The final stage occurs when they find it near impossible to get through daily life without taking drugs. In the short term, individuals may experience relaxation and reduced anxiety from Xanax use. However, misuse or prolonged use can lead to adverse effects such as memory issues, confusion, and even seizures.

Are Medications Used in Xanax Treatment?

• In treatment, you’ll prioritize routine and structure to get your life back on track.
• They may also lie or use deceptive behaviors to get more medication.
• Xanax is in the benzodiazepine drug class and can effectively lower excitement levels in the brain thereby giving a person a sense of calm and comfort.
• Luckily, there are numerous options when it comes to recovering from Xanax addiction.
• The safest way to stop taking Xanax and alleviate withdrawal symptoms is to taper your dose.
• Quitting cold turkey can increase your risk of extreme and dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including delirium and grand mal seizures.

Outpatient programs require you to attend onsite (or virtual) counseling sessions and therapies, which look similar or identical to inpatient services. However, you return home or to a sober living environment after treatment each day. Jenn is a Canadian writer and poet with a background in psychology, sociology, and natural health. She is the founder of The Master in You, a mental wellness site that provides information about the role that thoughts and emotions play in our physical and emotional health. Jenn is passionate about inner growth and the power of the mind-body connection, and this informs her writing and research on addiction treatment. On Rehabaid, Jenn aims to write accessible, informative content and provide resources that xanax addiction can help people make empowered and informed decisions about their recovery.

Levels of Care

Treatment may involve a combination of strategies, including detoxification and various psychotherapeutic and psychosocial approaches. The way a person behaves while living with an addiction can vary widely. You may notice changes in mood, behavior, appearance, or performance at work or school, but many of these can be attributed to other factors as well.

Dependence

The exact reason for this is unclear, but it may relate to a potential increase in depression, infections, respiratory issues, and accidents. Furthermore, there is some association of Xanax with an increased risk of suicide. The potential for addiction is higher with Xanax than with lower-potency benzodiazepines like Librium (chlordiazepoxide).

Xanax Withdrawal Medications

“Alcohol and benzos are the most potentially serious withdrawals because you can have seizures,” Dr. Kevin Wandler told Drug Rehab.com. Wandler is the chief medical officer of Advanced Recovery Systems, which operates rehab facilities across the United States. They may visit multiple doctors to get Xanax prescriptions or buy it on the street. They may also turn to alcohol or other depressants when Xanax isn’t available. Taking a benzodiazepine such as Xanax for longer than three or four weeks can lead to dependence.