Xanax (Alprazolam) Withdrawal, Side Effects, Addiction and Treatment

This entry was posted in Benzodiazepine on September 13, 2018 by Diane Ridaeus.

Last Updated on January 8, 2021 by Carol Gillette

Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Written by Diane Ridaeus
Medically Reviewed by Dr Michael Loes MD

Xanax withdrawal needs to be performed in a very specific way. Unfortunately, detox facilities still seem to miss the mark, making the process much more difficult than necessary, causing much more suffering than any patient would want.

Benzodiazepines like Xanax are not a typical drug withdrawal. The strategy for eliminating this drug needs to be compassionate and tailored to individual needs.

Do you feel alone in this

struggle? So did we.

Alternative to Meds has been the expert on Xanax withdrawal for over 15 years. We have published evidence regarding our success. While some CAN transition from benzodiazepines rather easily, many people will require a much more nuanced path back to a state of ease. For instance, many are neurotoxic, resulting in constant fight or flight (sympathetic overdrive) which is difficult to endure. That neurotoxic burden would need to get cleaned up so that the withdrawal is even possible. Truly, every person is different and needs a thorough investigative and step-by-step process.

You are likely well aware of the horrors of Xanax. The anxiety, the increasing doses, the life of true confusion, and panic. Trying to live life on benzos can be punishing, and getting off of them seems impossible. We know. That was us.

Please watch the videos you see here or call us to get hope about your situation.

Watch as our founder, Lyle Murphy, discusses some of the most popular questions regarding Xanax withdrawal

Xanax (alprazolam) is a tranquilizer in the benzodiazepine drug class, used as a sedative to treat anxiety and panic disorders. The drug is potent and short-acting and has a risk of dependence after as little as 2 weeks. Cessation from Xanax should never be abrupt, due to significant health risks. Xanax is the brand name for the generic drug alprazolam. This tranquilizer is a commonly prescribed medication primarily used in the treatment of anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

Below we have provided some information on the most frequently requested topics that are highly recommended to research before starting or stopping Xanax. A surprisingly overlooked fact is the tenfold increased risk of overdose deaths when benzodiazepines are combined with opiates.¹

Understanding safe medication withdrawal is vitally important as a prescription to Xanax should only last for a limited time, as little as a few weeks, and it will become necessary to correctly withdraw from the drug at that time to avoid potential health risks. More information is available below.

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What is Xanax (Alprazolam) Used For?

Xanax is a drug for which the exact mechanics of how it works are unknown.² What is known is that the drug is a central nervous system suppressant, and is primarily prescribed to treat anxiety disorders such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or Panic Disorder. Because of the drug’s dampening effects on alertness and cognitive function, driving or operating machinery is not advisable when under the influence of Xanax or other similar sedatives.

Day to day tension or stress does not usually require a benzodiazepine prescription.²

Xanax Alternative Names and Slang

Xanax is a brand or trade name for the generic drug, alprazolam. Other brand names in the US include Gabazolamine-05 and Niravam.

Xanax has developed a presence as a street drug, possibly due to its sedative effects and pleasurable sensation of mild euphoria.

Numerous street names have evolved, including:

Zanbars
Blue footballs, footballs
Upjohns
Yellow boys, white boys, white girls
Zannies
Z-bars
Bars
Handlebars
Tranx
Benzos
Schoolbus
Planks

Xanax Side Effects

Xanax can cause mild as well as more serious side effects. Always let your doctor know if you experience unusual or uncomfortable symptoms when taking any benzodiazepine. These side effects can include:

Sedation
Drowsiness
Vertigo or dizzy feeling
Loss of memory, amnesia
Mood changes, i.e., irritability, depression, anger, apathy
Loss of libido
Insomnia
Cognitive impairment, reduced clarity or problem-solving ability
Loss of coordination, losing balance
Gastrointestinal issues such as constipation or diarrhea
Unusual sweating
Appetite changes
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight loss
Dry mouth
Flu-like symptoms, headache, cough, stuffy nose, aches, weakness
Vision problems, blurring of the vision, perception changes

Due to the sedative effects, a person taking Xanax should not drive a car or operate machinery where alertness is required for safety reasons.

Xanax should not be taken along with other CNS suppressants as the effects can be significantly intensified, sometimes leading to unconsciousness, coma, or death.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

The FDA states Xanax withdrawal symptoms include:

Seizure
Drug cravings
Anxiety, panic attacks
Cognitive impairment
Rebound insomnia
Muscle pain, cramping, weakness in the muscles
Dizziness, vertigo
Nausea, vomiting
Headache
Mood changes, depression, crying spells
Memory lapses

These are not all the withdrawal symptoms that may be experienced while coming off Xanax.

Special Note: Never stop using benzodiazepine drugs suddenly. Withdrawals can be eased by gradually tapering down instead of stopping all at once.

Discontinuing/Getting Off Xanax (Alprazolam)

Quitting Xanax or any benzodiazepine drug can be deadly if done abruptly, i.e., all at once. A gradual taper is the FDA recommended approach to avoid these severe and sometimes deadly withdrawal symptoms.²

Xanax FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked topics about Xanax, including safety, health risks, mechanism of action in the brain, and other important subjects of interest. It is recommended that a person learn as much as possible about a drug before starting or stopping a prescription.

How Does Xanax (Alprazolam) Work?

The mechanics of action of benzodiazepines is not completely understood. Drug lab and other research projects show that benzodiazepine drugs likely activate GABA, a naturally occurring neurotransmitter, which has a sedating or inhibitory effect on the central nervous system.

Xanax alters how natural brain chemicals work. After a short time, the body can become used to these effects and will need some time and careful tapering for readjusting to reduced doses. If not done correctly, cravings for the drug can lead to continued usage and addiction.

Can You Overdose on Xanax?

Yes. Benzodiazepines are significantly linked to overdose deaths. This is especially documented where benzodiazepines were taken in combination with other CNS depressants such as opiates or alcohol; even histamines obtained over the counter can severely react with Xanax, requiring immediate emergency intervention to prevent coma or death.

Symptoms of Xanax overdose include slowed breathing, slow heart rate, blue color in the lips or face, confusion, weakness or loss of muscle control, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, and death.

How Addictive are Benzodiazepine Drugs?

Xanax has a high risk for dependence or addiction if taken for more than several weeks. Clinical tests have not been performed for more than four months.

After dependence or addiction sets in, abruptly stopping Xanax can produce severe withdrawal symptoms, sometimes deadly in their effect.

As with all short-acting sleep aids, by the morning their sedating effects will have worn off. One of the considering factors regarding Xanax is that it is short-acting. If someone takes Xanax at night, it can be that by morning they are no longer feeling the sedating effects, and, in addition, the person may be troubled by daytime anxiety. Daytime Inter-dosing to mitigate these manifestations may be initiated by the prescribing doctor, whereupon the patient may find they are taking the medication 3 or more times each day as well as at night, but with no resolution in sight to these symptoms.

Always seek competent medical guidance and advice when it comes to the time that stopping Xanax is desired.

Are Benzodiazepines Controlled Substances?

Yes. All benzodiazepines are Schedule IV drugs. These drugs have a risk of dependence, and they also have valid uses in treating certain medical or psychiatric conditions.

How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System?

Xanax is a relative short-acting benzodiazepine compared to other drugs in this class. However, urine tests will show the drug present for up to 7 days after taking Xanax. Saliva tests will test positive for between 2 and 3 days, and a blood test will be reliably read up to about 6 days.

Alprazolam has a half-life of approximately 12 hours, with many factors that can shorten or lengthen that time frame, including liver health, age, diet, and certain genetic factors affecting metabolization.

Can Xanax Damage the Liver or Kidneys?

Xanax warnings issued by the FDA on the drug label state that those with impaired renal or hepatic function should avoid taking Xanax (alprazolam). These impairments can cause the drug to build up in the system excessively, due to the inability of the drug to be broken down or metabolized quickly. ^2,5

Discuss any known kidney or liver damage with your prescribing physician before starting a prescription of Xanax or other medications that could be affected.

What are Benzodiazepine Alternatives?

Xanax alternative medicine includes the use of natural remedies that can be conjured up from a broad range of different types of herbs, vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and supplements. The most effective alternatives include nutritional therapy, dietary treatment, IV nutrients, supplementation, herbal remedies, minerals, vitamins, and natural substances to stabilize brain chemistry.

Learn More about Xanax Alternatives

Can Alprazolam Cause Dementia or Memory Problems?

It is not known definitively what causes dementia but environmental factors including lifestyle as well as genetics are considered as possible contributors. This is a condition primarily seen in elderly populations, but there is younger onset dementia, more rarely seen. Symptoms of dementia include cognitive impairment, memory loss, confusion, and personality changes. There is some consideration that heredity may play a part in this disorder.

Since Xanax can also cause similar symptoms and is regularly prescribed to this age group, it is unclear whether Xanax causes dementia or whether it causes a similar set of symptoms that may be unrelated to genetics and heredity.

Xanax can cause amnesia and retrograde amnesia, and these side effects may pass after the drug is stopped.^{3, 4}

Treatment for Benzodiazepine Abuse and Addiction?

At Alternative to Meds Center, we specialize in safe medication withdrawals, and also provide testing and therapies to relieve symptoms for which prescription drugs may have been prescribed in the first place.

The FDA recommends that for day-to-day stress or tension, such as workplace stress, or family discord, etc., that benzodiazepines should not routinely be prescribed in these cases.²

However, it is known that benzodiazepines are prescribed more commonly than almost any other medication in the US. It is also known that symptoms such as anxiety could have environmental causes and are documented as being related to poor diet, sleep deprivation, and certain chemical pollutants that we are commonly exposed to. These are factors that can create a host of symptoms including anxiety, tiredness, weakness, depression, and other unwanted feelings that drugs may only mask temporarily.

A particularly popular aspect of the Alternative to Meds program is investigative lab testing to detect accumulated toxins and facilitate their removal from the body. It is true that some symptoms like anxiety and insomnia could be related to neurotoxicity, especially troublesome in our industrialized world. Pollutants, including pesticides, food additives, and heavy metals, do have the capacity to damage and interfere with normal healthy hormones, reproductive systems, neurochemistry, and innumerable parts of the complex body. Clearing these is a positive step toward natural mental health improvements and long-term success.

Safe tapering is another specialty that can help those who have found limited or no success in drug-based treatments and who wish to discontinue them.

We invite you to contact us for further information if you are struggling with Xanax addiction or dependence, and wish to find holistic answers or alternatives for Xanax.

1. CDC WONDER online database

2. FDA drug label Xanax

3. Walton AG “Anxiety Meds Valium, Xanax And Ativan May Not Lead To Dementia After All” Forbes, 2016 Feb 4 [cited 2020 Jun 13]
4. Breggin PR MD “Brain-Disabling Effects of Benzodiazepines” [INTERNET, benzo.org.uk] [cited 2020 Jun 13]
5. Gronbek L, Watson H, et al., “Benzodiazepines and risk for hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis and ascites.” UEG Journal [Internet] 2017 Jul 26 [cited 2020 Oct 8]

This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.

Dr. Michael Loes, M.D.

Dr. Michael Loes is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pain Management and Addiction Medicine. He holds a dual license in Homeopathic and Integrative Medicine. He obtained his medical doctorate at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1978. Dr. Loes performed an externship at the National Institute of Health for Psychopharmacology. Additionally, he is a well-published author including Arthritis: The Doctor’s Cure, The Aspirin Alternative, The Healing Response, and Spirit Driven Health: The Psalmist’s Guide for Recovery. He has been awarded the Minnesota Medical Foundation’s “Excellence in Research” Award.

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Diane Ridaeus

Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.

Medical Disclaimer:
Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.

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