When the drug is abruptly removed from the bloodstream these things can quickly elevate, leading to seizure, coma, or even death. Dr. Nelson has worked in the behavioral health field for more than 22 years. He has served as a clinical director, clinician, and supervisor for mental health pro- grams in acute, sub-acute, and outpatient facilities, and in primary care. Smoking, snorting, or injecting Xanax in an effort to get high is a warning sign of abuse, dependency, and/or addiction.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of Xanax and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 3 or 4 days. Prescriptions may be refilled only a limited number of times; ask your pharmacist if you have any questions. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of alprazolam and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 3 or 4 days.
- Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.
- But, anxiety drugs should not be used as a first choice, nor should they ever be the only choice.
- Even after relatively short-term use at doses of ≤ 4 mg/day, there is some risk of dependence.
- Do not take more Xanax than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.
Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list of drugs with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your doctor if you have health questions or concerns. They have increased eightfold since the 1990s and caused the deaths of high-profile people like Rapper Lil Peep, who died from a benzo overdose in 2017. Aside from an increased risk of overdose, snorting Xanax (or any other drugs) can damage the nostrils, nasal passages, and sinus structures.
- Xanax has been used off-label to help with anxiety and sedation before medical procedures, including dental work.
- Most of the interactions that have been documented with alprazolam are with drugs that modulate CYP3A4 activity.
- In fact, drug abuse is classified as when a person decides to take a drug without the instructions of a medical professional.
- Read on to learn what it should and shouldn’t feel like, and answers to other commonly asked questions.
- Although interactions between benzodiazepines and commonly employed clinical laboratory tests have occasionally been reported, there is no consistent pattern for a specific drug or specific test.
- The use of Xanax and opioid drugs may cause severe side effects, including extreme sleepiness and respiratory depression (slow or weak breathing).
General Health
Properly done, within seconds the full force of the benzos will hit you. This can quickly become a bad habit if you’re a needle fiend like me and I’ve learned to keep it to every once in a while. The same PG solution under the tongue is effective in minutes. So, to prepare a shot for IV use, one takes maybe .2 ml of PG solution (about 2 mg etizolam), and mixes it with about .7 ml water.
What if you combine Xanax with another drug or medication?
Do not take itraconazole (Sporanox®) or ketoconazole (Nizoral®) while you are using this medicine. Using any of them together with this medicine may increase the chance of serious side effects. Cymbalta (duloxetine) is used to treat major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder and …
What should I do if I forget a dose?
This is called a taper, and it’s done to help avoid withdrawal symptoms. (These are side effects that can happen when you suddenly stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.) For information, see the “Xanax and withdrawal and dependence” section. You’ll likely start by taking Xanax 0.25-mg or 0.5-mg tablets three times daily.
DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE
Benzodiazepines (the drug group Xanax belongs to) have a higher risk of dependence and withdrawal symptoms than other drugs that treat this condition. You’ll likely start with Xanax 0.5-mg tablets three times daily. If you respond well to the drug and your doctor increases your daily dosage, they’ll do it slowly by 1 mg every 3 to 4 days. The highest dose reported by the drugmaker is a total of 10 mg daily, but it’s uncommon to take such a high dose. Xanax (alprazolam) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat anxiety and panic attacks.
Although Xanax and opioids work differently in your body, they can cause similar side effects. You’ll likely feel the effects of Xanax for several hours after each dose. If you’re concerned about dependence when using Xanax, talk with your medical professional.
Therapy and Xanax: A Combined Treatment Approach
If you take this medication as it’s intended — it’s commonly prescribed to treat anxiety or panic disorders — you may notice symptom relief after your first dose. Xanax works by increasing the levels of a chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid in your brain. This results in a calming effect that helps relieve symptoms of anxiety and panic disorder.
A treatment plan consisting of both medications and therapy takes into account the complexity of all the factors that can contribute can you shoot xanax to having anxiety. Alprazolam is also sometimes used to treat depression, fear of open spaces (agoraphobia), and premenstrual syndrome. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.
For patients receiving doses greater than 4 mg per day, periodic reassessment and consideration of dosage reduction is advised. When stopping Xanax, you’ll likely do it slowly using a taper schedule. Talk with your doctor about what your dosage taper schedule will be. Xanax is typically used for short-term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Your medical professional may recommend combining Xanax with long-term treatment to further manage your anxiety. Medications used for this long-term treatment can include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline (Zoloft).
