Xanax Detox and Withdrawal

Learn about Xanax withdrawal symptoms and your options when it comes to seeking help. Addiction is challenging to beat on your own, but there’s hope for a safe recovery.

Xanax, or alprazolam by its generic name, is a drug used to treat anxiety and belongs to a medication class called benzodiazepines or “benzos.” Xanax is prescribed for the short-term treatment of anxiety and panic attacks. Some people use it to help with insomnia.

Unfortunately, Xanax has the potential to be misused. What often starts as a prescription from your doctor to treat anxiety can evolve into addiction–and this process can unfold quickly without you realizing it before it’s too late.

Over time, some people develop a physical dependence and require higher doses of Xanax to feel the same effects. When the drug is taken away, symptoms of withdrawal take over, causing you to feel unpleasant physical and psychological side effects of stopping the medicine.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

You could experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Xanax suddenly or suddenly reduce your dosage. Several things can affect the intensity of Xanax withdrawal symptoms, including frequency and duration of use, dosage taken, and co-occurring substance use.

When someone stops taking Xanax, they might experience:

Insomnia
Memory loss
Stress and soreness in the muscles
Tremors
Seizures
Nausea
Anxiety
Depression
Agitation
Difficulty focusing and paying attention

Because Xanax has a high potency, its withdrawal symptoms are more severe than withdrawal from other benzodiazepines.

Xanax Withdrawal Timeline

You may begin to feel the first signs of withdrawal 6 to 12 hours after taking your last dose. Within four weeks, the physical symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal usually improve, but psychological symptoms can take longer. If you’ve been using Xanax for more than six months, it’s more likely that you’ll experience moderate to severe symptoms during withdrawal.

Early Withdrawal (1-3 days after last dose)

Withdrawal symptoms are typically at their worst at this stage. Symptoms may include sleeplessness, nausea, and mood fluctuations.

Acute Withdrawal (4-14 days after last use)

Some of the more difficult Xanax addiction withdrawal symptoms should be over. Depression may begin to set in.

Protracted Withdrawal (Two weeks to months after last use)

At this stage, emotional symptoms can get worse. The most common signs are irritation and depression.

Dangers of Quitting Xanax “Cold Turkey”

Attempting to stop Xanax use on your own can be dangerous. It’s crucial for anyone considering stopping Xanax or any other benzo medication to do so gradually and under medical supervision to minimize these risks and manage symptoms effectively. The risks of quitting cold turkey are hazardous when individuals are home alone without access to help.

Some of the uncomfortable symptoms and dangers of stopping Xanax abruptly include the following:

Seizures – Abruptly stopping Xanax can increase the risk of potentially life-threatening seizures, especially in individuals who have been taking high doses or using it for a long time.
Severe anxiety and panic attacks – Anxiety and panic attacks may return and be more intense than before starting the medication
Psychosis and hallucinations – Individuals may experience severe psychological symptoms that are incredibly distressing
Severe depression and increased suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Physical symptoms, like tremors, sweating, muscle pain, headaches, blurred vision, and increased heart rate
Severe sleep disturbances and insomnia
Sensory disturbances
Cognitive impairment, impacting concentration and memory function

Medical Detox

The first step of Xanax addiction recovery is to undergo medical detox, even if you’ve only been using Xanax for a short time. This step is typically required before being admitted to a rehab program–removing the drug from your system will better position you as you pursue recovery.

Medical detox at Vogue Recovery Center means around-the-clock care and support throughout the Xanax withdrawal process. No matter how strong your support system is at home, it’s always helpful to have detox specialists on hand to manage health concerns that arise during the medical detox process.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is provided during inpatient or outpatient treatment to help manage long-term withdrawal symptoms and stop substance use cravings. It is used as a complement to other therapies and involves administering specialized medications with dosages tailored to your unique needs. MAT is also helpful in reducing the risk of relapse.

While there are no FDA-approved medications at this point for Xanax addiction, certain drugs are commonly used to facilitate the withdrawal process and support recovery.

Drugs used for MAT include:

Benzodiazepines

Sometimes, longer-acting benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium) or clonazepam (Klonopin) are used to gradually taper off the dose of Xanax, minimizing withdrawal symptoms.

Anticonvulsants

Medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin) or pregabalin (Lyrica) can help manage withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety and seizures.

Beta-blockers

Drugs like propranolol (Inderal) can help alleviate physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heart rate and tremors.

Antidepressants

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft) can help manage underlying anxiety or depression that may surface during withdrawal.

Antipsychotics

In cases where severe agitation, anxiety, or psychosis occurs, antipsychotic medications may be prescribed on a short-term basis.

Xanax Addiction Treatment at VRC

Following medically supported detox, addiction treatment is the next step. Vogue Recovery Centers offer levels of care ranging from inpatient treatment with 24/7 care to outpatient programs that meet for part of the day. A drug addiction treatment case manager will work with you to determine suitable therapies and programs to promote your continued sobriety.

Need Help?

If you have experienced exceptionally stressful situations, it’s common to look for coping mechanisms. Perhaps that’s made you more dependent on Xanax than you’d like to be. With Las Vegas and Phoenix locations, Vogue Recovery Centers has a medical detox program to keep you safe and as comfortable as possible.

To learn more about our many levels of medically supervised substance abuse treatment and how we can assist you in achieving meaningful recovery from addiction, contact Vogue Recovery Centers today. Our friendly, professional admissions team will answer your questions and help you plan your first steps toward recovery.

References

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/018276s055lbl.pdf
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bcp.12023
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7841856/