properly following prescription protocol will eventually become chemically dependent on the drug. Unfortunately, a person may not even realize they’ve become addicted and dependent until they forget a dose or try to cut back on their usage.
This realization comes in the form of withdrawals and rebound anxiety. The addicted person will then strongly desire to reuse, and they will fear the inevitable withdrawal period that is to come once they wish to detox themselves.
As a treatment for anxiety, Xanax’s primary function is to calm people down. It does this by acting as a central nervous system depressant. Xanax slows down a person’s heart rate and lowers their blood pressure and body temperature. When a person builds up a tolerance and becomes dependent on Xanax, their brain adapts to these levels and becomes accustomed to operating under these conditions.
If a Benzodiazepine is suddenly removed from a person’s system, these levels bounce back up to heightened levels. When attempting to stop using Xanax, a regular user’s blood pressure, body temperature, breathing patterns, and heart rate will increase rapidly. This sudden jolt to a person’s system can cause seizures that may lead to a coma or even death.
Xanax withdrawal also causes psychological problems.
When a person takes Xanax, it relaxes them and may alleviate symptoms of anxiety and panic. As a person’s brain becomes accustomed to this alleviation, they may not be able to regulate stress normally. This may also have a negative effect on the emotional health of addicted persons.
Don’t go through withdrawal alone. ReAlign’s Drug & Alcohol Detox Center is equipped with the tools to help you recover from Xanax Addiction quicker and safer than you could at home.
Once a person is addicted and chemically dependent on Xanax, they will experience withdrawals without the drug. Withdrawals may also occur when the dosage becomes insufficient.
Because Xanax withdrawal can be especially dangerous, we recommend anyone going through them should seek professional treatment at a Xanax detox center. Symptoms of Xanax withdrawal don’t all appear at once. Symptoms are progressive, peaking at about 48 hours from the last dose.
The above-listed “acute withdrawal” symptoms last anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks, depending on a person’s severity of the chemical dependency.
After acute withdrawals, a person may experience “protracted withdrawals” that may last up to 12 months. Roughly 10-25% of chronic Xanax users suffer from these protracted withdrawals. This is also sometimes referred to as “post-withdrawal syndrome.”
Naturally, the extent of the severity and occurrence of symptoms will vary depending on the individual’s history of abuse and individual physical condition, including any exacerbating co-existing medical or psychological disorder. However, the risks of detox for all serious abusers of Xanax are potentially severe enough that Benzodiazepine detox should never be attempted alone.
Our Orange County Drug Detox Center can help you successfully and safely complete a Xanax detox. During a clinically managed Xanax detox, medications may be prescribed to make the detox more comfortable and safer for the individual. Such medications help to reduce cravings and anxiety significantly.
Medical detox is the first step in overcoming Benzodiazepine dependence. A person in recovery needs a clear head, not one that’s foggy from the physical and psychological symptoms of Xanax withdrawal. This will put a person in the proper headspace to make life-changing decisions and begin the process of learning how to live a life of sobriety. After a professionally-monitored Xanax detox, the individual is ready to start the journey into long-term recovery.
Though learning to live without Xanax usually takes time. A recovering addict will need to undergo psychotherapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to restructure their relationship with their environment.
Through this process, they can develop coping mechanisms to deal with stressful situations healthily. One-on-one counseling, group therapy, addiction education, and other treatments can give individuals in recovery the tools they need to avoid relapse and live a healthy life.
Do not attempt to taper usage by yourself, and please don’t try a cold-turkey detox. These at-home approaches can be dangerous, and they are too commonly ineffective for long-term recovery.
Contact ReAlign’s Xanax Detox Center in Orange County today to begin the recovery process. We have experienced medical directors and staff available 24 hours a day to provide services such as follow-up visits, comfort meds, and aftercare. Private room care is available, we accept referrals, and we accept many major insurance plans for payment.
