Xanax Abuse Treatment

This powerful prescription drug can help curb anxiety, but it can also be addictive and is frequently misused or abused.

Prescription addiction has reached epidemic status in the US in recent years, with 6 million Americans addicted to prescription medications like Xanax, Valium, Vicodin and Percocet. More than 50 million Americans have admitted trying prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons.

Dr. Mehmet Oz calls prescription addiction is the most underappreciated problem in America, saying, "It's actually the most dangerous ailment sneaking up on us because we're not paying attention. A lot of folks think these drugs aren't dangerous because they're not street drugs — and it's true that what's in the pill is really what's in the pill — but there are millions of people who take these prescription medications not realizing they have just the same kind of addictive potential as street drugs would."

Xanax Background

Xanax, also known by the generic name Alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine. It works by slowing down the movement of chemicals in the brain, which results in a reduction in nervous tension or anxiety. Used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, Xanax works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain. Alprazolam is also sometimes used to treat depression, agoraphobia and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Primarily dispensed in time-release tablets, alprazolam can be habit-forming. Regular users who suddenly stop taking alprazolam may experience withdrawal symptoms such as seizures, headache, blurred vision, increased sensitivity to noise or light, change in sense of smell, sweating, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, difficulty concentrating, nervousness, depression, irritability, aggressive behavior, muscle twitching or cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, pain, burning, numbness, tingling in the hands or feet, a decrease in appetite or weight loss.

Xanax Side Effects

Because Xanax is a powerful prescription medication, there can be side effects. The most commonly experienced ones are:

drowsiness
light-headedness
headache
tiredness
dizziness
irritability
talkativeness
difficulty concentrating
dry mouth
increased salivation
changes in sex drive or ability
nausea
constipation
changes in appetite
weight changes
difficulty urinating
joint pain

Xanax Drug Addiction

So how do you know if you or someone you love has a prescription drug abuse problem? If you can't go a single day without taking a painkiller — even if it's a medication you've been legally prescribed by a doctor — you have a problem.

Long-term use of benzodiazepines can give rise to many unwanted effects, including poor memory and cognition, emotional blunting, depression, increasing anxiety, physical symptoms and dependence. All benzodiazepines can produce these effects whether taken as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs.

Drug addiction is a common problem with medications taken for ongoing pain or symptoms. Ironically, evidence suggests that benzodiazepines are no longer effective after a few weeks or months of regular use. They lose much of their efficacy because of the development of tolerance. Once that tolerance develops, withdrawal symptoms can actually appear while the user is still taking the drug.

The Committee on Safety of Medicines and the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK concluded in various statements (1988 and 1992) that benzodiazepines are unsuitable for long-term use and that they should in general be prescribed for periods of 2-4 weeks only. In addition, clinical experience shows that most long-term benzodiazepine users actually feel better after coming off the drugs.

Xanax Treatment

The long-term effects listed above provide good reason for stopping the use of benzodiazepines, particularly for long-term users. Because there is a very real danger of withdrawal, quitting Xanax use needs to be done under medical supervision. A professional detox program will include a gradual and individualized tapering schedule, with the implementation of other treatment modes to help with the issues that arise during detox and make the client as comfortable as possible.