Get Treatment for Xanax Addiction

Xanax is a highly dependent drug. If you or a loved one is addicted to Xanax, it is important to seek help. Often, Xanax addictions happen accidentally. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. Typically, patients who are administered more than 4 mg/day for periods of 12 months or longer are at a greater risk of developing a dependency. When used for a prolonged amount of time, the body becomes used to the amount of drugs administered. When this happens, the user has to take more to receive the initial effects. This is a dangerous thing to do because when a user does not take the medication, withdrawal symptoms will occur. It seems to be a cycle because many people who take Xanax need it for long-term use because they cannot overcome the anxiety. When taking this drug, the patient needs to do exactly as the doctor says to stay clear of addiction. It is important to talk to your doctor before getting off of Xanax to ensure that withdrawal symptoms do not occur.

Xanax contains alprazolam (which is the generic name for Xanax) and is used to treat patients with panic and anxiety symptoms that are associated with panic disorder as well as moderate to severe stress. Xanax is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It is a depressant and works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Many patients are now using Xanax XR because it is time released, so they do not have to take it as often as regular Xanax. Xanax XR usually takes a few days to really feel the effects, but it is safer to only take one pill a day. With Xanax, the patient is able to feel the effects almost immediately; however, it wears off quickly and is more likely to be abused. When used the proper way, Xanax and Xanax XR can be extremely helpful.

How To Take Xanax

When using Xanax properly, the patient takes the pills exactly how the doctor prescribes. It is dangerous to try to decide your own dosage. When abusing Xanax, users may take it orally, just like a normal patient. If a user takes the pills normally, they will typically take a higher dosage than what a patient would take. A true addict may end up taking 20 to 30 pills a day. Xanax can also be crushed and snorted (like cocaine), or crushed and dissolved in water (like heroin), then injected. Many see injecting as the best way to get the drug straight into the bloodstream.

Effects of Xanax Abuse

Xanax is a depressant, so it acts much like alcohol in that it calms the body by slowing the brain down. Some effects that a user will experience the first few times are:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Depressed heartbeat
• Depressed breathing
• “Floating” sensation
• Addiction
• Excessive sleepiness
• Mental confusion

Once an addiction has started, less desirable symptoms begin to occur:

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

Xanax Addiction – Treat the Whole Person

It is extremely dangerous to attempt withdrawal from Xanax without close medical supervision; therefore, the first step in Xanax addiction treatment is detoxification. While this first step is mandatory, you do have options to the type of detoxification program makes most sense for you.

Some schools of detoxification support suggest you think about detoxifying all aspects of your life. So while you are receiving medical assistance to detoxify Xanax from your body, some suggest that you look at detoxifying other aspects of your life that may have led you to the addiction in the first place:

• Family life/relationships – Are you participating in relationships that are supporting a drug-free lifestyle? Are you dealing with friends and family that are providing encouragement for your recovery?
• Work/social life – Is your job providing you with meaningful experiences that enable you to feel that you are contributing and learning? Are you enjoying social activities that are healthy for you?
• Self-exploration – Are there other feelings that you are experiencing that may have been causing the anxiety that led you to try Xanax to begin with? Are you avoiding confronting elements of your life that are self-destructive?
• Physical and spiritual health – Have you explored the benefits from a physical lifestyle that supports a sound body? Have you given thought to establishing a relationship with a religious or spiritual being that can provide comfort?

Xanax Addiction – Treatment Options

After detoxification, there are several treatment options that support your ongoing commitment to living a life free of Xanax; some include:

• Inpatient –a secure place to live so you can focus on yourself and your recovery
• Outpatient –a flexible treatment option during the day that allows you to return home in the evening
• Holistic –focus on the connection between the body, mind and spirit in the rehabilitation process
• Specialized –programs that focus on a particular drug addiction, or are designed specifically for teens, adolescents, or women

Xanax Help

If you or a loved one is addicted to Xanax, we can help get treatment. If you are interested in receiving information on Xanax rehab or detox, please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5629.