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Orange County Xanax Detox

Drug and Alcohol Detox Center

Understanding Xanax Abuse

Xanax is a sedative and tranquilizer.  It falls into a class of drugs called Benzodiazepines.  Xanax is one of the most popular and well-known types of these drugs.  Other popular Benzodiazepines are Ativan, Valium, and Klonopin.  These drugs all contain the same active ingredients, but some are faster-acting or longer-lasting than others.  Xanax and other Benzodiazepines (often shortened to Benzos) are prescribed to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, and Insomnia.  Benzos are the most commonly prescribed drugs in America, but they are also the most addictive.  This combination has made Xanax abuse one of the most significant substance abuse issues today.

When Xanax is taken regularly or when it is taken in doses that are greater than the doctor’s recommendation, a user can become addicted very quickly.  Tolerance to Xanax develops rapidly.  This causes the people who use the drug to take increasingly higher dosages to achieve the effects that they desire.  Xanax users will then become physically and mentally dependent upon the medication and will have trouble functioning without the drug in their system.  If a person who is dependent on Xanax attempts to quit or cannot get the amount of drugs that they need, they will experience the effects of withdrawal.

Some early symptoms of withdrawal are anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, and shakiness.  Unfortunately, a person may not even realize that they have become addicted to Xanax until they try to cut back and experience withdrawals for the first time.  This has a dramatic effect on the subconscious mind of the addict.  They will begin to seek out the drugs even though they wish to stop taking them.  Their body’s desire for balance makes the mind crave more Benzodiazepines.  At this phase on an addiction, the user will prioritize drugs above most other things in their life.  This is because the drug is telling them that it is crucial to their survival.  A person with a Xanax addiction will ignore relationships and responsibilities in favor of drug-seeking behavior.

Signs of Xanax Abuse

  • Continuing to use Xanax after it has negative consequences
  • Being unable to stop using Xanax even though they want to quit
  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Spending an excessive amount obtaining and using Xanax
  •  Not being able to control how much Xanax they take
  • Getting arrested or getting a DUI

Xanax is a Dangerous Drug to Detox From

As a treatment for anxiety, Xanax’s primary function is to calm people down.  It does this by acting as a central nervous system depressant.  Xanax slows down a person’s heart rate and lowers their blood pressure and body temperature.  When a person builds up a tolerance and becomes dependent on Xanax, their brain adapts to these levels, and it becomes accustomed to operating under these conditions.  If a Benzodiazepine is suddenly removed from a person’s system, these levels bounce back up to heightened levels.  When attempting to stop using Xanax, a regular user’s blood pressure, body temperature, respiration, and heart rate will increase rapidly.  This sudden jolt to a person’s system can cause seizures that may lead to a coma or even death.

Xanax withdrawal also causes psychological problems.  When a person takes Xanax, the drug acts as it is designed to.  It relaxes them and alleviates symptoms of anxiety and panic.  If a person who has become dependent on Xanax attempts to stop taking the drug, their brain won’t be able to regulate stress as it normally would.  This causes devastating emotional withdrawal symptoms.  Users will be overcome by anxiety, panic, and paranoia.  They may even fall into a depression and have thoughts of suicide.  Without the drug to moderate their emotions, Xanax users who are withdrawing will struggle to control their emotions.  They may become irritable, suffer from mood swings, have nightmares, and even hallucinations.   A detox from Xanax should always be supervised by a medical professional.  With support from mental health professionals, a person can overcome the physical and psychological symptoms of Benzodiazepine withdrawal.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

Naturally, the extent of the severity and occurrence of symptoms will vary depending on the individual’s history of abuse and individual physical condition, including any exacerbating co-existing medical or psychological disorder. However, the risks of detox for all serious abusers of Xanax are potentially severe enough that Benzodiazepine Detox should never be attempted alone.

Infogrpahic: WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS OF XANAX Timeline: Withdrawal symptoms start 6-12 hours after the last dose. Withdrawal symptoms peak around the second day and resolve after 4-5 days. Some symptoms may last for weeks or months. Symptoms: Increased Blood pressure Increased heart rate Seizures that can lead to coma and even death may occur Headache Blurred vision Muscle aches Tremors Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Loss of appetite Insomnia Cramps Heart palpitations Hypertension Sweating and/or fever Delirium

Our Orange County Detox Center can help you successfully complete a Xanax detox.  During a clinically managed Xanax detox, medications may be prescribed that can make the Detox more comfortable and safer for the individual. Such medications help reduce or eliminate cravings, ease anxiety, and help the individual transition more gently from an abrupt cessation from taking Benzodiazepines. A person can’t just take a prescription pill and detox on their own. These medications require constant monitoring by medical staff.

Recovery from Xanax Addiction

Medical Detox is the first step in overcoming Benzodiazepine dependence.  A person in recovery needs a clear head, not one that’s foggy from the physical and psychological symptoms of a Xanax withdrawal.  This will put a person in the proper headspace to make life-changing decisions and begin the process of learning how to live a life of sobriety.  After a professionally-monitored Xanax detox, the individual is ready to start the journey into long-term recovery.

Learning to live without Xanax will take time.  A recovering addict will need to undergo psychotherapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to restructure their relationship to their environment.  Through this process they can develop coping mechanisms to deal with stressful situations in a healthy way.  Therapies like these are often provided by residential treatment centers.  In this environment, a person can participate in one-on-one counseling, group therapy, addiction education, and other treatments that will give individuals in recovery the tools to avoid relapse and learn to live a healthy life.

Contact ReAlign Detox today to begin the recovery process.  We have experienced medical directors and staff available 24 hours a day to provide services such as follow-up visits, comfort meds, and aftercare. Private room care is available, we accept referrals, and we accept many major insurance plans for payment.