On This Page:

• What Is Xanax?
• How Xanax Addiction Starts
• Telltale Signs of Xanax Addiction
• Long-Term Effects of Xanax Abuse
• Overcoming Xanax Withdrawal
• How You Can Help Someone on the Path to Xanax Addiction Treatment
• The Mount Sinai Wellness Approach to Xanax Rehab

What Is Xanax?

Xanax is the brand name of alprazolam, a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine medication. Xanax is the most widely prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States and is commonly used to treat conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, and insomnia. Xanax enhances the effects of gamma-amniobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical that blocks impulses between nerve cells in the brain, resulting in a calming sensation. When taken in higher doses, without a prescription, or for longer than prescribed, Xanax can lead to addiction that can be difficult to quit without professional help.

How Xanax Addiction Starts

If you or a loved one suffer with an addiction to Xanax, you might be asking yourselves how it all began. Just like any other addiction, there are a multitude of ways that one can end up with this affliction. One way is that the user tries Xanax recreationally or experimentally because they are curious about how it will make them feel, which can eventually lead them down the path of addiction. Due to its high prescription rates, another major cause of Xanax addiction is when an individual is prescribed Xanax and the substance triggers an addictive tendency they might not have had before. Because tolerance to Xanax develops quickly, they may find that they require more and more in order to achieve the same effects they previously enjoyed. In these situations, rather than succeeding in its original purpose to alleviate anxiety, Xanax sends them on a downward spiral of addiction.

Telltale Signs of Xanax Addiction

If you believe a loved one may be addicted to Xanax, or are concerned about your own use, it is always best to consult with a medical professional. Xanax use can be dangerous and lead to overdose, especially when using an unprescribed amount and when used in combination with other central nervous stimulants like Adderall or cocaine. Combining Xanax and alcohol is also unsafe because the two substances amplify the effects of one another. For these reasons, immediate medical attention is necessary, and that’s what we will provide at Mount Sinai Wellness Center. In the meantime, it might be helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the most common signs of Xanax addiction:

• Slurred speech
• Blurry vision
• Negatively impacted motor coordination
• Drowsiness
• Unusually frequent trips to the doctor
• Unusually antisocial behavior
• An unusual amount of problems keeping commitments
• Possession of unexplainable empty pill bottles
• Frequently appearing intoxicated without signs of alcohol use
• Issues with memory
• Uncharacteristic irritability
• Uncharacteristic emotional outbursts
• Sudden onslaught of legal troubles

This list is not exhaustive, nor is it the “be-all and end-all” of Xanax addiction signs. There are many more behaviors that can signify addiction, and recognizing the patterns above does not necessarily mean that someone is addicted to Xanax. However, it should give you an idea of what you can look out for if you are worried.

Long-Term Effects of Xanax Abuse

Taking Xanax for too long or without a doctor’s permission can cause a wide variety of adverse physical and behavioral health effects, including:

• Cognitive impairment
• Violent, aggressive, or hostile behavior
• Impaired motor function
• Liver damage
• Extreme weight fluctuations
• Seizures

Overcoming Xanax Withdrawal

When a person becomes addicted to Xanax, his or her body gets used to the substance and will respond in an unpleasant manner if he or she decides to quit. This is commonly known as “withdrawal.” Xanax withdrawal symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and can often push a person to use again to achieve relief, derailing their recovery journey before it even begins. This is why it is crucial for individuals struggling with Xanax addiction to seek the help of a professional medical detox service that can monitor their symptoms and help them get through this initial hurdle in as comfortable a manner as possible. Xanax withdrawal symptoms may include:

• Headaches
• Irregular heart rate
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Anxiety and irritability
• Paranoia
• Loss of appetite
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Seizures
• Intense cravings for Xanax
• Tremors

How You Can Help Someone on the Path to Xanax Addiction Treatment

If you believe that your loved one is suffering from Xanax addiction, it is important to approach the issue with compassion and understanding, not judgment. At Mount Sinai Wellness Center, we know that anyone can develop an addiction and no one is immune. More than one hundred individuals die every day due to drug overdose, and only about 10% of people with a substance use disorder receive any type of specialty treatment. Addiction is an overlooked epidemic in this country, and rather than dismissing it, as far too many tend to do, our goal should be to treat it with the same level of seriousness and care as any other disease. We help each person on a case-by-case basis find healing. While we encourage you to take the same approach as you begin to navigate this journey with your loved one, we know that this disease, just like any other, is best handled by a medical professional. Establishing empathy, boundaries and potentially an intervention are all great places to start. While holding an intervention for your loved one can be painful, it will be for the sake of their health and recovery. Mount Sinai Wellness utilizes evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions to help users transform their unhealthy lifestyle into healthy habits.

The Mount Sinai Wellness Approach to Xanax Rehab

Xanax addiction treatment typically works to address the physical compulsion to continue using the drug and the psychological imbalances that caused the urges to abuse in the first place. This usually consists of a detox phase that is potentially medically assisted. Our three-stage approach to a medical detox consists of evaluation, where we will review medical history, vitals and current symptoms, followed by stabilization, where we will monitor the neurological status and lastly, transition, which is the first step along the way to sobriety. The journey to sobriety will be lifelong and will take a continuous effort, but we provide our clients with the tools and support they need to feel confident in their ability to manage it. Options include intensive group therapy, holistic exercises, CBT for chronic pain, spirituality in recovery, supportive group therapy and more. Each patient prefers a slightly different approach, so we provide many options for the road to success. At Mount Sinai Wellness Center, we believe in a compassionate and holistic approach to healing. Because each person’s addiction is different, this will look different for every person. We do not practice a “standardized” approach; we practice an individualized approach backed by evidence and previous success stories.