Xanax Withdrawal, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Xanax (also known as Alprazolam) is a commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety medication. Primarily, doctors prescribe Xanax to patients struggling with a sleep disorder or mental health issue, such as panic attacks, PTSD and unusually high levels of anxiety.

For individuals with acute distress, Xanax can really be a life saver and do quite some good. Long-term use of Xanax though can have polar-opposite effects. Extended Xanax use can cause the user to become physically dependent to the drug (leading to addiction).

In many cases, even low-dose addictions can cause a Xanax withdrawal to occur that is highly unpleasant. This often results in the dependent maintaining their use of the drug in order to relieve cravings. This not only worsens the addiction, but also makes it all that much harder for the individual to refrain from using.

Addiction is mind-blowing in nature; it controls one’s mind, actions, and decision-making skills. Addiction will usually also affect the individual’s day-to-day responsibilities and relationships with others.

We want you to know that help is available to you. Recovery doesn’t need to be a process done alone and it is safest not to do so. We’re proud to see you here. You’ve made the choice to get help and you couldn’t have chosen a more qualified center for your recovery goals; our patient success rate is ABOVE the treatment-industry average.

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Xanax Withdrawal and Treatment done RIGHT

In this RSF-sponsored guide, you’ll learn about addiction, Xanax withdrawal symptoms, and Xanax recovery programs available to you at our center (which you can reach at any time for questions by contacting 561-933-5522).

Breaking free from Xanax addiction is safest and best managed within a rehab where round-the-clock supervision is offered. Xanax addiction treatment centers, such as Rehab South Florida, extend the support, tools, and medical assistance needed to ensure near-symptom-free recoveries for clients happen.

At Rehab South Florida, outpatient clients are also able to receive medically assisted Xanax detoxification/rehab. This ensures a comfortable experience for clients, relieving them of the many undesirable symptoms that otherwise would’ve been experienced at home.

If life responsibilities prevent you from going to an inpatient program, our outpatient program is a great option for milder Xanax addictions. Rehab South Florida’s outpatient program offers medically supervised detox which helps those in recovery to have a smooth sailing journey that’s more bearable. Those who complete our detox program will then attend support groups, therapy, and life-counseling guidance.

Addiction aftercare is important to the Xanax user’s long-term recovery. Our Alumni program helps clients with ongoing counseling and support to help avoid a relapse. Our 12-step program and individual/group therapy are some of the ongoing services included within our post-treatment programs.

Outpatient Xanax Rehab

One of the most effective treatment options for Xanax addictions are outpatient rehab programs. Our outpatient care program delivers the highest levels of structure, emotional/therapy support, and care. Our center is home to one of the state’s best rehab programs where patients can comfortably end their Xanax addiction in a safe, professional, and medically supervised environment.

Those in our outpatient program for the treatment of Xanax typically stay for 28 days.

In some cases, treatment durations can last for months (depending on the severity of addiction and wellness/recovery goals). The duration of treatment(s) are also influenced by the presence of a co-occurring mental health disorder. If such a disorder is present, treatment for this needs to take place concurrently with the treatment of the addiction. This of course can lengthen the number of days a patient should remain in treatment.

At Rehab South Florida, we don’t adopt a “cookie-cutter” approach to patient care and treatment. Our staff, treatment experts, and therapists have decades of combined experience in the treatment and support practices for Xanax addiction.

Xanax withdrawal symptoms are anything but pleasant. Xanax withdrawal is best tackled by a taper-down approach. What this method involves is the gradual reduction of dosage amounts of the drug to clients. Throughout treatment, clients will receive the largest dose on day-one of treatment. Each day thereafter, the dosage amount will be reduced, eventually and slowly adapting the body to the absence of the drug. This means the severity of the Xanax withdrawal symptoms are diminished which helps clients to have a worry-free and nearly symptom-free recovery journey.

What happens after Detox?

Once the detox phase of treatment has completed, psychological effects remaining from the Xanax addiction will be addressed on-site with one-on-one therapy.

Our award-winning therapists educate clients on coping mechanisms that help the prior dependent to change how they respond to certain stimuli that may trigger cravings. For example, our Cognitive Behavioral Therapy classes have proven to be successful at treating addictive behaviors.

Our evidence-based therapy courses has attributed to our patient success rate being higher than that of most self-proclaimed centers. We’re confident you too can overcome Xanax addiction with our programs just as thousands of others just like you have.

Xanax Withdrawal – What you need to know

The science behind the side effects of Xanax withdrawal is more complex than one may believe. Depending on the dosage amounts you’ve taken, and the duration in which abuse took place, severity of Xanax withdrawal symptoms can range from being mildly uncomfortable to highly unpleasant. In some cases, withdrawals can become medically dangerous (which is why rehab is the best choice).

If you’ve been taking Xanax multiple times daily, rehab is necessary, and recovery will take some patience, determination, and time. However, compared to recovering at home, recovering from Xanax addiction at rehab will take less time.

Xanax withdrawal symptoms from low dose amounts can also lead to rather uncomfortable symptoms.

Medically speaking, the taper-down approach is the safest way of quitting Xanax as doing so cold turkey can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms to precipitate. Such symptoms could include delirium and even grand mal seizures (which you want to avoid at all costs).

Even if you’ve been taking your Xanax as medically prescribed by your doctor, facing a withdrawal experience is inevitable.
Xanax is a non-discriminatory drug. Those taking it can develop a physical dependence within a matter of a few weeks. Xanax withdrawal symptoms are unavoidable when consuming stops or dosage amounts reduce once physiologically dependent.
Surges of anxiety and unusually high levels of agitation are prominent symptoms of reducing Xanax dosage amounts. The degree of mental and physical discomfort one experiences varies from person to person (as there are many variables that contribute to these symptoms).

Xanax addiction has become an epidemic nationwide. Our community needs effective treatment options and rehab centers that understand the science and complexities of addiction. This is why Rehab South Florida was founded.

In 2011, prescribing doctors wrote out nearly 50 million alprazolam prescriptions (Xanax). These reckless prescribing trends have contributed to the growing number of Xanax addiction cases that rehab centers are seeing and treating throughout the country.
In 2016, approximately 500,000 US-aged adults were misusing Xanax and/or other sedative-classified drug.

Xanax- Signs & Symptoms

The signs and symptoms associated with Xanax withdrawal vary significantly from person to person. Based on research, roughly forty percent of those using Xanax for six or more months can expect moderate to severe-level withdrawal symptoms. Those in the 60% category usually experience mild-level symptoms.

Xanax users that choose to QUIT will usually experience a mild ride in anxiety symptoms. Depending on your symptoms, anxiety may worsen even before treatment. You may become easily agitated and even short-tempered with those around you. During taper, it’s normal to feel jumpy, on-edge, and a bit nervous (after all, this is a life-changing experience).

These emotions and withdrawals from Xanax can cause issues at school, work, and even at home.

Insomnia is also common among Xanax withdrawal symptoms. It can be both a physical and mental stress that further leads to agitation and even more severe levels of anxiety.

While tapering during treatment, symptoms may surface and then go away sporadically. At certain treatment stages, physical symptoms such as muscle aches, hand tremors, and headaches may pursue. This is why Rehab South Florida uses medication-assisted therapy as a part of our treatment protocols (to alleviate these undesirable symptoms).

There are many Xanax withdrawal symptoms, including:

Physical

Insomnia
Tremors
Muscle spasms
Headaches
Sweating
Racing pulse
Hyperventilation
Seizures

Psychological

Anxiety
Depression
Restlessness
Difficulty concentrating
Delirium
Hallucinations
Feelings of unreality
Panic attacks

These symptoms can emerge in as little as 8-12 hours following the last dose. Failure to taper your dose will increase the intensity of withdrawals. Studies suggest that withdraw intensities peak between the 2nd to 5th day since last using.

Though, some sources describe symptoms can last for much longer if the Xanax user is struggling with acute symptoms (in which case, Rehab South Florida can help).

Approximately 10-25 percent of long-term benzo user will be faced with protracted withdrawal. This is when Xanax withdrawals persist for months and sometimes, even up to a year. Bursts of psychological symptoms can persist even after treatment. This is one of the many reasons we offer an aftercare program, so clients can receive the ongoing support needed to avoid a relapse.

If you, a friend or loved one is challenged with a Xanax addiction, get help right away by speaking to one of our admissions and inquiry specialists by calling 561-933-5522.

References

“Xanax (Alprazolam): Side Effects, Interactions, Warning, Dosage & Uses.” RxList, https://www.rxlist.com/xanax-drug.htm.

Ogbonna, Chinyere I., and Anna Lembke. “Tapering Patients Off of Benzodiazepines.” American Family Physician, 1 Nov. 2017, https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1101/p606.html.

“Weaning or Tapering Off Xanax: The Basics and Schedule.” Addiction Resource, https://addictionresource.com/drugs/xanax/taper-off-xanax/.

“Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers.

Pétursson, H. “The Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome.” Addiction (Abingdon, England), U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 1994, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7841856.

“Xanax: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects & Warnings.” Drugs.com, https://www.drugs.com/xanax.html.

“Xanax Addiction and Abuse – Addiction to Alprazolam – Addiction Center.” AddictionCenter, https://www.addictioncenter.com/benzodiazepines/xanax/.

Thompson, Dennis. “More Evidence That Abuse of Xanax, Valium Is on the Rise.” Chicagotribune.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2019, https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-hlth-valium-xanax-abuse-0109-story.html.

Patterson, Eric, and Ncc. “Xanax Withdrawal: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment Options.” DrugAbuse.com, 6 Sept. 2019, https://drugabuse.com/xanax/withdrawal/.

“The Withdrawal Timeline for Benzos.” Clinical Services of Rhode Island Treatment Center, https://clinicalservicesri.com/detox/benzos/.