Not everyone who struggles with addiction abuses hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Some people have substance abuse disorders involving prescription drugs. If you are one of them and you have an addiction to Xanax, you are not alone. The important thing is to acknowledge that you have a problem and that you need help to overcome it.
What is Xanax?
Xanax is a type of prescription medication that comes from a family of drugs known as benzodiazepines. In most cases, Xanax is prescribed for people with anxiety or panic disorder to alleviate their symptoms so they can live a more normal life. It’s also occasionally used to treat other issues such as depression, insomnia, certain phobias and premenstrual syndrome or PMS, although it hasn’t yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or FDA for such uses.
Unfortunately, some people misuse Xanax as well just to get the effects the drug affords. Just like with any other type of drug that isn’t legally prescribed, when it’s misused, there are greater risks to the user. One of those possible risks includes an overdose.
What Makes Xanax So Dangerous When It’s Misused?
Xanax can be dangerous when it’s misused. The drug works by decreasing certain levels of excitement in the brain. For example, when people with anxiety take the medication, it can help to calm them so that they can function more normally. Their anxiety is no longer heightened when they take the drug as prescribed by a doctor. However, with the calming effects it presents, people can take the drug for different reasons and ultimately become addicted as a result.
Additionally, Xanax can be dangerous due to its fast-acting effects. Shortly after a person ingests it, they can begin to feel the effects of the drug as it quickly absorbs into the bloodstream and travels to the brain. When a person achieves the effect they want and enjoys it that much, they can end up taking more tablets and suffer an overdose.
Is Xanax Addictive?
Xanax can be a highly addictive drug due to the calming effects it provides. Even when you carefully use the medication as prescribed by a doctor for anxiety or insomnia, you can easily become addicted as a result of wanting to regain that feeling of calm.
Side Effects of Taking Too Much Xanax
When a doctor prescribes Xanax for anxiety or insomnia, the normal dosage you should take is only around 0.25 to 0.5 milligrams three times per day. However, depending on the severity of the conditions, that amount might be up to 4 milligrams per day. If the drug is prescribed for panic disorder, the dosage may be as high as 10 milligrams per day. Individuals who are older or who have advanced liver disease are often prescribed lower dosages. Dosages are also lower to reduce the risk of dependence.
There are certain side effects associated with taking Xanax too much. They include the following:
• Blurred vision
• Confusion or disorientation
• Coordination problems
• Drowsiness
In some cases, symptoms may be delayed. Some people can experience even more severe symptoms like coma or death.
It’s also dangerous to mix Xanax with other medications or alcohol. Combining substances can lead to an overdose. While some people may accidentally combine substances, others may do so deliberately to achieve another type of high or to deliberately cause self-harm.
Taking too high a dose of Xanax can potentially be fatal. The amount that could lead to death depends on the person and certain factors, including the following:
• Weight
• Age
• How well the body metabolizes the drug
• Genetics
• Tolerance for the drug
• Combining the drug with other drugs or alcohol
• Preexisting health conditions such as heart disease, kidney or liver disease
Generally, individuals who are over the age of 65 are at a higher risk for serious side effects, including overdoses. Senior citizens are usually prescribed lower dosages of Xanax than younger people due to being more sensitive to the drug’s effects.
If you or a loved one has a dependence on Xanax and want to seek help, now is the time to take action. If you’re finally ready to go down the road to sobriety, call us today at 561 658-1729.