Alprazolam Detox

Whilst not many people will have heard of Alprazolam, they might recognise it under brand name such as Xanax.

Whilst many people might think of addictions associated with alcohol, heroin and cocaine, many people grow an addiction to Xanax each year.

Although alprazolam is prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks, it can quickly lead to a physical addiction when it is used for long periods of time, or in higher doses than what has been prescribed by your doctor.

Many people start taking alprazolam after being legitimately prescribed the drug for an anxiety issue. They find that over time they need larger doses to achieve the same calming effects, as their tolerance increases.

Other people obtain the drug illegally and use it when they shouldn’t in order to enjoy the sedative effects that it produces.

Regardless of how your addiction develops, stopping taking alprazolam suddenly can be incredibly dangerous and, in some cases, the withdrawal symptoms can become life-threatening.

Unlike withdrawal from other addictive substances, an Alprazolam detox should never be attempted at home or alone, without medical guidance.

This is because the withdrawal process can involve a number of life-threatening symptoms, including seizures, hallucinations and other severe psychological symptoms, making attending a professional rehab treatment centre the safest option.

Due to this, there is a large amount of anxiety amongst people who suffer from addiction issues surrounding the Alprazolam detox, with many people across the country avoiding treatment, detox and recovery due to the horror stories they hear and fear surrounding the detox process.

Understanding how Alprazolam detox works can help to reduce anxiety surrounding treatment and encourages individuals to get support before their addiction becomes more severe, which is when withdrawal symptoms will become more severe.

What Is Alprazolam?

Alprazolam belongs to a class of medications that are known as benzodiazepines. This substance is commonly prescribed for a range of anxiety disorders, panic disorder as well as short-term management of severe stress symptoms [1].

The medication works by increasing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is a neurotransmitter responsible for slowing down activity in the brain and the nervous system.

This produces feelings of calmness and relaxation in the body, which is why it is great for helping people with anxiety and stress issues [1].

Because alprazolam acts quickly, it has become one of the most commonly prescribed, and abused benzodiazepines across the world.

Whilst some people know the medication by its generic name, others may recognise it under brand names such as Xanax.

How Does an Alprazolam Addiction Develop?

It is important to understand that an addiction to any substance rarely develops overnight. Initially, Alprazolam might appear to provide a much needed relief from anxiety or panic issues.

However, over time, the brain adapts to the presence of the drug in the system, and it begins to rely upon it to function normally. This process is known as dependence.

Once a dependence develops, your tolerance will also increase. This means that missing a dose or reducing your intake even slightly might trigger a range of withdrawal symptoms.

In fact, many individuals continue taking Alprazolam simply because they want to avoid feeling unwell from their withdrawal symptoms, rather than to achieve any of its calming effects.

There are a number of factors that increase the risk of developing an addiction, including taking the substance for longer than is prescribed, increasing your dose and combining Alprazolam with other addictive substances.

You are also more likely to develop an addiction to a substance if you have a history of substance abuse issues and suffer from mental health conditions.

Any form of addictive substance like Alprazolam act quickly, meaning that withdrawal symptoms can begin relatively quickly after the final dose, making an addiction particularly difficult to overcome without the use of professional support.

Why Is an Alprazolam Detox Necessary?

A medical detox allows the body to remove Alprazolam safely from the body whilst also reducing the risks associated with the withdrawal process.

When someone has developed an addiction to Alprazolam, stopping the medication suddenly can overwhelm the body and the nervous system. Since the brain and body has become addicted to Alprazolam, removing it suddenly can result in excessive stimulation. This could lead to severe anxiety or panic attacks, insomnia, high blood pressure, hallucinations or even seizures.

For this reason, a medically supervised detox is recommended and is considered the safest option when it comes to your long term recovery from an Alprazolam addiction.

Can You Detox from Alprazolam at Home?

It is important to understand that attempting an alprazolam detox at home is not recommended due to the risk to your health.

Whilst some people believe they might be able to stop taking the medication by themselves, any type of benzodiazepine withdrawal carries serious health risks that are significantly different from many other forms of addiction such as cocaine or heroin.

This is because when it comes to an Alprazolam withdrawal, withdrawal seizures can happen unexpectedly, even in individuals who are taking relatively small doses of Alprazolam.

In some severe cases, your withdrawal can result in a range of very serious long term issues, including psychosis or delirium.

Professional rehab facilities around the clock care, rapid intervention and medication to help to manage your withdrawal symptoms.

They will also provide you with mental health support if you need it.

Attending a medically supervised detox plan significantly improves the overcome of your withdrawal, as well as your safety and comfort during the withdrawal process from the very start.

What Happens During an Alprazolam Detox?

Every detox plan differs depending on the individual’s specific addiction, their medical history and the severity of their addiction.

Following the individual’s admission into the rehab facility, doctors will usually conduct a comprehensive assessment in order to establish more information on how much Alprazolam you take, how long you have been taking it for, whether or not any other addictive substances are being used and your overall physical and mental health [2].

Based on this assessment, your doctors will then be able to develop a detox plan for you and your specific needs.

Rather than stopping taking Alprazolam immediately, medical teams will often reduce your dose slowly over time. This process is known as tapering and reduces the severity of your withdrawal symptoms.

A gradual reduction in how much you consume allows the nervous system to adapt slowly, reducing the severity of your withdrawal symptoms and lowering the risk of serious health issues during your withdrawal.

Why Is Tapering So Important?

One of the biggest mistakes people make when attempting to stop taking Alprazolam is to go ‘cold turkey.’

This is because Alprazolam has a relatively short half-life, meaning that your withdrawal symptoms can emerge very quickly and become very severe within just a few days or in some cases, just a few hours.

Tapering allows the body to gradually adjust and get used to your withdrawal, whilst minimising any physical stress or strain on the body.

In some cases, doctors will likely transition some patients to other longer acting benzodiazepines before starting to reduce your dose.

This is because longer acting substances produce more stable blood concentrations, helping to smooth out any withdrawal symptoms during your detox.

Alprazolam Withdrawal Symptoms

It is important to understand that withdrawal symptoms vary considerably between persons. There are a number of factors that impact the severity of your withdrawal symptoms, including some of those listed below [2]:

How long you have been abusing Alprazolam
How much Alprazolam you take
Your age
Your physical health
Your mental health
Whether you take any other addictive substances

These factors will impact the severity of some of the below withdrawal symptoms:

Anxiety
Panic disorder
Excessive sweating
Depression
Severe headaches
Mood swings
Concentration issues
Confusion
Tremors
Sickness and nausea
Heart issues
Dizziness

If you suffer from a severe addiction, then you could also develop life-threatening withdrawal symptoms including hallucinations, psychosis, seizures and delirium.

These symptoms are incredibly dangerous and highlight why a professional detox and rehab treatment are so important when it comes to anyone experiencing a benzodiazepine addiction and wanting to withdraw.

Alprazolam Detox Timeline

Many people entering drug and alcohol rehab want to know how long their detox will last. Although every case differs, there are a number of common stages during the Alprazolam withdrawal process.

Early withdrawal symptoms will likely set in between 6 – 12 hours, including anxiety, restlessness, issues sleeping and an increased heart rate.

It is important to understand that some individuals experience rebound anxiety, meaning that their original symptoms that they started taking Alprazolam for, return with greater intensity.

Between days 1 – 7, your withdrawal symptoms will become more severe and can turn life-threatening. You will likely experience severe anxiety, panic attacks, excessive sweating, stomach issues, vomiting and muscle pain.

Weeks 1 – 4 then involve acute withdrawal symptoms, which will start to improve overtime. However, some people will likely continue to experience sleep issues, anxiety, fatigue, concentration issues and mood swings.

In the months after your detox, some people don’t experience any withdrawal symptoms whereas others continue to experience post-acute withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, sleep issues, brain fog and mood swings.

Whilst this can be frustrating for some, most symptoms generally reduce over time as your recovery progresses.

Therapy During Alprazolam Rehab

The medical detox removes the addictive substance from the body.

However, therapy helps individuals to better understand why an addiction developed in the first place, making it more likely for you to avoid becoming addicted in the future.

There are now a range of common therapy techniques used throughout the UK and the rest of the world, including cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, group therapy, family therapy and even holistic therapy.

Doctors will assess your addiction issues and mental health condition to establish which therapy techniques might be more suited to you and your specific addiction.

Whilst not everyone therapy technique will be for you; it is important to remain an open mind when it comes to therapy.

Understanding the root causes of your addiction will help you to overcome any triggers or trauma that might have led you to become addicted in the first place.

This makes you much more likely to achieve recovery and to avoid a relapse in the future.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Many individuals who suffer from addiction issues and attend rehab for an Alprazolam addiction also experience a range of underlying mental health conditions.

Addiction and mental health are closely linked, with many people who are addicted to substances also suffering from anxiety, depression, paranoia, panic disorder and PTSD.

Many people start with a mental health condition and use addictive substances as a way of escaping their issues. Others abuse substances and then develop a mental health issue as a result of their addiction.

Treating addiction without addressing these mental health issues often increases the risk of a relapse. Dual diagnosis treatment allows both issues to be managed at the same time, helping the individual to avoid a relapse.

Is Recovery from an Alprazolam Addiction Possible?

Yes, recovery from an Alprazolam addiction is possible. In fact, thousands of people across the country successfully complete a detox and rehab plan every year and go on to live healthy lives without benzodiazepines.

Attending a professional medical detox provides individuals with the safest possible opportunity for recovery, whilst therapy means that you will better understand why you became addicted in the first place, and therefore how to avoid becoming addicted again.

Conclusion

If you or someone you know has become addicted to Alprazolam, then seeking professional help as early as possible can reduce the risk of developing severe withdrawal symptoms.

Any withdrawal from a benzodiazepine can become dangerous without professional medical supervision, and a detox should always take place within a professional rehab facility, where doctors and medical professionals can monitor your withdrawal symptoms and provide medication where necessary.

Whilst you might feel anxious about withdrawing from Alprazolam, and taking the first step can feel incredibly daunting, it is important to remember that addiction does not have to define the future.