Xanax is a prescription benzodiazepine prescribed to treat life-threatening anxiety and panic disorders. As an anti-anxiety drug, Xanax can be helpful to people who need help dealing with anxiety in order to fulfill their daily responsibilities. However, people with unhealed trauma, difficulty regulating medications, or a family history of addiction are at risk of becoming profoundly addicted to Xanax. Xanax can feel like a blessing for a person with severe anxiety, but being numb prevents healing.
Addiction to Xanax comes with many dangers, and withdrawing is not easy, especially with multiple drugs in your system. A prescription drug abuse treatment program can support you on your road to sobriety. Contact Rise Above Treatment at (877) 641-0717 for the professional help you need to end your substance use disorder.
Symptoms of Xanax Addiction
It is not difficult to become addicted to Xanax. Here’s why: it is easy for the body to become tolerant to Xanax, making it necessary to take more of the drug to achieve the same effect as you did initially. When tolerance to Xanax is developed, your body becomes dependent on it, which leads to addiction. The dangers of Xanax often lie in some of the behaviors associated with abusing the prescription drug. The most common symptoms associated with Xanax abuse are:
- Visiting multiple doctors to get additional Xanax pills
- Requesting Xanax pills from family and friends even though there is no prescription available
- Purchasing Xanax through illegal means
- Increasing the dosage to get the same results as the original prescription
- Professional and personal problems as a result of using Xanax
- No interest in hobbies or other activities that were once important to your life
- Experiencing legal issues such as arrest as a result of Xanax
Dangers of Xanax Use
Prolonged, unprescribed use of Xanax comes with many dangers. For starters, Xanax comes with its own side effects such as memory problems, insomnia, lack of energy, and lightheadedness, and lack of coordination. And for people who use Xanax consistently, it can lead to delirium, risk of dementia, and psychosis. Some physical signs of abuse include:
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
- Slurring speech
- Constipation
- Nausea
People who abuse Xanax can ingest it in many ways. While some decide to take multiple pills at a time, others snort, use blotter paper or inject Xanax. And even more, people use Xanax with other drugs such as heroin and methadone, helping them achieve a greater high. This is dangerous as it can lead to overdose and respiratory failure.
Alcohol and Xanax: a Deadly Combination
Alcohol overdoses typically impair a person’s brain control of heart rate, body temperature, and breathing. But when a user pairs it with Xanax, there is an even greater risk of an overdose. Another deadly combination with Xanax is alcohol. Yet, this too comes with side effects that are dangerous. Mixing Xanax with alcohol leads to excessive drowsiness, an inability to concentrate, dizziness, decreased control of motor coordination, memory loss, and trouble breathing.
Quitting Xanax Often Requires Detox
For people who want to stop using Xanax, you cannot stop without avoiding withdrawal symptoms. Rise Above Treatment provides medically-assisted detox programs that will help you safely stop using Xanax. If you try to stop using Xanax on your own, you will experience symptoms such as:
- Aggressive behavior
- Excessive sweating
- Blurred vision
- Loss of memory
- Seizures and convulsions
- Suicidal thoughts
The dangers of Xanax use and abuse far outweigh the temporary high users feel, and therefore, prescription drug abuse treatment is necessary.
Find a Murrieta Detox
There’s no embarrassment in admitting that you need help in ending your addiction to prescription drugs. The dangers of Xanax–not just to users–but to other people are greater than it will take for you to begin your journey to sobriety. Rise Above Treatment provides many options for people looking to end their addiction. In addition to medically-assisted detox, our center offers intensive outpatient programs and residential treatment options. Our sober living community will support you through your recovery. Contact us at (877) 641-0717 to begin your road to recovery.
