Xanax Detox Centers

Xanax, the brand name of alprazolam, is classified as a central nervous system depressant and you are most likely to be prescribed Xanax for your anxiety, acute stress reactions, panic attacks, and/or insomnia.

It is part of a group of medications called benzodiazepines, which have a high potential for dependence and abuse, especially for people with a history of multi-substance abuse. Xanax is one of the five most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines and well as one of the most frequently found on the illicit market, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

When you are ready to proceed down the recovery pathway, detox will be your first step. Before you can engage in structured, professional addiction treatment, you need to rid your body of drugs and alcohol; this is the process called detoxification. Many people attempt to detox independently, but the results are mixed and the majority of them return to drug use. To increase your odds of success, you should undergo professional detox.

To find a detox center that is prepared to guide you through the process and support you in your recovery, call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?). Speak with an expert who can answer your questions, help you to understand the process of recovery, and point you to topnotch care. Don’t wait. Call now.

Xanax Withdrawal: What Is It?

If you begin using Xanax in greater amounts or with more frequency than prescribed by your doctor, you run the risk of the use evolving into dependence. You also increase your odds of experiencing withdrawals. When you become physically dependent upon Xanax, you will experience withdrawal when you cease to take it. You won’t feel normal or be able to function; you will experience psychological disturbances and physical discomfort.

Anxiety and insomnia are common Xanax withdrawal symptoms.

Xanax has what is termed a short half-life, meaning it goes into your system and exits it quite quickly. This contributes to physical and psychological dependence because users tend to take more and more, often between scheduled doses, in order to keep it in their system.

In comparison to other benzodiazepines, Xanax presents some of the most dangerous withdrawal side effects. Because it leaves the body with more speed than do other benzos, it can cause a sudden onset of severe symptoms, and this is even the case with the extended release version of the medication. A study, whose results were published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, determined Xanax is “significantly more toxic than other benzodiazepines.” In fact, it can be as much at ten times more potent than other drugs in the benzo family. Because of this, it acts more powerfully upon your brain, contributing to debilitating withdrawals.

Xanax Withdrawal: What Are Symptoms?

As the goal of professional detox is to guide you through withdrawal with the least amount of discomfort possible, it is good for you to understand the symptoms and to appreciate that many of them cannot adequately be addressed at home.

Because of its high dependence potential, users who have only been taking Xanax for a few weeks (even at a prescribed dose) may experience the following symptoms. But, the more chronic the use and the higher the degree of dependency, the more intense the symptoms will be.

• Muscle cramps and pain
• Uncontrollable shaking
• Depression
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Anxiety
• Aggression
• Insomnia
• Seizures
• Sweating
• Blurred vision
• Headache
• Vomiting

You may also experience rebound symptoms, an intensification of the condition for which the Xanax was prescribed. For example, if the prescription was to ease anxiety, withdrawal may cause anxiety to go through the roof. Professional detox will know how to manage these symptoms and how to treat the underlying cause, something you may not be equipped to do on your own.

What Is Xanax Detox Like?

As Xanax detox can be lengthy and can cause severe withdrawal, you are encouraged to seek help at a professional facility.

Generally, you will be guided through a tapering-off process, where your dosage is reduced over time. You may also be switched to a less potent benzodiazepine with a smaller half-life, such as Klonopin, during this process. If the tapering is too rapid or the Xanax is cut-off entirely, the brain will react as if it injured, triggering symptoms intended to lessen its reaction to the perceived injury. Monitored tapering prevents this.

To find a program that can help you stop using Xanax and prepare for formal drug treatment, call 800-315-1376 (Who Answers?). Someone is waiting to help you.