25 Oct Management of benzodiazepine misuse and dependence
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 thoughts. Detoxification (detox) is a process aimed at helping you safely stop taking Xanax while minimizing and managing your withdrawal https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/wet-mush-brain-from-alcoholism-symptoms-and-dangers/ symptoms. Detox is usually done in a hospital or rehabilitation facility under medical supervision.
Post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)
Some people combine Xanax with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs because the combination enhances the effects of each to a large degree. This is because the body has difficulty metabolizing the two substances simultaneously, allowing more of each substance to remain active in the body for a more extended period. Many people will experience a total blackout on a combination of Xanax and alcohol or other drugs, retaining no memory of what they did while high. Benzodiazepines can lead to both physical and psychological dependence.
Xanax Effects
BZDs are commonly prescribed for a wide range of conditions, including use as sleep aides, muscle relaxants, and anxiolytics. However, dose-related side effects can be seen, including amnesia and central respiratory depression. Other drugs—including opioids, alcohol, and over-the-counter sleep aids—can have additive or synergistic effects on the central nervous system and respiratory function. Certain subpopulations of patients can have significant and severe BZD-mediated effects. The prudent clinician should weigh the risks and benefits of these agents before prescribing.
- Investigate the treatment options that are available to your loved one, so that you can connect them to a rehab facility as soon as they are ready to accept help.
- Group therapy often continues beyond a rehabilitation center as those in recovery can find solidarity in group meetings and continued support even after Xanax rehabilitation.
- By mimicking GABA, Xanax slows specific signals and stabilizes brain activity.
Specific Benzodiazepine Receptors
Less than one out of every 200,000 adults died from a benzodiazepine overdose in 1996. More than six out of every 200,000 adults died from a benzo overdose in 2013, according to a 2016 study. Flumazenil is a benzodiazepine antagonist that can be given intravenously (IV) as an antidote in the emergency setting to help reverse the effects of a benzodiazepine overdose. Call your healthcare provider, go to xanax addiction the nearest hospital emergency room, or call for emergency medical help (call 911 in the US) right away if you get any of these symptoms. Treatment may also address other underlying conditions, such as anxiety or depression. You might wonder if it’s drugs or something different, such as a demanding job or a stressful life change.
The risk of inducing dependence can be reduced by issuing prescriptions limited to 1–2 weeks supply. These facilities are designed to be safe places to detox under medical supervision. The healthcare professionals at a detox facility can help treat your withdrawal symptoms, and they can give you the tools you need to manage addiction. This step in the recovery process offers patients more independence and autonomy than inpatient treatment.
Online Therapy Can Help
Xanax can help people who are in acute distress, but it is not intended for long-term use. The long-term use of benzodiazepines like Xanax can potentially create problems with dependence and withdrawal. If you observe them having a seizure, collapsing, struggling to breathe, or if they are sleeping and can’t be woken up, immediately call emergency medical services. A person should seek immediate medical help if they experience any serious side effects when taking Xanax.
