Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewSigns and SymptomsDurationFactorsCoping and ReliefWarningsLong-Term Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Signs and Symptoms
Duration
Factors
Coping and Relief
Warnings
Long-Term Treatment
What is the most important information I should know about Xanax withdrawal?Suddenly stopping Xanax can lead to severe and dangerous withdrawal symptoms; never adjust your dose or quit taking Xanax without talking to your doctor first.Xanax withdrawal can occur even when medication is taken as prescribed, but treatments are available that can help.
What is the most important information I should know about Xanax withdrawal?
Suddenly stopping Xanax can lead to severe and dangerous withdrawal symptoms; never adjust your dose or quit taking Xanax without talking to your doctor first.Xanax withdrawal can occur even when medication is taken as prescribed, but treatments are available that can help.
Xanax (alprazolam) is a commonanti-anxiety medication. Doctors prescribe it for patients struggling with insomnia and mental health issues such as excessive worry,panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Xanax can help people who are in acute distress, but it is not intended for long-term use. The long-term use of benzodiazepines like Xanax can potentially create problems with dependence andwithdrawal.
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If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Overview of Xanax Withdrawal
Even if you only take Xanax for a period of several days, you may develop a physical dependence on the drug. This means that you will likely experience Xanax withdrawal, or the uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms of discontinuing the drug. The intensity of your symptoms depends on your dosage, or how much Xanax you’ve been taking and for how long.
Xanax withdrawal can also be medically serious. If you have been taking Xanax several times a day, then quitting is going to take time, patience, anddetermination. The only safe way to quit is to slowly taper down your dose under the direction of a doctor.
Quittingcold turkeycan increase your risk of extreme and dangerous withdrawal symptoms, including delirium and grand mal seizures.
In 2017, doctors wrote nearly 45 million prescriptions for Xanax (alprazolam).Statistics suggest that one in 20 people in the U.S. fill a prescription for benzodiazepines each year.
Reckless prescribing practices have contributed to thousands of cases of dependence and misuse. Research shows that in 2018, an estimated 5.4 million people over the age of 12 misused prescription benzodiazepines like Xanax.
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms & Signs
The signs and symptoms of Xanax withdrawal vary from person to person. Research indicates that roughly 40% of people taking benzodiazepines for more than six months will experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms.The remaining 60% can expect milder symptoms.
PhysicalHeadachesInsomniaHyperventilationMuscle spasmsRacing pulseSeizuresSweatingTremorsPsychologicalAnxietyDeliriumDepressionDifficulty concentratingFeelings of unrealityHallucinationsPanic attacksRestlessness
PhysicalHeadachesInsomniaHyperventilationMuscle spasmsRacing pulseSeizuresSweatingTremors
Headaches
Insomnia
Hyperventilation
Muscle spasms
Racing pulse
Seizures
Sweating
Tremors
PsychologicalAnxietyDeliriumDepressionDifficulty concentratingFeelings of unrealityHallucinationsPanic attacksRestlessness
Anxiety
Delirium
Depression
Difficulty concentrating
Feelings of unreality
Hallucinations
Panic attacks
Restlessness
Xanax is a high-potency drug, which makes its withdrawal symptoms more intense than symptoms of withdrawal from other types of benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam).
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What Does Xanax Rebound Mean?
Xanax’s potency is linked with increasedrebound effects. A rebound effect is the reoccurrence of a symptom after a person stops taking the medication that was treating it. For instance, someone taking Xanax for anxiety is likely to have a reoccurrence of their anxiety symptoms during withdrawal. This is sometimes called Xanax rebound anxiety.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, the level of anxiety you experience during Xanax withdrawal may be more intense than what you experienced before taking Xanax. It is common to feel nervous, jumpy, and on-edge during your taper.
Many people experienceirritabilityand agitation, which can cause problems at home, work, or school. You might be easily annoyed or short-tempered with family or friends. Insomnia, another symptom, can also contribute to these feelings of anxiety and agitation.
How Long Does Xanax Withdrawal Last?
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
Protracted Withdrawal
Estimates suggest that about 10% to 25% of people who use benzodiazepines long term experience what’s known as protracted withdrawal.
Factors That Affect Xanax Withdrawal
Xanax withdrawal isn’t the same for everyone—there are unique factors that come into play. Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional if you have any mental health conditions including but not limited to:
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Coping & Relief for Xanax Withdrawal
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 asValium (diazepam).
Switching from short-acting Xanax to its longer-acting cousin Valium will make it easier for you to quit. Once you are stabilized on a dose of diazepam, your prescribing doctor will help you slowly taper down a little bit at a time. This gives your body and mind the time to adjust to life without Xanax.
Alleviating Symptoms of Breakthrough Withdrawal
If you have breakthrough withdrawal symptoms when your dose is reduced, your prescribing doctor can pause or stretch out your taper. It’s up to you and the doctor to figure out the best tapering schedule for your individual needs. The doctor may also recommend one or more of the following treatment types:
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Warnings About Xanax Withdrawal
Unlike many other withdrawal syndromes, benzodiazepine withdrawal can be complicated and, occasionally, life-threatening.
If you plan to or have become pregnant, you will need to discuss your options with a doctor. Part of that conversation should include reviewing the risks and benefits of continuing versus tapering benzodiazepines during your pregnancy. Some people continue taking benzodiazepines throughout their pregnancy while others follow a dose tapering schedule.
Long-Term Treatment for Xanax Withdrawal
When it comes to the long-term management of getting off benzodiazepines, there are two directions you can go. Research shows that most stable, healthy adults will achieve long-term abstinence after completing a taper.
The key to achieving this goal is to follow the tapering schedule to the very end. By the end of your taper, you might be cutting pills into halves or quarters.
Some people may be better suited for a harm reduction approach, in which the taper leads to a maintenance dose rather than abstinence.
Links & ResourcesAmerican Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Links & Resources
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
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Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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