Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms, Effects, How Long Does It Last & Treatment Options

What is Xanax?

Xanax (Alprazolam) is a brand-name medication in a drug class known as Benzodiazepines. It is given to help manage anxiety and panic disorders, insomnia, and seizures. It can become addicting by taking too many doses at once or asking a healthcare professional to prescribe a higher dosage. An individual can experience Xanax withdrawal side effects and symptoms.

What Are The Symptoms Of Xanax Withdrawal?

Xanax withdrawal symptoms are different for everyone, and it depends on the dosage, duration of use, and physiological makeup. These symptoms occur when someone who has been using Xanax regularly suddenly stops or reduces their dosage. Common Xanax withdrawal symptoms include:

Effects Of Xanax Withdrawal

1. Heightened feelings of nervousness, fear, and restlessness.
2. Sleep disturbances like insomnia and vivid dreams or nightmares.
3. An individual might experience irritability, agitation, and mood swings
4. Physical symptoms like tremors, shaking, muscle stiffness and aches, headaches, sweating, nausea, and vomiting.
5. Some can experience difficulty concentrating, memory problems, confusion, and disorientation. They can also undergo changes in their senses, such as becoming sensitive to light, sound, or touch.
6. Xanax can lead to heart problems like heart palpitations, a racing heart, or fluctuation in blood pressure.
7. Seizures can be triggered in severe cases. This mainly happens to individuals who have been using high doses of Xanax or have a history of seizures.
8. Hallucinations are rare but life-threatening to individuals. This includes confusion, rapid heartbeat, agitation, and elevated blood pressure.

How Long Does Xanax Withdrawal Last?

Xanax withdrawal is different for everyone. There are also some factors to consider. This includes the dosage of Xanax taken, how long they are using it, the person’s physiology, whether they are tapering off gradually or stopping abruptly, and whether they receive medical treatment or support during the process.

Timeline of Xanax Withdrawal

Early Withdrawal Symptoms (First 1-4 Days): Most of the time, the withdrawal symptoms begin within hours to a few days after the last dose. The early symptoms are anxiety, agitation, insomnia, tremors, sweating, nausea, vomiting, muscle stiffness, and headaches.

Peak Withdrawal Symptoms (First 1-2 Weeks): This is the height of the Xanax withdrawal symptoms, and it starts within the first week of stopping the medication. During this time, someone can experience severe anxiety, panic attacks, mood swings, physical discomfort, and mental problems.

Subacute Withdrawal (2 Weeks to Several Months): Symptoms can gradually subside after the peak withdrawal phase. However, some people can experience lingering symptoms for weeks or months. They can have constant anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, and mental impairments are the main symptoms during this phase.

Lengthy Withdrawal (Months to Years): There are some cases where people can experience withdrawal symptoms for a little longer. This can be persistent for an extended period after stopping Xanax. Most of these symptoms include anxiety, depression, insomnia, mood swings, mental problems, and craving for the medication. Xanax withdrawal symptoms can last for months to years, although the severity of it mainly decreases over time.

It’s vital for those going through Xanax withdrawal to know that the timeline and severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people can experience mild withdrawal symptoms that resolve quickly, while others might experience more severe or lengthy symptoms that require the help of a healthcare professional and support.

Using Xanax For Alcohol Withdrawal

Using Xanax for alcohol withdrawal is not naturally suggested as the first line of treatment. This medication can help relieve symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, but it carries some dangers of its own. It can become addictive, and someone can depend on it too much. Plus, stopping Xanax after using it for a small amount of time can lead to withdrawal symptoms similar to alcohol withdrawal and complicate the recovery process.

Many healthcare providers will recommend medications with longer half-lives, such as Diazepam (Valium) or Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), instead of using Xanax. Using this medication for alcohol withdrawal is not safe or effective compared to the other treatment options that are available. It’s vital for people undergoing alcohol withdrawal to seek medical advice and help from healthcare professionals. It would be more helpful to talk to those who are experienced in medicine or drug addiction. This is to make sure there’s a safe and successful recovery process.

Xanax Treatment And Support Options

Treatment and support options for Xanax addiction can be a combination of medical interventions, therapy, support groups, and lifestyle changes. Here are some options for people who want help with their addiction.

Medical Detoxification

People who suffer from Xanax addiction can get help by going through the medical detoxification process that a healthcare professional supervises. Detoxification is a method that removes substances like drugs and alcohol from the body. To help manage the withdrawal symptoms further and lower the possibility of going through other serious complications, different medications, like anticonvulsants or beta-blockers, can be used. They can help relieve specific symptoms or medical conditions. The detox process can also involve slowly tapering off the drug under the supervision of healthcare professionals. This can help minimize the withdrawal symptoms and ensure a safe detox process.

Inpatient/Outpatient Rehab Programs

Inpatient rehab programs give intense, round-the-clock care to people who are struggling with Xanax addiction. These programs offer a structured environment where people can get medical support, supervision, and therapy. It’s also a place where they can get help to address their addiction and underlying issues. These programs are for people who are constantly depending on Xanax or went “cold turkey” by stopping the medicine immediately. Outpatient rehab programs are more flexible and for people who do not require 24-hour care. These programs are for those who aren’t as dependent and don’t have more severe withdrawal symptoms. Most of these programs include individual counseling, group therapy, and education about addiction and recovery.

Therapy and Support Groups

There are many different types of therapy that a person can benefit from when it comes to Xanax addiction. This includes Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing. Therapy can help people identify or handle any underlying triggers, learn coping skills, and develop healthier ways of managing stress and anxiety. Many support groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or SMART Recovery can provide peer support. They want people to recover from Xanax addiction by attending support group meetings. This therapy can help people feel less isolated, share experiences, and learn from others who have faced the same challenges.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

In some cases, healthcare professionals can prescribe different medications to help with Xanax addiction treatment. Gabapentin or antidepressants can help manage withdrawal symptoms or manage mental health illnesses. They can also provide a safer tapering process by replacing Xanax with longer-acting drugs just like it, such as Valium or Librium. Both medications can reduce severe Xanax withdrawal symptoms and minimize the risk of more serious complications. They can also help reduce cravings, which can make it easier for individuals to refrain from using Xanax during their recovery process. By managing their cravings, MAT can support someone in maintaining soberness and prevent relapse.

Holistic Approaches

Holistic approaches to addiction treatment are ways to help with someone’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. These approaches are mostly used alongside the normal addiction treatment methods. This includes mindfulness practices, yoga, acupuncture, and nutritional therapy. Here are some holistic approaches that help treat Xanax addiction.

Life After Xanax

Navigating through life after addiction is a process that can require going to treatment constantly and a full-time commitment. It’s essential to continue engaging in activities and practices to help with sobriety. It will help to attend all or most support group meetings and therapy sessions. This will help maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep someone focused on recovering. Building and maintaining a solid support network can also help by including family, friends, peers in recovery, sponsors, counselors, and healthcare providers. They can help make it more accessible so that people can continue the journey to recovery.

Developing healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress, anxiety, and other triggers can help maintain sobriety. People can practice mindfulness, relaxation techniques, exercise, hobbies, and creative outlets and seek professional help when necessary. They must take care of themselves first in order to help with their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Someone would need to get adequate sleep, nutrition, and exercise while practicing self-compassion. Engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment can also help to give them a sense of purpose and meaning in their life.

Overcoming Xanax addiction is often a challenging process to go through alone. Many people experience relapses during Xanax withdrawal in an attempt to relieve symptoms and satisfy cravings. However, you can manage Xanax withdrawal symptoms and successfully recover with detox and rehab therapy and a strong support system at the We Level Up Texas Treatment Centers. If you require assistance with your rehab journey, contact a We Level Up Treatment professional now. Your call is free and confidential.

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Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms, Xanax & Alcohol. Is Xanax Withdrawal Safe Informational Video?