Key Takeaways:
- Misusing Xanax, such as taking higher doses, using without a prescription, or combining it with other substances, can quickly lead to dependence and dangerous health risks.
- Withdrawal from Xanax can be severe and sometimes life-threatening, making medical supervision essential for safe detox and recovery.
- San Diego Wellness Center offers medical detox, residential treatment, therapy, and aftercare to help individuals overcome Xanax addiction and rebuild their lives.
Recognizing the Signs Early
For many people, Xanax is prescribed to ease anxiety or panic attacks. While it can be effective when taken as directed, misuse can quickly turn into dependence. What begins as a small dose for short-term relief can grow into something more dangerous, daily reliance that leads to addiction.
Across the United States, prescription drug misuse is a growing concern. Xanax, being one of the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepines, is often misused for its calming and euphoric effects. People may start taking more than prescribed, using it without a prescription, or combining it with alcohol or other drugs to intensify the effects. Over time, the body becomes dependent, and stopping suddenly can trigger severe withdrawal symptoms.
At San Diego Wellness Center, we help individuals and families understand the warning signs of Xanax addiction and guide them toward effective treatment. Knowing what to look for is the first step in getting help before the consequences become life-threatening.
What is Xanax?
Xanax (alprazolam) is a prescription medication in the benzodiazepine class. It works by slowing down brain activity, helping reduce anxiety and panic. When taken as prescribed under medication management, it can be safe for short-term use.
However, when people start misusing Xanax, such as taking more than prescribed, using it without medical guidance, or smoking it, the risks can escalate quickly. These choices can overwhelm the body, leading to dangerous side effects, a higher chance of dependence, and in some cases, a life-threatening overdose.
Will Xanax Get You High?
Yes, it can. While Xanax is intended for anxiety treatment, taking large doses or using it in ways other than prescribed can produce a euphoric high. This feeling is one reason why Xanax abuse has become so widespread. The high is often followed by drowsiness, confusion, and impaired coordination, which increase the risk of accidents and dangerous behavior.
Dangers of Xanax Addiction
The dangers of Xanax addiction extend beyond physical dependence. Misuse can affect nearly every area of life, from relationships and employment to overall health. Common risks include:
- Memory problems and trouble concentrating
- Increased risk of falls and accidents
- Depression and mood swings
- Severe withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit
Mixing Xanax with alcohol, opioids, or other sedatives can be deadly, as it increases the risk of respiratory failure.
Common Xanax Addiction Symptoms
Recognizing Xanax addiction symptoms early can make a major difference in recovery. Signs may include:
- Taking higher doses than prescribed or more often than recommended
- Needing Xanax to feel calm or function normally
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Memory lapses or confusion
- Drowsiness and lack of coordination
- Visiting multiple doctors for prescriptions (doctor shopping)
What is the Most Common Side Effect of Xanax?
The most common side effect is drowsiness, and while it might seem harmless at first, it can quietly put you and others at risk. Feeling overly tired can make it harder to drive safely, focus at work, or keep up with daily responsibilities. When Xanax is used often over a long period, this ongoing sedation can deepen into more serious issues like depression, clouded thinking, and poor decision-making.
Is Xanax Good for Long-Term Anxiety?
Benzodiazepines like Xanax are usually avoided for long-term anxiety treatment because the body can build dependence and tolerance over time. For ongoing anxiety, doctors often recommend safer, non-addictive medications along with therapy approaches that help people manage symptoms without risking addiction.
Does Xanax Have Withdrawal?
Absolutely. Withdrawal from Xanax can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally, and in some cases even life-threatening without proper medical supervision. The body can react strongly when the drug is reduced or stopped, which is why having trained professionals monitor and support you during this process is so important. Symptoms can include:
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Tremors
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Seizures in severe cases
The length and intensity of Xanax withdrawal can differ greatly from person to person. Factors like the dosage taken, how long it’s been used, and your overall health all play a part. Some people may have symptoms that fade in a few days, while others can experience lingering effects for weeks, which makes having professional support even more important.
What Medication is Used for Xanax Withdrawal?
There is no single “one-size” medication for withdrawal, but doctors may prescribe longer-acting benzodiazepines to taper use safely. Other medications may help manage specific symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, or nausea. At San Diego Wellness Center, our medication management process ensures clients detox safely while receiving round-the-clock monitoring.
What is a Drug Like Xanax But Not Addictive?
Some antidepressants and non-benzodiazepine medications for anxiety can help with symptoms while not carrying as many risks for addiction. Your doctor may recommend a long-term option such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or buspirone, where therapeutic levels reduce anxiety, while their addictive potential is low. Medications from this range are often prescribed with therapy to allow individuals to work towards healthier sustainable methods of coping with anxiety.
Smoking Xanax and Other Dangerous Methods of Use
While Xanax is typically taken orally, some people crush and smoke it to feel effects faster. This method is dangerous because it delivers the drug more rapidly into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of overdose, lung irritation, and other health complications.
Prescription Drug Abuse and Xanax
Xanax misuse is a form of prescription drug abuse. It often starts with legitimate use for anxiety or panic but escalates when tolerance builds. Signs of abuse include:
- Taking the medication without a prescription
- Mixing it with alcohol or other drugs
- Ignoring work, school, or family responsibilities
- Hiding use from loved ones
Treatment for Xanax Addiction at San Diego Wellness Center
At San Diego Wellness Center, we provide a safe and supportive environment for recovery. Our treatment programs address both the physical dependence and the emotional side of addiction.
Our services include:
- Medical detox with 24/7 supervision
- Residential treatment in a calm, coastal setting
- Therapy options including CBT, DBT, and group therapy
- Education and relapse prevention planning
- Support for co-occurring mental health conditions
We also focus on aftercare to help clients maintain sobriety long after leaving our facility.
Get Help at San Diego Wellness Center
Xanax addiction is a serious health issue that can require professional treatment. Understanding Xanax addiction symptoms early may not only save a life; but lessen irreversible damage. If you see yourself, or a loved one, experiencing signs of dependence, it’s best to act rather than wait until symptoms get worse.
Call San Diego Wellness Center today to contact one of our specialists, and take the first step towards recovery. Our staff genuinely cares about your recovery and will support you in detox, treatment, and aftercare so that you can reclaim your health and the next best future.
FAQs
What is Xanax?
Xanax is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Misuse can lead to dependence, addiction, and serious health risks.
Will Xanax get you high?
Yes. Taking Xanax in high doses or without a prescription can produce a euphoric high, but it also increases the risk of overdose and addiction.
What is the most common side effect of Xanax?
Drowsiness is the most common, which can impair driving, work, and daily activities.
Does Xanax have withdrawal?
Yes. Withdrawal can be severe and should be managed under medical supervision to avoid life-threatening complications.
What medication is used for Xanax withdrawal?
Doctors may use longer-acting benzodiazepines or other medications to manage symptoms during a safe, supervised taper.