If you or a loved need to safely detox from drugs or alcohol, contact Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center Today.
Alprazolam, more commonly known as brand name Xanax, belongs to a class of prescription sedatives called benzodiazepines (often called benzos). These drugs can be useful in treating anxiety and panic disorders due to their tranquilizing effects. Other common forms of benzodiazepines are Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, and Tranxene. In some cases, they can also be used to treat insomnia, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Alprazolam, more commonly known as brand name Xanax, belongs to a class of prescription sedatives called benzodiazepines (often called benzos). These drugs can be useful in treating anxiety and panic disorders due to their tranquilizing effects. Other common forms of benzodiazepines are Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, and Tranxene. In some cases, they can also be used to treat insomnia, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Benzos in America are common. Up to 15 percent of American’s have benzos somewhere in their household, according to the American Psychiatric Association. That’s equivalent to roughly 50 million prescriptions written per year. With benzos so common, they’ve seen increased access for recreational use. The most common source for those without a prescription comes from a relative or friend.
Benzos bind to GABA receptors in the brain, calming the central nervous system. Xanax is a particularly potent benzo and is safe in prescribed doses. Many people have a legitimate medical need for prescribed Xanax or other benzos.
Unfortunately, these drugs can be addictive and have a high potential for abuse. If misused or taken with other CNS depressants such as alcohol or opioids, the result can be dangerous. One study states that “nearly 95 percent of hospital admissions for benzodiazepine overdose claimed abuse of at least one other substance.”
Xanax addictions creep up on a person gradually. They influence an addict’s behavior on a subconscious level. Once an addiction has taken hold, an addict might desire to seek out and consume increasingly high quantities of benzodiazepines comes. This comes from a place deep in the addict’s brain where survival instincts are stored.
For many Xanax addicts, the attempt to get sober from these drugs causes them existential panic. Their brains know that withdrawal will cause them extreme pain.
Xanax’s high potency changes the chemistry of the brain. As with other drug and alcohol abuse, Xanax abuse can lead to a substance abuse disorder. Typically, a Xanax substance use disorder (or sedative use disorder) happens over months of long term use.
Know someone prescribed Xanax? Be mindful of signs of Xanax dependence:
Behavioral issues may accompany these symptoms. Such behavioral issues might lead to problems at school, work, or home. In cases where the abuser is not prescribed Xanax, the drug abuser may steal pills from a loved one or do other illegal acts to get the drug.
When users build a tolerance to Xanax, users will need more and more of it to get high. In time, a physical Xanax dependence will develop. Then, as a user tries to cut down or stop using, they will start to feel withdrawals. The most common symptoms of Xanax withdrawal are in the list above and include rebound anxiety.
More severe dependencies and withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, sometimes even fatal:
The duration of withdrawal from benzos depends on the varying length of the effects. Xanax is a short-acting benzo, so symptoms can start as early as 6 hours after administration. Other popular benzos like Valium or Klonopin might take 24 hours until their withdrawals begin.
Taking benzos long term, especially in high doses, leads to a lasting withdrawal process. Moderate physical dependencies might take as short as a week to overcome. Severe cases, where a user must slowly lower dosage to avoid life-threatening withdrawals, can take up to 90 days.
Due to the long withdrawal timeline of benzo recovery, a medically supervised withdrawal through an addiction treatment program is recommended. In these residential addiction treatment centers like ours in Orange County, Xanax detox can be monitored, and patients can receive medication-assisted treatment. Another option is to gradually reduce the drug’s use over time by carefully controlling usage.
Detox by itself typically isn’t enough to build long-lasting sobriety. That’s why we offer rehab programs with a holistic approach to substance abuse treatment.
Step away from the stresses of work, school, or toxic relationships. The immersive nature of inpatient rehab allows our patients to reexamine their choices outside the context of their daily routine.
Our professionally supervised detoxes help with the first step in recovery, offering medicines and therapeutic services to make the process more comfortable. The medically assisted detox program at SoCal Sunrise will safely transition addicts to a drug-free lifestyle as our expert counselors target underlying causes of drug abuse.
We’ve put extra effort into creating a peaceful environment for our Xanax addiction treatment. The property was designed to produce a calming ambiance that helps relieve anxieties through recovery.
We have individual therapy sessions that get to the root of the addiction. They will explore what feelings or shortcomings they were attempting to medicate through drug use. Our inpatient program offers behavioral therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). These therapies encourage patients to change the way that they react to environmental stressors, thereby changing the way that they relate to the world.
We also have group counseling for patients so that patients may share and learn from the experiences of others. Other group therapy we offer includes physical activity and meditation techniques, which we believe crucial for long term recovery. Our evidence-based healing methods are focused on relapse prevention by guiding patients to a healthier lifestyle.
Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center employs holistic treatment methods. Having a healthy body and a calm mind will empower individuals in recovery to handle stress in a relaxed, reflective manner. Patients here learn to control their cravings, to regulate their emotions, and rise above their destructive, old habits to live a healthy, happy life.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a Xanax or benzo addiction, call our specialists to explore treatment options. We can get started on a personalized program today!
If you or a loved need to safely detox from drugs or alcohol, contact Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center Today.
