Xanax Addiction

Getting Started

The Authentic Recovery Center offers a Xanax addiction drug rehab and detoxification program located in Los Angeles, California. We specialize in dual diagnosis treatment and offer multiple levels of care. If you would like to speak with us about our rehabilitation options call 1 877 415 4673 now.

Learning More

This section of the website will provide information about Substance Abuse Disorders. Since disorders of this nature include a broad spectrum of diagnostically significant conditions, the following will focus on a single sub-category, Xanax Addiction, outlining the basic information that is pertinent to this specific diagnosis. Discussion will include a general summary of what constitutes Substance Abuse Disorder, a general discussion of Xanax and its clinical uses, followed by a brief overview of the diagnostic criteria for Xanax Addiction, its symptoms, and finally treatment methods.

Substance Abuse Disorders

Substance Abuse Disorders are characterized by patterns of pathological, habituated use of some drug or medication. The legal status of the drug is irrelevant; it can be either illegally purchased on the street, or prescribed by a doctor. Diagnostically, for the behaviors to meet the criteria of an Abuse Disorder there needs to be present certain features. These features include the presence of complications that are generated by using, in addition to repeated use in the face of increasingly adverse consequences in all major areas of one’s life. The damage can manifest in family life, social life, occupationally at work or academically at school; and invariably expresses itself in an inability to continue to honor one’s obligations while neglecting their responsibilities. Other signs of abuse include an increase in interpersonal conflicts, diminishing aptitude for resolving interpersonal conflicts, as well as legal issues and health problems. Although there are long-standing discussions as to what exactly the difference is between Abuse and Addiction, two givens exist:

• Abuse refers to ingestion of a substance despite continued or worsening consequences across the full spectrum of functioning behaviors (more below).
• Abuse has less to do with the nature of the substance ingested as it does the manner in which it is ingested and the ramifications it engenders.

Xanax

Xanax, also known as Lorazepam, is in a class of drugs known as hypnotic sedatives or minor tranquilizers. Like is its sister compound, Valium, Xanax works by depressing the Central Nervous System and slowing down bodily functions such as heart-rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Neurologically, Xanax acts on what are called GABA receptors in the brain (an area of neuro circuitry associated with the pleasure center), generating symptoms from minor sedation to complete anesthesia.

Because Xanax’s effects on the brain and the body are slightly different than the effects produced by Valium or other Benzodiazepines (it is considered to be a short-acting sedative), it is prescribed in specific ways to treat symptoms of specific conditions and disorders. One of the most pronounced differences between Xanax and long-acting Benzodiazepines such as Serax or Librium is the duration of its sedating features. The effects of Xanax wear off after a relatively short time, which precludes its use in a number of scenarios in which other Benzodiazepines would be appropriate. For example, Xanax is not typically indicated to treat the withdrawal symptoms that attend a liquor detox because the dosing schedule would be too high, whereas a long-acting Benzodiazepine such as Librium is often employed (Librium can be administered every 6 to 8 hours – Xanax every 3 to 4 hours).

However, because it shares so many properties in common with its sister-medications, there is overlap with regards to prescribing, which includes being used as a muscle relaxant, in addition to treating symptoms of Anxiety Disorders and Sleep Disorders. Typically, Xanax is not prescribed for prolonged periods of time because of the rate of addiction and its potential for abuse. Tolerance and dependence can be established in a relatively short period of time, which makes it dangerous as a long-term clinical tool. Instead, it is frequently employed as a stop-gap measure that is most effective in conjunction with other forms of therapy.

In addition to Xanax, other Benzodiazepines include:

• Diazepam – Valium.
• Chlordiazepoxide – Librium.
• Clonazepam – Klonopin.
• Lorazepam – Ativan.
• Triazolam – Halcyon.

Xanax Addiction

Xanax produces effects similar to those of alcohol. There is euphoria and sedation, in addition to disorientation and lapses of short-term memory. Abusing Xanax (or any Benzodiazepines) with liquor poses serious health risks because the two substances amplify each other’s effects. The nature and severity of the effects depends upon the amount of the drug ingested. In smaller doses individuals tend to feel drowsy or uninhibited. In higher doses motor skills are affected and symptoms such as slurred speech and staggering are common.

Symptoms of acute Xanax intoxication include:

• Difficulty expressing thoughts or thinking coherently.
• Vertigo.
• Tremors.
• Repertory depression.
• Compromised coordination.
• Shallow breathing.
• Circulatory shut-down.
• Coma.
• Death.

Like other sedatives or tranquilizers, Xanax is habit forming. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe, and in extreme cases result in grand mal seizures or death. Xanax also has what is referred to as a long half-life, which means that it metabolizes very slowly in the body. With regards to detox protocols and withdrawal symptoms this is significant because the half-life might result in withdrawal symptoms that linger for months at a time. Getting clean from Xanax addiction invariably requires a comprehensive treatment team that can safely monitor the addict’s progress and make adjustments as necessary; it also requires a deeply felt conviction on the part of the addict. When treating this particular variety of Substance Abuse Disorder, the quality and nature of the medical component is absolutely pivotal; like liquor, Xanax withdrawal can be lethal, and providing the correct support clinically, therapeutically, emotionally, and medically, is critical to long-term recovery.

Xanax withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety.
• Agitation.
• Hyperthermia.
• Nausea.
• Restlessness.
• Insomnia.
• Dizziness.
• Tremors.

Because of the drug’s effect on the nervous system, the line between a heavy dose and a lethal dose can be hard to determine. This is especially true in cases where addicts abuse Xanax with other sedatives or with painkillers. Unlike many other medications and drugs, Benzodiazepines do not have a built-in ceiling effect that acts as safety-net between the individual and the drug. In other words, although people sometimes overdose from smoking Heroin, it is unusual because the individual is likely to pass-out or lose consciousness before reaching the lethal threshold. The reason injecting drugs like Heroin is so dangerous is because the margin of error is practically non-existent. The same applies to Xanax, and because of the tendency to lose track of one’s short-term memory, the chances one might unwittingly double their dose is significant.

Xanax Addiction follows a predictable course and presents with symptoms that can be found along the entire spectrum of addictive pathology. As stated, the presence of addictive traits is invariably indicated by the emergence of tolerance and dependence, which generates dysfunction in virtually every area of the addict’s life.

Evidence of Xanax Addiction includes:

• Acquiring mounting legal troubles, such as getting arrested for either possession or DUI.
• Financial instability.
• Shopping for doctors or lying to physicians or psychiatrists to maintain a steady supply.
• Continued abuse in the face of deteriorating personal relations.
• Deterioration of performance at work or school.
• Engaging in risky behaviors with regards to sex or adrenaline stimulation. This might include promiscuity, e.g., enjoying multiple partners while intoxicated, or diving when intoxicated.
• Enduring physical, mental, or emotional withdrawal symptoms if unable to acquire the substance.
• The development of a tolerance to the drug(s) being abused.
• Consuming quantities that are deleterious to one’s health.
• An inability to regulate one’s usage or stop altogether.

Xanax Treatment and Dual Diagnosis

Where tolerance and dependence has occurred, treatment for Xanax Addiction usually requires gradually reducing a person’s dose over an extended period of time. Titration is necessary to ease the severity of the withdrawal symptoms as well as physiologically stabilizing the individual. In addition to the withdrawal symptoms previously mentioned, Xanax withdrawal symptoms might also include:

• Fatigue.
• Sweating.
• Irritability.
• Stomach cramps.
• Panic attacks.
• Seizures.

In cases where an individual manifests two or more conditions simultaneously, they are said to be Dual Diagnosed. Another clinical term for this scenario is co-occurring disorders, where the secondary disorder complicates the primary disorder. Dual Diagnosis essentially means that an individual’s Xanax Addiction occurs simultaneously with another mental health problem, with each aggravating the other and both contributing to the problems of the individual. The lists of psychiatric disorders that frequently occur with Xanax Addiction include Depression and Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders and Compulsive Disorders, in addition to conditions such as Schizophrenia and Personality Disorders.

One of the challenges treating Xanax Addiction is the manner in which the individual became dependent. Like other prescription medications, people often develop dependence to prescription medications while treating legitimate disorders. Because Xanax is obtained through one’s doctor, and because the medication is legal, addicts of this sort often have to surmount the additional hurdle of stigmatization. As often as not people become addicted to Xanax, not because they are seeking relief from otherwise normal life-stressors, but because they suffer from a specific psychiatric or physical disorder.

Denial is a built-in mechanism that at some point in the treatment process accompanies and manifests in almost every instance of addiction. This trait can be more pronounced with individuals who abuse prescription medications than it is with people suffering from Heroin or Crack addiction. And because of the complexity of the issues Dual Diagnosed clients suffer from, treatment requires clinicians specifically trained to disentangle one disorder from another. With this population, relapse is common, as much because of the entrenched psychological issues as the prolonged nature of the physical withdrawal.

Invariably, addiction treatment that involves Dual Diagnosed clients presents hurdles to both the Treatment Team as well as the suffering Addict, which tends to be more challenging than the issues faced by people suffering from Addictions that are free-standing conditions.  Individuals who are Dual Diagnosed must be committed to overcome and manage not just their substance abuse issues, but also the accompanying mental illness and all of its attendant complications.  Figuring out where one condition starts and the other stops requires a treatment team properly trained to both assess and prescribe according to the needs of the client.

At ARC, our clinical program and our treatment team is specifically geared to address the many facets of this condition. ARC’s multidimensional approach includes medical interventions overseen by our MDs, who work in conjunction with our therapists and clinical staff to ensure that a treatment plan is created and adhered to that gives the client the best possible chances for recovery. ARC’s Treatment Services include:

• The most advanced and effective Dual Diagnosis treatment available.
• Comprehensive assessments that take into consideration both medical, psychological, and emotional factors.
• Detoxification services that are closely monitored by our trained staff and overseen by our doctors.
• A dignified approach that honors the total needs of the client.
• Counseling that includes Family Counseling, Group counseling, as well as One-on-One Counseling.
• Ongoing therapy with clinicians who specialize in Addiction pathology.
• Long-term treatment planning that includes Aftercare, Extended Care, and Alumni services.
• Integrated treatment, specially designed to treat Dual Diagnosed individuals. This includes psychiatric care, oversight of medications, and continued aftercare.

This is by no means a comprehensive picture of the services ARC provides. Please visit the other sections of our website to better understand the full spectrum of Addiction Treatment options available to you or your loved one. Education is the most important tool available to you, and keeping current on latest treatment practices is the best way to ensure you or someone you love receives the care they need. If you would like to learn more about our Dual Diagnosis treatment services please call 1 877 415 4673 to speak with a counselor today.

Call to Learn More about the Authentic Recovery Center Today

The first step towards recovery for most people suffering from Xanax addiction is medical detoxification treatment. However, many drug treatment centers in Los Angeles are ill-equipped to deal with the complicated features of Xanax withdrawal. If you would like to learn more about the safe and effective detoxification services offered through the Authentic Recovery Center call 1 877 415 4673 now. Our credentialed staff will support you in gaining a greater understanding of the multiple treatment options available with our facility. Remember, “The only failure in life is the failure to act.”