Author: Alex Thompson

Xanax Withdrawal: Signs, Symptoms, & Timeline

This quickly leads to dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms when stopping. Attempting to quit Xanax cold turkey can be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening. The safest approach is to seek professional help from addiction treatment specialists who can guide you through a medically-supervised detox program.

Protracted Withdrawal

Short-acting drugs like Xanax (alprazolam) and Ativan (lorazepam) leave the system quicker, which means withdrawal symptoms can appear in as little as eight to 12 hours. Seeking medical detox under professional supervision is recommended to manage uncomfortable and potentially dangerous withdrawal effects safely. Discontinuing Xanax (alprazolam) after prolonged use often leads to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Severe Withdrawal Risks

Estimates suggest that 10 to 25% of people who take benzodiazepines for extended periods experience what’s known as protracted withdrawal. Once you’re stable and free of any withdrawal symptoms, your doctor can then taper your dose of Valium. Xanax is a short-acting drug, which means your body metabolizes it very quickly. Tapering Xanax is challenging because the amount of the drug in your system quickly goes up and down with each dose. To help you avoid these peaks and valleys, doctors often switch you from Xanax to a long-acting benzodiazepine such as Valium (diazepam). Estimates suggest that about 10% to 25% of people who use benzodiazepines long term experience what’s known as protracted withdrawal.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome

In drug rehab centers, clinicians may prescribe medications to ease withdrawal symptoms. These can include treatments for nausea, vomiting, mood disturbances, seizures, tremors, and nightmares. The specific medication regimen is tailored to the individual’s needs, with additional care for those with co-occurring mental health disorders. Xanax withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 1-4 days after the last dose and peak around 2 weeks. While acute symptoms usually subside within 4-6 weeks, some psychological effects like anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances can persist for months. Tapering off slowly under medical supervision helps mitigate severe withdrawal risks.

It’s crucial that any prescribed medication is taken exactly as directed by healthcare professionals. Xanax can be an effective treatment for short-term anxiety and panic attacks if a person follows their doctor’s guidance. If you’re ready to begin the treatment process for Xanax addiction, The Recovery Village is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about Xanax addiction treatment programs that can work well for your situation. Regardless of the reason, someone takes Xanax, the effects usually start to occur within about an hour and last for around six hours in total.

Doctors often prescribe Xanax to treat acute episodes of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. It is one of the most common medications for these conditions and belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, or benzos. Xanax has a half-life of about 11 hours, meaning that it takes about 50 hours for the body to remove it altogether. This may seem like a long time, but Xanax has one of the shortest half-lives compared to other benzodiazepines.

  1. When it comes to the long-term management of getting off benzodiazepines, there are two directions you can go.
  2. It is one of the most common medications for these conditions and belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, or benzos.
  3. In 2016, estimates suggest that about half a million people in the United States misused sedative drugs.
  4. The Xanax withdrawal timeline can vary significantly based on factors like dosage, duration of use, and individual physiology.

Coping With Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Proper nutrition is crucial during withdrawal to replenish depleted vitamins and minerals. An experienced nutritionist can guide you on dietary changes to curb cravings, stabilize mood, and support your body’s healing process. It can create physical dependence in anyone who uses it for an extended period, for any reason. Withdrawal can be overwhelming, and the physical and mental symptoms can leave you drained, frightened, and in pain. By Corinne O’Keefe OsbornCorinne Osborn is an award-winning health and wellness journalist with a background in substance abuse, sexual health, and psychology. Unlike many other withdrawal syndromes, benzodiazepine withdrawal can be complicated and, occasionally, life-threatening.

The primary difference between these drugs is the length of time they stay active in the body. However, benzodiazepines can cause physical dependence and withdrawal even when they are taken as directed. Tapering dosage gradually under medical supervision can help minimize withdrawal severity. In some cases, quitting Xanax “cold turkey” after heavy, long-term use can trigger life-threatening seizures or psychosis. This underscores the importance of medically-supervised detox when stopping benzodiazepines. The first symptoms of Xanax withdrawal appear within 8 to 12 hours of your last dose.

Physical symptoms usually subside first, but mood and sleep issues may continue. Rehabilitation centers typically provide additional care that family and friends are unable to offer. However, the recovery process does not end at detoxification and withdrawal, and these steps are only the beginning. Withdrawal from Xanax can be both physically and mentally uncomfortable. Depending on the rehab center, some clinicians may prescribe taper medications to soothe some of the symptoms of Xanax withdrawal. Safer options include at-home Xanax detox with the support of a physician or medical detox in a rehab facility.

Tapering means taking progressively smaller doses over the course of a few weeks or months. Withdrawing from benzodiazepines can be a difficult, even dangerous process. You might feel irritable and hypersensitive to everything around you. During the first week, you can also expect physical symptoms like headaches and hand tremors. As you embark on your journey to overcome Xanax dependency, remember that withdrawal is temporary. While challenging, it’s a crucial step towards reclaiming your health and well-being.

Medically Assisted Xanax Detox

The duration of Xanax withdrawal varies from individual to individual but typically spans a few weeks. Understanding these timelines is crucial for anyone preparing to undergo or support someone through Xanax withdrawal. Friends, family and medical professionals can provide critical support to ensure medical detox continues as planned. Sobriety requires a new set of skills that rehab facilities and therapy programs can help provide. These skills are gained through individual counseling, family counseling, group therapy, support group meetings and other forms of treatment.

While there is no FDA-approved medication to treat benzodiazepine withdrawal, your doctor may also prescribe other medications to help you manage withdrawal symptoms. The medication Romazicon (flumazenil) is sometimes used off-label for withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor will help make an individualized tapering schedule based on your current dose and particular circumstances. The onset of benzodiazepine withdrawal depends on the specific medication you are taking.