Alprazolam, or Xanax, is a powerful benzodiazepine that has taken many lives and livelihoods. Long-term addiction treatment puts a stop to this.
At OK Rehab, we can’t prevent addiction from happening entirely, but we can warn you of the dangers, and match you with first-class treatment facilities to boost your chances of permanent sobriety. So, that’s what we do!
To find out how OK Rehab can improve your current situation, give us a call on 0800 326 5559 (UK) or 0330 333 8188 (international). We look forward to hearing from you.
What is Alprazolam?
Alprazolam, also known as Xanax, is a type of benzodiazepine. In the UK, it’s labelled a Class C controlled substance, so it’s only available with a private prescription from a registered doctor.
Alprazolam treats panic disorder and anxiety disorders, by acting on the neurotransmitter known as GABA, producing a calming effect.
In the UK, other benzodiazepines would be used to treat anxiety, including diazepam and lorazepam. However, alprazolam is commonly prescribed in other countries. In fact, in the US, it’s the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepine (1).
This substance has a high potential for addiction, and can cause severe withdrawal symptoms, which is why it’s not available on the NHS in the UK.
Regardless, some Brits are accessing alprazolam via private prescriptions or illegally, and it’s resulting in dependence and addiction.
How Does Alprazolam Affect the Brain and Body?
Temporarily, alprazolam can cause a drop in anxiety, and users may feel very relaxed. However, in many cases, dependence eventually develops, and this is when negative symptoms start to show up.
Even if the user still feels very relaxed directly after a dose, they start to experience unpleasant symptoms at times when they’re not taking alprazolam (1). This can include:
- Sexual dysfunction
- Memory and/or concentration issues
- Suicidal thoughts
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Dermatitis
- Dry mouth
- Photosensitivity reaction
- Poor appetite
- Constipation
- Movement disorders
- Gastrointestinal disorder
As well as these alprazolam-specific effects, users experience more general symptoms of dependence.
For example, they experience tolerance, which means they no longer react to alprazolam in the same way, and they need a higher dose to feel the same calming effects.
Higher doses are strongly linked to severe dependence or addiction, so this is how long-standing alprazolam addiction begins for many people.
Is Alprazolam Addictive for Everyone?
Alprazolam is always highly addictive as it’s a powerful substance that interferes with the brain and body significantly.
The effects wear off quite quickly, which often leaves people wanting to take another dose soon after the first one, and this is a recipe for disaster when it comes to addiction.
That doesn’t mean everyone will develop an addiction to alprazolam. However, it does mean the risk of addiction is higher than it is for other benzodiazepines, which is precisely why the UK has chosen to not make it easily accessible.
Some people can take alprazolam for their anxiety without developing a physical or psychological reliance on it (namely, a dependence or an addiction).
A combination of factors can influence this, including their genetic makeup, history of addiction, mental and physical state, the dose they take, whether they’re going through a stressful time, and whether they’re taking any other medication.
Even in someone who isn’t prone to addiction, there’s always a chance of becoming dependent on alprazolam, and it’s much more likely if users:
- Access additional supplies of alprazolam
- Use the drug even though they don’t have anxiety
- Take someone else’s prescription
- Take high doses of alprazolam
- Use the substance regularly
Signs of Alprazolam Addiction
It goes without saying that signs of alprazolam addiction will be different in each situation, as some people are more visibly affected by their addiction whereas some are either dealing with more subtle symptoms, a less severe addiction, or they are better able to hide their symptoms.
Potential physical signs
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Jitters/shakiness
- Excessive drowsiness/Fatigue
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Frequent constipation
- Excessive sweating
- Unexplained skin rashes
- Coordination issues
Potential psychological signs
- Panic attacks
- Difficulty functioning without alprazolam
- Strong cravings
- Aggression
- Mood swings
- Obsessive thoughts about alprazolam
- Memory issues
- Anxiety
Potential behavioural signs
- Secrecy surrounding alprazolam use
- Doctor shopping
- Sudden financial issues
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Drug-seeking behaviour
- Taking larger doses than prescribed
- Running out of prescriptions early
- Social withdrawal
Initial Treatment for Alprazolam Addiction
Early alprazolam addiction treatment takes the form of a detox.
Alprazolam detox usually happens in various steps, including:
- Assessment
- Detox planning (usually incorporates tapering)
- Early withdrawal
- Acute withdrawal
- Protracted withdrawal
- Aftercare
Early withdrawal
Soon after the last dose of alprazolam has been taken, or the last dose of the replacement drug (e.g., diazepam), early withdrawal symptoms will kick in.
This tends to happen within 12 hours of the last dose, but symptoms can start to show as early as a few hours later. They usually last from a few days to a couple of weeks, but they can last longer in some cases.
Anxiety-related symptoms are common in early withdrawal, such as panic attacks, restlessness, and insomnia. Other common symptoms include headaches, clouded thinking, concentration issues, nausea, twitching, weight loss, and cravings.
In medically-assisted detoxes, which most alprazolam detoxes are, some of these symptoms can be treated with suitable medications, which makes the withdrawal easier to manage, and helps the patient stay calm as they tackle this intense stage.
Acute withdrawal
Further into the alprazolam detox, withdrawal symptoms will most likely persist, and unfortunately, temporarily worsen.
For most patients, day 3-5 is the most challenging period. It may involve symptoms such as high blood pressure, aggression, hallucinations, confusion, and issues with memory.
Don’t underestimate the impact of sleep problems on the acute withdrawal phase. Lots of patients experience ongoing insomnia, giving their body less time to adapt to the detox, and this can intensify their withdrawal experience.
Thankfully, when medication is provided, patients can get some help with sleep, and ensure they’re getting enough rest in general.
Late withdrawal
Towards the end of the detox, after 1-2 weeks, most people will have gone through the worst of their withdrawal symptoms, but some symptoms may continue to cause difficulty.
It’s common for psychological symptoms to persist in the late withdrawal stage, including insomnia, cravings, anxiety, mood swings, and depression.
Again, medication can be prescribed for this, to help the patient cope with this distressing stage.
Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWs)
Sometimes, a longer withdrawal takes place, which is known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, or protracted withdrawal. Lasting from months to years, it requires additional support to help the patient stay sober in spite of the difficult symptoms.
The withdrawal symptoms are often the same as late stage symptoms, so what distinguishes late withdrawal from protracted withdrawal is the length of time the symptoms continue for.
Long-Term Treatment for Alprazolam Addiction
Detoxing from alprazolam helps your brain to function without the drug, but it doesn’t stop you from experiencing cravings, or teach you how to cope when something triggers you.
That’s what long-term treatment is for. It focuses on the psychological world of addiction, and prepares you for sobriety in a sustainable way.
Taking a class or two on the science of addiction, or having a one-off counselling session, is not enough to support you in maintaining sobriety. We cannot stress enough just how taxing recovery is, so you need a solid support system to rely on at all times, including professional support.
Long-term addiction treatment is often kickstarted at inpatient rehab, where you learn the hows and whys of addiction through services such as:
- Workshops
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Individual therapy
- Brief interventions
- Addiction counselling
Sustainable support is also provided by outpatient rehabs, addiction charities, self-help groups, community services, and private therapists.
What Type of Therapy Do You Get at Alprazolam Rehab?
Alprazolam addiction can be treated with a variety of therapy models, both evidence-based and alternative.
Each alprazolam rehab provides its own therapy services, but here are some common therapies that you can expect:
- Psychotherapy
- Trauma-informed therapy
- Group therapy
- Medically-assisted therapy (MAT)
- Motivational enhancement
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance/commitment therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Rational emotive behavioural therapy (REBT)
- Contingency management
- Drama therapy
- Equine therapy
- Acupuncture
- Mindfulness
Although rehab is highly structured, your informed consent is important. Many rehabs will ask you about your therapy experience, and work with you to ensure you’re pursuing therapies that are well-suited to your circumstances.
For example, you may have had challenging experiences with certain therapies, and rehabs can help you to explore models that fit your personality or mindset better.
Or, perhaps you’ve been in therapy for a while, and you’re benefitting from a particular model.
In that case, your chosen rehab could ensure you stay with this type of therapy, whilst also discovering some new forms (such as holistic therapies) that could provide you with unique benefits.
Not everything is flexible, so please keep in mind that you will be strongly encouraged to stick to the plan to a certain extent.
For example, group therapy is a hugely important part of rehab, and all patients should try it out except from those with extenuating circumstances.
What If I Drink Alcohol As Well as Using Alprazolam?
If you’re drinking alcohol with alprazolam, you’re risking dangerous side effects. Both of these substances are central nervous system depressants, so taking them together risks symptoms such as:
- Unconsciousness
- Impaired judgement
- Accidents and injuries
- Extreme drowsiness
- Respiratory depression
- Overdose
If you’re dependent on, or addicted to, alcohol, the risks are even more significant, as you’re frequently mixing the substances, and dealing with dependence symptoms on top of this.
Addiction treatment facilities can support you in getting sober from both alcohol and alprazolam. Each stage of rehab can be tailored to you, ensuring both of your addictions are adequately treated, and your risks of post-treatment relapse stay low.
How Can OK Rehab Help?
Let us assist you in getting professional help for yourself or a loved one. With over 140 treatment providers working in partnership with us, whatever your treatment needs, we have the services for you.
Don’t hesitate to contact OK Rehab on 0800 326 5559 (UK) or 0330 333 8188 (international) for more information.
FAQs
Below, we outline some frequently asked questions around this important topic:
1. How quickly does alprazolam addiction develop?
Alprazolam addiction develops at a different pace in everyone. Sometimes, it only takes weeks for an addiction to form, and that’s why it’s so important to take precautions, and seek professional help as soon as you see signs of dependence or addiction.
Addiction can also take years to develop, especially if someone starts with lower doses and/or a lower frequency of use. There’s another lesson in this. Just because you aren’t currently battling addiction doesn’t mean you can continue to use alprazolam safely.
The risk of addiction doesn’t go away, and with such a highly addictive drug, it’s important to be extremely cautious when using it.
2. Is alprazolam illegal in the UK?
In the UK, it’s not illegal to use alprazolam if you have a prescription for it. As it’s a Class C controlled substance, prescriptions can’t come from the NHS, only privately.
It’s illegal to obtain alprazolam without a legitimate medical prescription in the UK.
3. Why is alprazolam sometimes called Xanax?
Xanax is a brand name of alprazolam, so not every dose of alprazolam is Xanax, but Xanax is always alprazolam.
There is no medical difference between Xanax and alprazolam.
4. Can you drive after taking Xanax?
It’s not safe to drive after taking Xanax. Its calming effects can interfere with your cognitive and motor functions, making it potentially dangerous to operate a vehicle when under the influence of alprazolam.
