Effects of Xanax Addiction: The Need for Xanax Detox
Xanax is a benzodiazepine that doctors often prescribe to patients who suffer from panic disorder and other types of anxiety disorders. When taken for short-term relief of anxiety, Xanax is a powerful medication that can eliminate the tension and stress that anxiety causes in the everyday life of the user. Unfortunately, many people who take Xanax become addicted to the drug and require professional treatment in order to quit using; when this happens, Xanax detox becomes a necessary element of the treatment and recovery process.
What is Xanax Addiction?
According to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, people who take Xanax, regularly at small doses or otherwise such as in excessive doses or for the purpose of getting “high” have a risk of developing dependence on the drug. Xanax addiction will cause the user to become both physically and psychologically dependent on the drug and the decision to quit can be clouded by withdrawal symptoms such as extreme anxiety, agitation, insomnia, and seizures.
Dangers of Quitting Abruptly
Anytime there is a physical or psychological dependence associated with a drug there are inherent risks associated with abruptly quitting the drug. Quitting Xanax without treatment, and after you have become addicted to it, can cause seizures, heart attack and even death. This is why it is absolutely vital that anyone who is addicted to Xanax get appropriate help to ensure that they are safe when they decide to quit.
How Xanax Detox Helps
Initially, most programs that offer patients help in overcoming Xanax addiction will begin with a period of tapering the drug off in a safe and controlled manner. Detoxing from Xanax by tapering the drug down involves taking a reduced dose of the drug over time to allow the body to more naturally adjust to the dosage change. The suggested method of tapering the drug off is to reduce the dose by .25 mg every two weeks. This allows the user to fully adjust to the lowered dose each time without feeling any serious side effects associated with withdrawal.
Supportive Care
During detox, you will receive support and guidance that can help you to achieve your recovery goals. Xanax detox is not only about eliminating the drug from your system—it’s also about helping you to secure a foundation for recovery from the addiction that you are suffering from. After you have successfully stopped using xanax, you can begin to receive counseling and therapy that will help you to understand why you started using drugs in the first place, what you can do to prevent future drug use and how you can cope with emotions in a positive manner.