Xanax Abuse Treatment
What is Xanax?
Xanax is the name brand of a powerful and addictive prescription benzodiazepine. It is commonly used to treat insomnia, severe anxiety and panic disorders. To this date, Xanax is the top prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States. Conversely, it also accounts for some of the most medication related hospitalizations. It is estimated that more than 50% of youth that develop an addiction to the benzo get it in their own homes.
Xanax is highly addictive and typically prescribed to be used as needed or for specific situations and circumstances. Like many addictions, Xanax dependence can develop even when the medication is being used as prescribed. The body develops a tolerance to the drug quickly, requiring the user to take more and more to receive the effects of the drug. Discontinuing regular use of Xanax can be dangerous, and cause painful and uncomfortable withdrawal effects. Use can also enhance and increase the dangerous side effects of opioids.
Effects of Xanax
Prescription Xanax is in a bar shaped tablet format. On the street, it is referred to as “bars”. Because tolerance to the drug is quickly developed, a user with an addiction will take high quantities of it in a day. Usually, the negative side effects for overusing Xanax are short-lived as it exits the body quickly. Longer term effects are usually only felt in the form of withdrawal – which, without professional assistance, can be extremely dangerous.
Short-Term Effects of Xanax Abuse include:
- Mental Impairment
- Amnesia
- Rebounded Insomnia
- Blurred Vision
- Dizziness and Confusion
- Birth Defects if Used During Pregnancy
- Lethal if Combined with Other Drugs and Alcohol
- Fainting
Should I Seek Treatment for Substance Abuse?
While Xanax is a great option for anxiety when used properly, abuse is extremely dangerous. About 40% of alcoholics also abuse Xanax, and it is not uncommon for meth or heroin users to also mix in Xanax to try and achieve a more intense high. Because Alcohol and Xanax are both depressants, the combination can lead to respiratory failure or death.
Because of the dangers of overdosing, or the dangerous withdrawal side effects, it is important that if you are going to seek freedom from Xanax, you find professional, medical support from an accredited facility such as Royal Life Centers.
Usually, the signs of Xanax abuse can be identified early. Here are somethings to look for when deciding if you need help with Xanax use:
- Taking More than As Prescribed by Doctor
- Snorting or Injecting Xanax
- Combining Xanax with other Drugs or Alcohol
- Drug Seeking Behavior
- Doctor Shopping
Medical Detox
Though the practice was once used historically, Xanax detoxification with another benzodiazepine or “benzo” is rarely used today. This is because there are concerns about using a different benzo for Xanax withdrawal:
- All benzos, like Xanax, are addictive drugs that are associated with grand mal seizures and death, just like alcohol.
- Using another benzo during Xanax withdrawal sends the addiction-replacement-message that it’s okay to substitute one benzo with another.
- Non-addictive detox medicines that also prevent seizures, are frequently used in place of addictive ones whenever possible (i.e. pregabalin in place of a non-Xanax benzo)
Pregabalin based medications are a better option for medical detox because they:
- Are not addictive
- End the likelihood of a grand mal seizure
- Decrease craving
- Decrease Xanax seeking behavior
- Decrease anxiety
- Decrease agitation
- Decrease restlessness
- Decrease fatigue
- Improve concentration
- Decrease irritability
- Decrease muscle tension
- Decrease panic, anger, or hate attacks
- decrease irrational fear
Medications such as pregabalin and its relatives are used to assist Xanax addiction recovery during aftercare for coexisting conditions such as:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
- Insomnia
Medication-assisted detox and rehabilitation, without recovery-sensitive supportive therapy, is far from the ideal road to recovery. Medication assistance without a Xanax dependence recovery program is a disservice. Medical detoxification with a concurrent Xanax dependence recovery program is your ticket to sustained-recovery. The medical staff at Royal Life Centers are trained in understanding the appropriate ways to help our guests to safely end their dependence on benzos like Xanax. With the harsh withdrawal symptoms, it is important to get the help you need.
Xanax Withdrawal
Symptoms Include:
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Heart Palpitations
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle aches
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Panic, anger, or hate attacks
- Irrational fears
- Attention deficit & confusion
What Happens After Medical Detox?
Following medical detox at Royal Life Centers, guests will begin a comprehensive, collaborative approach to substance abuse treatment designed to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness. We offer a variety of detox options for treating drug addiction beyond just Xanax. Our program helps to promote a lasting, sober lifestyle through sobriety and beyond. Our addiction specialists, from our therapists and case managers to our facility staff, are dedicated to providing the best in care and support. Our holistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy incorporates individual and group sessions. We use other holistic methods, such as art, music and animal therapy to help our guests to learn to express themselves and communicate. Our treatment features state-of-the-art activity, movement, and adventure therapies to create one program that treats mind, body, and spirit. At Royal Life Centers, we believe that emotional healing is just as important as physical healing.
Guests may begin their recovery journey in our residential inpatient program and continue with us through PHP, IOP, OP, and sober living at our graduate housing residences. At Royal Life Centers, the guest is always our top priority, and we consistently do all we can to effect lasting change, that they might continue to lead healthy, sober lives long after they have left our care. This is not just our goal, but our mission.
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