Off-label, some users also take the drug to relieve insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, and depression. When you take Xanax or another benzodiazepine, the drug attaches to GABA receptors in your brain. This increases the effects of GABA, causing sedation (a relaxed, sleepy feeling). If you’re experiencing a panic attack or other symptoms of anxiety, this increased GABA activity can help you calm down quickly. Xanax is federally classified as a Schedule IV drug under the Controlled Substances Act, which means there is a recognized risk for misuse and dependence. You should only take Xanax when prescribed by licensed healthcare professional as oral tablets.

What Are the Side Effects of Xanax?

Treatment programs often provide detox support, therapy, and long-term strategies for xanax addiction anxiety management. It’s also a good idea to tell your doctor if you’re using the drug recreationally. Xanax can interact with several common medications, resulting in serious side effects.

1 Pregnancy

If you take more than 4 mg of Xanax per day for this condition, your doctor may eventually suggest lowering your dosage. To learn more about dosages of Xanax XR, talk with your doctor. For additional information about allergic reaction, see the “Allergic reaction” section that follows. There are no known interactions between alprazolam and foods or drinks.

3 Dependence

Going for a walk or just finding a space to be alone can help you unwind and reset. Sometimes you might not even know why you feel nervous in the first place—in these cases, write everything you’re feeling down on paper. Cutting alcohol out of your routine will also help since drinking tends to raise anxiety levels. Long-term Xanax use, even as prescribed by a doctor, can also lead to addiction. This is why most health care providers prescribe Xanax only for short-term use.

How Fast Does Xanax Work?

• However, with GAD, you have ongoing anxiety about everyday life that’s excessive and out of proportion.
• It is not known if Xanax is safe and effective when used to treat anxiety disorder for longer than 4 months.
• However, the intensity and frequency of sessions are less compared to inpatient programs.
• Cutting alcohol out of your routine will also help since drinking tends to raise anxiety levels.

For more information, please visit the Editorial Policy. In patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency, it is important to control the doses to avoid any accumulation of the drug in the body and, therefore, adverse effects. It is not known if Xanax is safe and effective when used to treat panic disorder for longer than 10 weeks. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. The generic is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. To find out how the cost of alprazolam compares to the cost of Xanax, see this article.

Taking Xanax with food

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may Halfway house be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. At Recovery Home, we’re proud to offer a variety of addiction treatment and mental health treatment services for individuals struggling with substance use disorder. Please reach out to us today to learn more about the services we offer. Recreational use of Xanax refers to its non-medical use for the purpose of achieving a pleasurable or altered state of mind.

Common questions about Xanax

But anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, are different because they involve excessive fear and anxiety. They’re some of the most common mental health disorders and affect more than 25 million Americans. And as mentioned above, Xanax and other medications in the benzodiazepine https://sarkkemikal.com/alcohol-use-disorder-and-co-occurring-mental/ class of drugs are not considered safe for continuous use, which can increase the risk of dependence. Because Xanax is considered such a potent sedative, Dr. Nadkarni says there are concerns related to its nonmedical (recreational) use and its potential role in the drug overdose epidemic. Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorder (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Alprazolam is in a class of medications called benzodiazepines.

What Should I Avoid Taking With Xanax?

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it slows down brain activity, resulting in a calming effect on the mind and body. Xanax is only meant to be used for a short period, because it can lead to dependence and tolerance. Long-term management for anxiety disorders usually includes therapy and other medications, like SSRIs. People who suffer from Xanax addiction have a number of treatment options, including mental health counseling, peer support groups, and medical detox.

• Therapists and prescribers can work together to create a plan that not only helps with symptoms but also creates real, long-term positive changes.
• Although your doctor is the best source for answering your specific questions about anxiety and treatment with XANAX, you can find answers to common questions here.
• It’s possible that your doctor will adjust your dose every 3 to 4 days until you’re taking the dose that’s right for you.
• Benzodiazepines (the drug group Xanax belongs to) have a higher risk of dependence and withdrawal symptoms than other drugs that treat this condition.

6 Patients with Depression

However, the potential for Xanax addiction arises when individuals begin to rely on the medication excessively, even in situations where they may not feel anxious. Alprazolam is a member of the benzodiazepine family, which are sedatives that cause dose-related depression of the central nervous system. Due to the potential for withdrawal symptoms and serious complications, it is crucial to have medical supervision when discontinuing Xanax use. Abruptly stopping Xanax can lead to withdrawal reactions, including severe symptoms that may be life-threatening 8.

Keep in mind that we haven’t included all the potential side effects. Xanax contains the active drug alprazolam, which is a controlled substance. The federal government regulates controlled substances because taking them may lead some people to misuse the drugs. The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience.