5 Potential Side Effects of Xanax Abuse: How Inpatient Drug Rehab Can Help!

Xanax abuse is one of the major concerning prescription drug abuse among adults in the United States. 70% of teens get Xanax from their family medicinal cabinet as it is readily available and prescribed for anxiety. In 2021, around 14% of drug overdose deaths were linked to using Xanax as a primary substance. This drug has more cons than pros when misused or used for the long term!

ChoicePoint Addiction Treatment Center gets to the root cause of Xanax dependence and abuse. Call Now 844.445.2565 to get immediate help from its harms!

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Xanax Abuse: From Anxiety Relief to Xanax Nightmare

Xanax (Alprazolam) is a widely prescribed benzodiazepine Schedule IV Drug in the United States. It is generally prescribed for treating:

• Panic Disorders
• Generalized Anxiety Disorders
• Stress

Initially, it is prescribed as a sedative for insomnia, but long-term use is associated with addiction due to its high Central Nervous system depressant activity. Xanax affects the brain by motor coordination, leading to muscle relaxation, anticonvulsant activity, and sedation.

How Does Xanax Addiction Develop?

Xanax users can quickly develop tolerance and may consume 20-30 pills a day to reach their peak level of sedation. Over time, Xanax can develop a dependency for its users and may be accompanied by side effects and withdrawal symptoms if not properly managed. 

Whenever a person feels some inconvenience or is unable to manage routine life/sleep without using Xanax, this is where the signs of Xanax addiction become prominent. Some of the most apparent signs of addiction to Xanax include:

• No control over Xanax usage
• Tolerance buildup in the body
• Strong desire to get Xanax or extreme cravings
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if not taking

It is advisable to seek medical help immediately if these show up at any point during Xanax usage.

Recreational Misuse of Xanax

Xanax, when consumed without a prescription for nonmedicinal purposes, is considered recreational or misused. People, mostly adults, use Xanax as a quick substance to get high. It is often used for its euphoric effects at parties. The majority of Xanax abusers are youth as this drug is readily available without hurdles and, when mixed with other substances such as alcohol or opioids, produces strong, long-lasting effects.

Recreational use is often in the form of snorting, chewing, shooting, and taking as pill forms of Xanax. It is the most fatal form of Xanax misuse that can cause overdose and death if immediate help is not given!

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5 Side Effects of Xanax Abuse to Look Out For

Xanax is dangerous if used uncontrollably. Longterm Xanax abuse side effects can be of various types, but generally 5 are categorized as:

1. Xanax Overdose Symptoms

As the body buildups tolerance, a person on Xanax progressively increases its dose to cope with the body’s requirement and ends up experiencing overdose symptoms such as:

• Excess sedation
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Slurred speech
• convulsions
• Respiratory depression
• Coma
• Death

Xanax overdose has contributed to excessive fatalities in recent times. Knowing the early signs and seeking immediate help can save oneself from fatal symptoms.

2. Psychological Illness by Long-term Xanax Abuse

Xanax, being a sedative, works on the brain and causes many mental health conditions, such as: 

• Persistent Anxiety disorder
• Depression
• Hallucination
• Mood swings
• Blurred vision
• Cognitive impairement

These long-term Xanax use effects might become irreversible if timely attention is not given. A drug rehab can help manage this with different psychological therapies administered during a complete treatment process.

3. Behavioral Issues of Using Xanax

Drug addiction comes with lots of behavioral changes, such as striving hard to obtain drugs, whatever it takes. As Xanax sedates the brain, people often show certain antisocial signs that show dependency and addiction, such as:

• Inability to reduce intake
• Spending more time in search of Xanax
• Seizure and tremours
• Engaging in risky behavior such as rash driving, fighting, etc
• Lack of motivation
• Aggression and impulsive behavior

Slow improvement in behavior is the only solution to this calamity, and it takes time to recover while being committed to oneself.

4. Lethality of Xanax with Other Substances

Recreational users of Xanax often combine it with other drugs. Mixing Xanax with other substances such as:

• Opioids (Fentanyl) + Xanax
• Xanax and Alcohol (the most common)
• Cocaine
• Meth

Can affect brain functioning with CNS depression and:

• Cardiovascular problem
• Respiratory depression
• Liver damage
• Weight loss

Which intensifies the side effects, resulting in sudden death. 

5. Xanax Dependence: When Xanax Becomes a Habit

Regular use of Xanax, both in the form of recreation and prescription, results in the body developing dependence and ultimately results in addiction due to increasing tolerance. One may experience withdrawal symptoms. 

• Digestive issues
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and vomiting

Along with other withdrawal symptoms. Once addiction develops, it becomes impossible to recover unless it is intervened by professionals.

What To Expect After Xanax Detox

Treating Xanax Addiction and Side Effects with Inpatient Drug Rehab

Quitting Xanax after prolonged use requires careful consideration and treatment under professional experts who are well-equipped to treat Xanax abuse side effects and put life back on track. Inpatient drug rehab is the best possible solution as it has better outcomes and a safe treatment process.

Dual Diagnosis: Comprehensive Examination for Xanax Side Effects

The first step in any addiction treatment is the careful evaluation of the severity of addiction to Xanax, which includes:

• Blood testing
• Self-assessment
• Mental health diagnosis
• Substance use disorder characterization

The comprehensive examination allows practitioners at the inpatient drug rehab to dispense treatment accordingly. Patients with co-morbid conditions, i.e., SUD and mental illness, get treated under a dual-diagnosis treatment program.

Xanax Detox: Managing Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

Xanax withdrawal can be life-threatening as the symptoms a person trying to treat with Xanax may reappear with greater severity. A person may experience withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Heart palpitation
• Muscle pain
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea
• Sleep troubles
• Sweating
• Tingling sensations
• Vomiting
• Rapid pulse
• Hand tremors
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Hallucinations

Xanax detox involves clearing the body both physically and psychologically of all the harmful substances along with Xanax while providing FDA-approved medications such as:

• Suboxone
• Subutex
• Naltrexone 
• Buprenorphine

To treat the withdrawal symptoms and make sober living possible combined with the remaining treatment modules in inpatient rehab.

Psychotherapy for Psychological illness 

For psychotic illness, psychiatrists, with practitioner consultation at inpatient rehab, may administer the following research bases therapies:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

That will improve negative patterns of behavior to stop Xanax abuse while educating the patient with skills that could control their excess emotions.

Aftercare and Relapse Prevention through Counseling

Aftercare and relapse prevention require behavioral changes that are destroyed due to Xanax dependency. Behavioral therapies such as:

• Individual
• Group
• Family

Work by one-on-one sessions, peer support groups, and involving loved family members in inpatient to reduce antisocial personality and aforementioned behavioral issues. 

Xanax Treatment at ChoicePoint Inpatient Drug Rehab

We understand the importance of mental health and the potential dangers of Xanax in treating it. Our inpatient drug rehab is a CARF-accredited facility with DEA-certified staff that provides Xanax addiction treatment and mental illness with an individualized approach for Students, Veterans, Expecting mothers, LGBT, Criminal Justice, and feasible levels of care such as

• Inpatient
• High-Intensity Outpatient (HIOP/PHP)
• Intensive Outpatient
• Outpatient
• Telehealth

So, verify your insurance or review our commercial insurance programs and start treatment today! 844.445.2565.