Xanax Information

Xanax (APRAZOLAM) is the most prescribed medication for relief of anxiety disorders. Xanax is a member of the benzodiazepine family of drugs. Other benzodiazepines include; Klonipin, Valium, Ativan, Restoril, Librium, Halcion, Dalmane, Centrax, Azene, Serax, etc... Xanax has potentially serious side effects and is often misused and abused. Over 30 million people take this drug each year and more than 4 million are addicted. For many with a history of drug abuse, xanax is used as a concomitant drug. It is seldom the drug of choice. It is most often used in conjunction with other drugs like methadone and heroin to enhance effects or with cocaine as a regulator near the end of a cocaine run. Use as a concomitant drug is changing with more and more drug treatment facilities seeing xanax as the primary drug of choice. To date this trend is still the minority of overall admissions. The trend is more and more a poly-drug admission and xanax is a growing part of that subset. Xanax Detox Alcohol detox as a category is the most difficult detox. Benzodiazepines detox as a category is the second most difficult detox. As a single drug, xanax detox is the most difficult benzodiazepine detox. An average stay for xanax detox lasts upwards of 28-days. Historically, xanax detox with duration of less than 28-days has a very poor prognosis. The common formula for xanax detox is to switch xanax for a longer acting benzodiazepine such as valium or chloradiazepoxide. Then stabilize the xanax addict on this new medication then slowly taper. In the end stage of xanax detox a stagger taper is often used as an effective modality. The prognosis for addicts and alcoholics are much improved if after-care includes support groups, individual counseling, abstinence and a healthy lifestyle (balanced diet and exercise). Critical to a successful detox is residential care. Most addicts are not capable of following Medical Doctors orders. That is why a person checks into a residential drug detox so that proper controls are put upon medication, nutrition, hydration and overall structure that disallows addict thinking to foster. Xanax Withdrawals With long-term use of benzodiazepines there is an apparent decrease in the effectiveness of the GABA-A receptors. This decrease in efficacy is known as “tolerance.” When Benzodiazepines are stopped abruptly this down-regulated state of inhibitory transmission is removed leading to characteristic benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome that includes such symptoms as; insomnia, increased pulse rate, elevated blood pressure, diaphoresis (sweating), and possibly seizures.