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How do I Treat an Addiction to Xanax®?

Malcolm Tatum
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Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,330
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Xanax®, the brand name for alprazolam, is a medication that is often used to help people dealing with various types of anxiety disorders. While the drug has been used successfully for years, there is a real chance of becoming addicted to alprazolam. When this occurs, the best way to deal with the addiction to Xanax® is a gradual weaning from the drug, with the process being conducted under the watchful eye of a physician.

Since Xanax® has a relatively short half-life in the system, attempting to simply stop taking the drug without tapering off can cause a wide range of rebound side effects. Xanax® withdrawal conducted in this manner can be extremely difficult, since suddenly stopping the drug will often lead to a full rebound of anxiety, including the reappearance of extremely strong panic attacks. The individual is also likely to experience a great deal of irritability and moodiness. Trouble sleeping is one of the side effects of Xanax® withdrawal, as well as the chance for hallucinations.

Other problems may develop when attempting to deal with an addiction to Xanax® in this manner. Some people who try to quit Xanax® cold find themselves with uncontrollable tremors, frequent nightmares when they can get to sleep, and episodes of nausea and vomiting. The range and severity of the withdrawal symptoms often depends on the amount of Xanax® that was taken daily before the individual decided to stop taking the drug.

It is important to keep in mind that an addiction to Xanax® does not necessarily occur because the individual has abused the drug. Addiction can take place by simply taking the drug as prescribed. Xanax® abuse is highly treatable, but it should never be conducted alone. The full support of a qualified medical professional is absolutely necessary, since some of the symptoms themselves may require immediate treatment if they are severe enough.

The safest way to deal with an addiction is to work with your doctor to create a program that allows you to gradually lower the amount of Xanax® you take every few days. This incremental approach will not necessarily prevent you from experiencing any of the usual withdrawal symptoms. However, this type of plan will ease the severity of those symptoms, making it easier for you to cope while slowly weaning yourself from the drug.

Depending on your general health, your doctor may choose to treat your addiction to Xanax® by introducing some other sort of sedative that slowly takes the place of the alprazolam. This approach is sometimes used when the patient experiences extremely difficult withdrawal symptoms. However, many people respond well to the incremental decrease in daily dosages of alprazolam and require no additional medication to make it through the withdrawal period.

There is no set time frame for your addiction to Xanax® to be successfully overcome. However, most people will begin to experience some side effects within twelve hours of reducing the dosage. The symptoms tend to reach their full strength around the four-day mark, and then may linger for a few weeks or months, depending on the amount of Xanax® you were taking previously. Your doctor can assess your particular situation and give you some idea of what to expect as you gradually become free from the medication.

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Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including WiseGeek, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.

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Discussion Comments
By qaqa — On Feb 17, 2014

If you take alprazolzm 0.5 two times, take one time alprazolam 0.5SR.(sustained release).

By hidingplace — On May 04, 2011

The Ashton Manual is probably the best guide to withdrawing - which is freely available online - but talk to your doctor first. There can be very serious withdrawal effects including potentially life threatening seizures. Trying to quit cold turkey is not a good idea.

By Illych — On May 01, 2011

Due to it's longer half-life, I imagine many doctors would treat Xanax addiction with tapering and/or replacing with diazepam (also known as Valium), a drug of the same class as alprazolam. It's also used to curb the effects of alcohol withdrawal. The basic idea is that it's weaker, but it lasts for longer and therefore much easier to taper off than something with as short a half-life as Xanax.

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
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