How to Quit Xanax with the Help of a Detox Center

Xanax is a prescription drug in the benzodiazepine drug class commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Those who become addicted to Xanax often experience difficulty quitting cold turkey, since Xanax leaves the body quickly and can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. However, those who learn how to quit Xanax with the help of a detox center can safely and successfully overcome physical dependency and addiction, and lower their risk for serious health problems.

If you or someone you know is addicted to Xanax or another benzodiazepine drug, get help right away to lower the risk for an accidental overdose.

Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) to learn more about nearby rehab centers that can help you or your loved one overcome Xanax dependency.

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

Xanax use can lead to physical dependence when taken at high doses for over one month, according to the FDA. Since Xanax works as a central nervous system depressant that slows heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, stopping the drug abruptly causes these functions to immediately rebound. As a result, users face a higher risk for seizures, coma, and death when quitting cold turkey.

In most cases, patients who use Xanax for long periods of time generally experience the most intense, severe withdrawal symptoms. To avoid experiencing major health complications, medical professionals recommend that Xanax users overcome dependency at rehab and treatment centers that specialize in benzodiazepine use.

Physical withdrawal symptoms from Xanax include:

Headaches and blurred vision are common Xanax withdrawal symptoms.

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Jaw tension or tooth pain
• Insomnia
• Blurred vision
• Feelings of numbness and tingling
• Breathing problems
• Tremors
• Altered sense of smell
• Sensitivity to sound and light
• Sweating

Psychological withdrawal symptoms from Xanax include:

• Anxiety
• Panic
• Irritability
• Nightmares
• Difficulty concentrating
• Short-term memory loss
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia
• Depression
• Thoughts of suicide
• Difficulty controlling emotions

Since Xanax leaves the body quickly, the withdrawal phase often only lasts anywhere from a few days to a week. But due to the severity of Xanax withdrawal symptoms, patients fare best with overcoming dependence and addiction at drug rehab centers that offer detox programs.

How to Quit Xanax at Detox Centers

Most rehab centers that treat Xanax dependency offer medically assisted detox, which is when doctors and healthcare staff supervise patients closely throughout detox to minimize withdrawal symptoms. This treatment method often involves tapering, which is when doctors slowly and gradually reduce Xanax dosages over a period of time until patients are no longer using the drug. Sometimes, doctors switch patients from Xanax to another benzodiazepine that has a lower potency level, such as clonazepam.

Other common detox methods for Xanax include intravenous vitamin therapy, mindfulness and stress reduction, and nutritional support. While natural and holistic therapies such as these can be effective at treating Xanax abuse alone, medical professionals suggest combining these therapies with tapering and cognitive behavioral therapy for the best possible sobriety outcome.

Fortunately, many inpatient and outpatient rehab programs offer detox as the first step in treating Xanax dependency, followed by counseling and therapy sessions that address the psychological aspects of addiction.

Are you struggling with addiction to Xanax or another benzodiazepine? If so, understand you’re not alone, and that you don’t have to overcome addiction on your own without medical assistance.

Call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 800-996-6135(Who Answers?) to learn more about how to quit Xanax with the help of a detox center.

Sources

1. National Institute of Mental Health. (2016). Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms.
2. Addiction (Abingdon, England). (1994). The benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction.
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition)- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Nicotine).