As Schedule IV controlled substances, all benzodiazepines have the potential for abuse, addiction, withdrawal and diversion (illegal distribution). Schedule 4 drugs have a lower potential for abuse relative to other drugs in Schedule 3, but can still be abused. Abuse may lead to limited physical or psychological dependence.
- There appears to be a general dearth of research that reflects the day-to-day reality of people who are currently addicted to a drug.
- The rest are oval shaped and colored white (0.25 mg), orange (0.5 mg), or blue (1 mg).
- Retrospective studies evaluating pregnancy outcomes of women exposed to alprazolam during the first trimester of pregnancy found conflicting results of congenital anomalies (Iqbal et al., 2002).
Shorter-acting drugs like Xanax produce a brief and more intense withdrawal reaction that usually begins within 24 hours of discontinuation. Longer-acting benzodiazepines (for example, Valium) have a slower development of withdrawal symptoms that typically begin several days after discontinuation, but peak at about 7 days. Alprazolam, a medication that may cause physical dependence and, in some cases, addiction, is commonly prescribed. There is a medication that potential Good Samaritans can use to help a person who is overdosing this way.
Xanax vs. Valium
The drugs can make people pass out or breathe at a dangerously slow rate. Xanax is one of the most addictive benzodiazepines when not properly used. People who misuse the drug experience unpleasant symptoms when they stop taking it. They can experience anxiety, trouble sleeping and unhappy https://ecosoberhouse.com/ thoughts. They say drugs fill a void, or at least that’s what my therapist thinks. The first time I popped a Xanax was the first time I felt relief from my anxiety disorder… There was something oddly comforting about Xanax — the way it came in many shapes and colors, like peach and blue.
They will also help you to understand what kind of language will be the most effective to get the person into treatment for Xanax addiction. Someone living in active addiction is likely to experience a lot of negative emotions, including denial and anger. Your nonjudgmental expression of concern can help to allay hostility and help them to break through their denial.
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms & Signs
The development of tolerance and withdrawal are indications of addiction. Regular use of Xanax can lead to tolerance, dependence, addiction, overdose and withdrawal side effects. It works quickly to relieve anxiety, but can become habit-forming if taken over a long period. Xanax is often only prescribed for a short period of time due to this potential. Most deadly overdoses involve mixtures of drugs, typically including an opioid drug like heroin or a prescription painkiller. The most fatal mixtures include multiple drugs that have sedative effects; for example, two different opioids, an opioid plus alcohol or an opioid plus an anti-anxiety drug like Xanax.
This article explores Xanax, its uses, its potentially dangerous effects, including addiction, and treatment for individuals who struggle with Xanax misuse or addiction. Often, people who are abusing Xanax have anxiety xanax addiction disorders they were trying to treat with the drug. Some 20 percent of Americans suffer from anxiety, Everyday Health reports. When a person is dependent, they cannot stop using a drug without experiencing withdrawal.
Rare or serious side effects
Most prescribers with experience in addiction medicine consider alprazolam to have high misuse liability, especially when prescribed to individuals with a history of some type of substance use disorder (Griffiths and Wolf, 1990). CDC prescription death rate data reveal that between 2003 and 2009, alprazolam had the highest death rate increase of all benzodiazepines and second highest overall at 234%, compared with 168% for benzodiazepines as a class (CDC, 2011). Carbamazepine is also known to enhance catecholamine function and therefore may improve symptoms of sleep disturbance, anxiety, and mood instability, which are common in withdrawal. This explains its positive effects in general for the treatment of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. It is also consistent with open-label reports and a double-blind study supporting the use of carbamazepine in benzodiazepine withdrawal (Björkqvist et al., 1976).
