Xanax Withdrawal and Detox

Xanax is the brand-name of a benzodiazepine called alprazolam, which is a central nervous system depressant that has sedative effects. It’s prescribed to treat anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia, and other similar disorders. Xanax produces feelings of euphoria that most people find very appealing, and it’s not uncommon for people to continue taking the drug more often or for longer than they should in order to achieve this high.

While Xanax is very effective therapeutically, it’s only meant for occasional or short-term use, because it’s also powerfully addictive, and tolerance and dependence set in rapidly. Moreover, Xanax withdrawal and detox can be complicated, and in rare cases even fatal, so it’s important to seek help from a drug treatment facility when use turns into abuse or addiction.

Xanax Withdrawal Timeline

Xanax is a short-acting drug, which means that within 6 to 12 hours of taking the drug, the effects will begin to wear off and the symptoms of Xanax withdrawal will begin. In the beginning, symptoms are mild, but they gradually progress as detox continues.

Withdrawal symptoms will peak within the first 1 to 4 days. This is when they’ll be the most intense. During this time, the symptoms that prompted the Xanax use in the first place (such as anxiety and insomnia) may return, possibly worse than before. This is known as rebound insomnia or rebound anxiety, and is when withdrawal is the most dangerous because the chance of seizures and convulsions are highest.

After the first 4 days of detox, symptoms will gradually begin to taper off, and the worst of the symptoms will be over after the first 1 to 2 weeks of detox. After 2 weeks, most symptoms will be gone, and whatever remains will be mild. Insomnia and anxiety especially may persist, but the more severe and dangerous symptoms should pass.

3 to 4 weeks into withdrawal, most symptoms will have subsided and disappeared. However, it is possible that some Xanax withdrawal symptoms will persist for a few months or up to 2 years, though to a much lesser degree than during the first few weeks.

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms of Xanax

Xanax withdrawal can be severe, and even fatal if detox is done too quickly or without medical supervision. It can cause convulsions and seizures, and these can be deadly if the person detoxing isn’t being supervised and doesn’t get medical attention immediately. Other physical symptoms of Xanax withdrawal include:

• Blurred vision and sensitivity to light
• Loss of appetite
• Changes in the sense of smell or sensitivity to smells
• Aching muscles and headaches
• Tremors
• Cramps and diarrhea
• Sweating or fever
• Tingling in the arms and legs or numbness in the extremities
• Heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Breathing difficulties

Psychological Symptoms of Xanax Withdrawal

Because Xanax is a prescription medication that’s used to treat certain conditions and symptoms, these symptoms return when a person stops using the drug. Xanax withdrawal produces rebound symptoms, which means that when the symptoms do return, they tend to be more severe than they were before the drug. The most common psychological effects of Xanax detox include:

• Panic
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Insomnia
• Disorientation
• Malaise
• Short-term memory loss

Factors Affecting Xanax Withdrawal

Although withdrawal symptoms are inevitable following a Xanax detox, there are factors that can exacerbate or mitigate the symptoms. Age, for instance, can make a big difference in the withdrawal experience because withdrawal symptoms seem to get worse as a person gets older. Dose and use are other major factors to consider because taking more Xanax for a prolonged period will likely result in a withdrawal that lasts longer and has more acute symptoms. Other factors that can affect withdrawal include:

• Whether a person has a positive or negative attitude going into detox
• Polydrug use, because other drugs can complicate withdrawal and add new symptoms to the mix
• Metabolism and body mass, because these can both affect how quickly a person’s body processes the drug
• Co-occurring disorders, which can make symptoms more unpredictable
• Liver and kidney function, which factor into how fast a person’s body metabolizes the drug

Xanax Withdrawal Medications & Remedies

There are a few things that can help mitigate the symptoms of a Xanax withdrawal, and they include medications and alternative remedies. The two most common medications that are used to help with Xanax addiction are:

Buspirone: Buspirone takes up to three weeks to take effect, but when it does, it can alleviate some of the psychological effects of withdrawal

Flumazenil: Flumazenil is often used to treat people who have overdosed on Xanax or other benzodiazepines, but it can also provide relief from some withdrawal symptoms, or potentially speed up the detox process.

Aside from medications, there are also other ways to manage the symptoms of withdrawal. The benefits of these alternative remedies are that they empower people to take control of their own feelings and symptoms, and provide healthier and more effective ways of dealing with emotional and physical stress. Some of the most popular alternative remedies for Xanax withdrawal symptom management include:

• Community-based recovery groups
• Exercise
• Practicing relaxation techniques to manage stress and promote sleep
• Yoga and meditation
• Experiential Therapies

Xanax Detox

A Xanax detox typically takes about 4 weeks, with the worst of the withdrawal symptoms within the first 1 to 4 days. After the last dose, the drug will be metabolized and excreted by the body, and within 6 to 12 hours of the last dose, the effects of withdrawal will start to appear. Xanax detox should never be done cold turkey, and it should always happen under medical supervision. This ensures that the person detoxing has the watchful eyes of a trained medical professional, who can anticipate complications and see the warning signs of oncoming seizures and convulsions, which can be fatal. Depending on how much and how long a person has been using, a medical practitioner may recommend slowly tapering off the drug to mitigate the more dangerous and unpleasant detox symptoms.

The Best in Addiction Treatment is at Futures

Although Xanax has approved therapeutic uses treating anxiety, insomnia, and panic disorders, it isn’t completely safe or without side effects. Xanax is highly addictive, and people who use this drug regularly will build a tolerance and become dependent very quickly. When Xanax abuse and addiction occur, the best chance a person has at recovery is drug treatment at an inpatient residential facility that can provide a medically supervised detox and a wide range of therapy and programs. With therapy, counseling, wellness training, relapse prevention, and ongoing support, it is possible to get sober and manage a Xanax addiction long-term. Contact us today to learn how we can show you how.