Overdoses involving benzodiazepine drugs, especially Xanax, have been on the rise in the past several years; however, benzodiazepines are not the leading drug involved in overdose deaths. Although it is possible to overdose on Xanax by itself, most overdoses and related deaths involving alprazolam and related drugs also involve other sedatives, especially opioid narcotics, alcohol, or both. Xanax is a popular prescription medication that’s used to treat anxiety, one of the most common mental health issues in the U.S.
Swallow the extended-release tablets whole; do not chew, crush, or break them. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of Xanax and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 3 or 4 days. To take the concentrated liquid, use only the dropper that came with your prescription. Squeeze the dropper contents into a liquid or semisolid food such as water, juice, soda, applesauce, or pudding. Forensic analysis tied Colbert to the presence of Alprazolam (Xanax), a substance found in Manzano’s system and previously connected to other victims. During a search of Colbert’s home the day after Manzano’s death, authorities discovered the anti-anxiety medication, further strengthening the case.
What if I miss a dose?
However, if you have serious withdrawal symptoms, contact your doctor right away. If your symptoms feel life threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Xanax is approved to treat only generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. However, your doctor might sometimes prescribe Xanax off-label for certain other uses. Off-label drug use is when a drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for.
What Is Cirrhosis? Alcohol Detox Centers Port St Lucie
Shooting up also leaves you at a higher risk for Hepatitis C and/or HIV if you are sharing your needles with other users. The one you choose will be dependent on your level of addiction, the amount of time you’ve been using Xanax and your family and work obligations. At Illinois Recovery Center, we offer medical detox, residential treatment, outpatient treatment and partial hospitalization. Once you complete your program, you’ll want to take part in our relapse prevention program, which provides you with the tools you need to avoid slipping back into your addiction. In addition to these programs, we also offer telehealth and rehab programs that are designed specifically for women. An individual may have a Xanax dependency if they smoke, snort or inject the drug.
The hope was that the nasal spray would be somewhat intuitive, and with a quick glance at the instructional pictures that came with it, people would be able to administer it. First, you should stick the nozzle of the nasal spray device into either one of the person’s nostrils. There will be a small plunger underneath the nozzle, where you should place your thumb. When the device is fully in the nostril, firmly press the plunger and squeeze to push the medicine into the nose.
Benzodiazepines such as Xanax are included in guidelines for managing panic disorder, but only for short-term treatment to help ease symptoms. The guidelines recommend other options for first-line treatment of this condition. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Xanax to treat certain conditions.
However, these symptoms can also affect anyone who stops taking Xanax. This means it takes about 2.5 days for Xanax to be fully removed from your body. However, the exact amount of time you’ll have Xanax in your system depends on various factors. These include your age, liver function, and other medications you may take.
- Caty graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Counseling and History.
- We recently spoke with Brent about what people should know about naloxone, how to use it, ongoing research on its use, and reflections on the decision to make it over the counter.
- It increases the probability of life-threatening health issues, exposes individuals to infectious diseases, and can accelerate the path to drug dependence and addiction.
- One case that was documented by the Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology involved a woman who snorted meth for three years, presenting with a perforated septum, swelling of the sinuses, and necrosis.
What Is Xanax, and What Are Its Effects on the Body?
This process of tapering off the drug can take up to six weeks. In fact, drug abuse is classified as when a person decides to take a drug without the instructions of a medical professional. People who abuse Xanax generally determine what dose is best for them based on the feeling they wish to experience instead of what the doctor prescribes. Xanax is a depressant, so it is commonly used to treat issues related to overactive nervous systems, such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.
Participating in various forms of therapy can help you analyze your thoughts and behaviors so that you understand yourself and your motivations better. While you’re detoxing and after, you’ll be given other treatment modalities. This can include behavioral therapies, like cognitive-behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. It can include psychotherapy as well as motivational interviewing and contingency management, and it may also involve participating in individual and group therapy.
However, these problems are also possible with lower doses and after taking the drug for a short time. Xanax is typically prescribed for short periods of time to relieve anxiety symptoms while other treatments, such as antidepressants, are taking effect. Antidepressants can take about 4 to 6 weeks to start working for anxiety disorders. Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug that has a calming and relaxing effect. Xanax is typically used to help ease panic attacks while other treatments for panic disorder, such as antidepressants, take effect. Those in recovery may be temporarily prescribed other medications to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, such as longer-acting benzodiazepines.
Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. Xanax has a boxed warning for the risk of dependence and withdrawal. A boxed warning is the most can you inject xanax serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration. It alerts doctors and patients to side effects that may be dangerous. Xanax and clonazepam may be used to treat panic disorder, and these drugs have other uses that differ. Both come as oral tablets, but clonazepam also comes as an orally disintegrating tablet.
Specialty Programs & Tracks
- However, it can help save you or your loved one from a variety of painful – and deadly – conditions.
- Misuse refers to taking a drug for a purpose or in a way that a doctor has not prescribed.
- These medications induce hypnosis and sedation, which means they are depressants rather than stimulants.
- This combination forces the liver to work overtime as it has to break down both Xanax and alcohol.
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Xanax. This side effect was not reported in clinical trials of this drug but has occurred since the drug was approved. Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks.
Alternatives for generalized anxiety disorder
On the other hand, while Xanax is often effective in treating anxiety when taken as prescribed, Xanax abuse is also common. Once someone is taking Xanax for a few weeks, tolerance begins to develop, requiring the user to take more doses to achieve the same effects. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
The opioid molecules will then come off these receptors, then bind with them again, and come off again — all at a rapid rate. When this happens at high doses, it can lead to breathing issues. Also, you should not drive or perform other potentially dangerous activities, such as operating machines, until you know how the drug combination affects you. If your doctor has prescribed Xanax and you’re interested in taking alprazolam instead, talk with your doctor.
The individual may also use more of the medication than they are prescribed and visit multiple doctors in order to maintain their supply. They may also isolate themselves in an effort to hide their dependency. Individuals who are dependent on Xanax may appear to be fatigued or extremely drowsy.