10 Signs Your Loved One Is Addicted To Xanax

Drugs like Xanax that are not addictive include classes of medications such as SSRIs, SNRIs, beta-blockers, Vistaril (hydroxyzine), and Buspar (buspirone). These medications act as non-addictive alternatives to benzodiazepines. Upon diagnosis of Xanax addiction, the healthcare professional also determines the severity of the problem. Mild addiction refers to cases where a person meets two to three criteria, moderate if four to five criteria are met. Severe addiction occurs when a person meets six or more criteria.

Addiction to Xanax is diagnosed when the affected person meets the criteria described in the DSM-5 Criteria for Substance Use Disorders. Basically, a Xanax diagnosis is established when a person meets at least two of 11 criteria within a one-year period. A different story, published in Healthline in 2018, speaks about Xanax addiction from a different aspect. In this case, the female patient received a prescription to treat her anxiety, despite having a history of addiction (alcoholism). Addiction to benzodiazepines changed her personality until she became a shell of the person she used to be. She abandoned many activities in favor of plotting ways to get more pills.

How to Recognize and Treat Xanax Addiction

Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine drug widely prescribed to treat anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepine addiction is a growing concern in the United States, with https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/how-to-taper-off-alcohol/ around 30% of opiate overdose deaths also involving drugs like Xanax. It is also important to address the financial side of prescription drug addiction.

xanax addiction

In Xanax, many addicts have found a pleasant escape from everyday stressors and must relearn how to have a productive, enjoyable life without Xanax. Sober living skills often take time to develop as an individual addicted to Xanax may feel life without the drug is unbearable. Many addicts, in fact, take Xanax to feel normal and function in everyday life, as they may have come to believe that they cannot function without it. These individuals will require drug rehab before embarking on a new, sober life. Every part of an addict’s life can be altered by addiction to alprazolam.

Learn More About Xanax Addiction

The whole experience has taken a huge toll on him and his family, with his father suffering from anxiety as a result. Youth workers have reported a rise in the use of the drug among teenagers and young adults, particularly those who are already vulnerable to abusing substances. Leaning forward and playing with a salt shaker on the table, Johnny explains that his problem with the drug developed after a friend introduced him to an older man called Julian who dealt it. This man tried to enlist Johnny in selling Xanax tablets, sending a bulk order of the drugs to his house. A person can quickly become physically dependent on Xanax, so they should only ever take it as a doctor prescribes it.

A dosage of 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg of Xanax three times a day of often recommended to treat anxiety. It is not recommended that a person using Xanax to treat anxiety exceeds 4 mg per day. Xanax is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs that help to reduce activity in the brain.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Xanax Addiction?

Xanax addiction frequently causes users to make procuring and taking the drug a priority. The addiction will come before work, before family, and before friends. This causes all areas of life to suffer, and it can lead to broken relationships and career failure.

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For example, she would call a doctor to say she needs a prescription early because she’s going on vacation. Her addiction was so serious doctors put her on instant withdrawal without medications because she also developed an addiction to heroin. If you are taking Xanax as prescribed, check with your doctor before taking another drug or drinking alcohol. Checking with a medical expert can reveal any potentially dangerous effects from mixing substances, and this could protect you against severe injury and dependence on Xanax. In a study from 2001–2013, about 17% of people who received an opioid prescription also received a benzodiazepine like Xanax. When opioids are combined with benzodiazepines, the risk of overdose, emergency department visits and death increases dramatically.

What Is Xanax?

Xanax is the brand name for a drug called alprazolam, which is a benzodiazepine. Most commonly, doctors prescribe Xanax to treat conditions like anxiety, xanax addiction panic disorders or insomnia. Beta-blockers are medications that control the body’s fight-or-flight response and decrease its impact on the heart.

  • However, sufferers can develop a substance misuse disorder from the very medication prescribed to alleviate their problem.
  • To ensure that the right steps are taken when getting this addiction under control, it is always advisable to first consult an expert.
  • However, it also has the potential to cause drowsiness, confusion, and impaired coordination.
  • 70% of teens with a Xanax addiction get the drug from their family’s medicine cabinet.
  • Prescription drug abuse is most common among 18- to 25-year-olds.

It is safe to use as directed by a doctor, but as is the case with all benzodiazepines, Xanax abuse can lead to addiction. If you or someone you care about has become addicted to Xanax, professional help may be necessary. Although some people can take benzodiazepines without complications, some individuals may develop dependence, and others may misuse the medication. Xanax is a prescription medication that treats conditions such as anxiety and panic disorder. The generic version, alprazolam, is the most frequently prescribed psychotropic medication in the United States. A psychotropic is a medication that affects how the brain functions.

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