Xanax Addiction And Withdrawal

prescription drugXanax has made the news lately due to the high profile death of Whitney Houston. Unfortunately she was not the first celebrity or civilian to die from a concoction of Xanax and other depressants, nor will she be the last. Xanax is a highly addictive depressant that is only regulated for use under strict guidelines, however these guidelines are rarely followed which lead to addictions. Anyone addicted to Xanax should seek Xanax Detox and treatment immediately. The detox symptoms are not fun and can be dangerous which is why supervised detox is the best way to get Xanax out of the body's system.
Xanax

Xanax which is known as Alprazolam is classified as a benzodiazepine; it is a psychoactive depressant that is usually prescribed to relieve mild to moderate anxiety, panic attacks, acute stress, and nervous tensions over a short period of time. However due to its tranquilizing nature people become addicted quickly. It is the most widely dispersed Benzo as well as the most abused. In the United States it is only regulated to be dispersed for eight weeks at a time however, this guideline is rarely followed.  The higher the dose the more likely an individual is to develop and addiction to Xanax.
Xanax Detox

The body forms a physical dependency on Xanax after a time; this means that trying to come off Xanax produces withdrawal symptoms. This is why a supervised detox off Xanax is highly recommended. What is important to note about Xanax withdrawal, is that some of these symptoms can actually last for up to a year.
Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms

Psychology symptoms produced when coming off of Xanax include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and depersonalization, sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights, obsessive negative thoughts, rapid mood changes, phobias, impaired cognitive functioning, suicidal ideation, nightmares, hallucinations, psychosis, and pill cravings. It should be noted that the more common side effect is a fear of psychosis rather than the actual presentation of psychosis.
Physical Withdrawal Symptoms

The physical side effects of coming off of Xanax include; muscle pain/tension, joint pain, tinnitus, headaches, shaking/tremors, vision issues. Itchy skin is common as well as abdominal discomfort , the sensation of electrical shocks, numbness in the extremities, fatigue and weakness, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, symptoms resembling the flu, muscle twitching, extreme thirst, sexual dysfunction, heart palpitations, dizziness, vertigo, and a feeling of breathlessness. These are only the most common physical side effects of coming off of Xanax.
Xanax vs. Other Benzos

What is significantly different concerning Xanax as opposed to other benzodiazepines is that the ability to self detox off of Xanax or be tapered off is much more difficult. This means that once a physiologic dependence has rendered itself, the ability to stop taking Xanax is highly unsuccessful. This is why medical assistance detoxing from Xanax is needed.

An addiction to any drug is very dangerous; however people are ignorant to the effects of Xanax. Some believe that because it is a prescription drug it is ok, and when used properly it is. However, when mixing it with other depressants or alcohol Xanax is deadly. This is why anyone abusing Xanax or physically dependent upon it, needs to seek Xanax Detox immediately. Due to the detox symptoms withdrawal from Xanax must be medically monitored to ensure safety, this is why a detox-rehab facility is so important when it comes to kicking a Xanax addiction.