Understanding Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

Xanax (or alprazolam) is a member of the benzodiazepine classification of drugs, and because of that, it does cause withdrawal symptoms when it’s stopped. If you quit taking Xanax abruptly, your withdrawal symptoms are likely to be much more severe than if you stop it slowly and then go through drug detox.

The Xanax withdrawal symptoms you experience may feel like how you feel when it’s been too long since your last dose, initially. However, their severity will increase. Your Xanax withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Rebound symptoms of anxiety
• Nausea with bouts of dry heaving
• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Tremors in your hands
• Problems with concentration
• Panic attacks
• Weight loss or appetite changes

If you’ve been taking high doses of Xanax for a long period of time, you can expect these withdrawal symptoms to be quite severe, and they may go for several weeks, or even longer. You may also have seizures or demonstrate symptoms of psychosis.

Xanax Abuse: How Xanax Addiction Begins

A Xanax addiction always begins with Xanax abuse, which is when you either take the drug for longer than you should, you increase your dosage on your own, or you take it more frequently than your prescription states.

When Xanax is usually prescribed, it’s intended to be taken on a short term basis; at least in the beginning. After a week or two, most doctors will discontinue the medication or they will prescribe it as a PRN only. That means that it should only be taken as needed, and not on a regular basis. For example, you may keep it with you at all times just in case you have an anxiety attack. When Xanax is used this way, your chances of becoming addicted to it are dramatically decreased.

Xanax abuse occurs far too often, and most of the time, it leads to an addiction that can be very dangerous.

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Short Term Effects of Xanax

There are several short term effects that you can watch for to determine whether or not your abuse of Xanax has become an addiction. Some of the immediate Xanax addiction symptoms include:

• Profuse and frequent sweating
• Feelings of nausea or upset stomach
• Experiencing severe headaches
• Slurring your speech after you take it
• Becoming increasingly paranoid

As far as Xanax addiction behaviors, it’s not uncommon for people to exhibit a decrease in their inhibitions, a lack of coordination and agitation.

Long Term Effects of Xanax

Once you’re prescribed Xanax, you may be on it for years. For this reason, it’s so important to be sure you’re taking it as it has been prescribed for you. Once you begin abusing it, and then you become addicted to it, it’s very common for certain long term symptoms to appear. You may completely lose your sex drive, you may experience short term memory loss, and you may have difficulty with breathing. Eventually, you may even become jaundice, have hallucinations or even slip into a coma if you use too much.

As you can see, the risks associated with Xanax addiction are very real, indeed, and that’s why it’s important to reach out for help if you feel you’ve become addicted to it.

Finding the Top Xanax Rehab Programs to Help You Recover

The best way to recover from a Xanax addiction is to find one of the top Xanax rehab programs in the Pacific Northwest to help you on this important journey. Recovery is a lifelong process, but when you enlist the help of professionals, it’s a process that you can navigate quite successfully, without having to be fearful of the dangerous withdrawal symptoms that can occur when you quit on your own.

Here at Northpoint Recovery, we’ve provided Xanax addiction help to so many people who have needed it to quit. We would like to talk with you about your addiction and discuss your treatment options. To learn more, contact us.

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