David Rofofsky | August 15, 2024

When Xanax Stops Working

Why Does Xanax Stop Working?

There are times when Xanax stops working for patients, and many get frustrated and blindsided about continuing to treat their anxiety and panic disorders. If Xanax stops working, it is because that person has taken Xanax for an extended period, and the brain has developed a physical tolerance to Xanax. Once tolerance has been created, the effectiveness of Xanax begins to diminish, and a larger dose is required to reach the same desired effect. Xanax was not designed to be a long-term solution for anxiety disorders or other mental health disorders. If you need long-term support for your anxiety and panic disorders, you need to speak to your physician or a healthcare provider to discuss appropriate long-term treatments. 

What Is Xanax?

Xanax, also known as Alprazolam, is a prescription medication classified as a benzodiazepine designed to support patients in easing anxiety or restlessness by producing a sense of calm within the person using it. Xanax is prescribed to be a short-term solution for patients to treat presenting anxiety disorders, and other mental health concerns such as panic attacks. However, a tolerance can be built up when used for a long time and consistently, causing the person taking Xanax to take more to reach the same desired effect. People who continue to use Xanax long-term are at a higher risk of developing a Xanax addiction due to its highly addictive components. 

Xanax has become popular among Americans for the quick release and calming effects it produces for people going through a stressful and anxious time. A Xanax addiction can be developed if someone continues to use Xanax consistently and in the long term. 

The popularity of Xanax has become a rapidly growing problem specifically for America’s young people as research has shown that young adults (18-25) are at higher risk of using Xanax for non-medical purposes. The rate of Xanax abuse is nearly double in young adults than for Americans aged 26 or older. As the popularity of Xanax continues to increase, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of over-relying on Xanax and increasing the dose each time using it.

 

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How Xanax Works

Xanax is a central nervous system depressant. The central nervous system is responsible for regulating a person’s heart rate, maintaining healthy blood pressure, breathing, maintaining a healthy, and keeping a regulated normal body temperature. When a central nervous system depressant is used, it slows down these bodily functions and puts a person at risk of severe and negative health consequences. 

Xanax is most commonly prescribed to treat a severe anxiety disorder. While most people in their lives will feel anxiety from time to time, there is a difference for those living with an anxiety disorder. When living with an anxiety disorder, it is common to live with persistent worry, unprovoked fears, and the onset of panic attacks frequently. These feelings can be crippling to the person and make it challenging to get through typical day-to-day tasks. 

Taking a prescription medication like Xanax allows those with anxiety to reduce unpleasant emotions and provide a sense of calm during a heightened state. Xanax is meant to be used in conjunction with other cognitive-behavioral therapies to assist people in managing their anxiety disorders without relying on prescription medications for the long term. 

Xanax is a fast-acting medication that takes approximately one to two hours to reach the peak desired level within a person’s bloodstream. However, once ingested, people will quickly feel the effects of Xanax, including feelings of euphoria and relaxation. The desired impact of Xanax comes on quickly and dissipates fast as Xanax has a short half-life which means that it does not take long for the person to feel the peak effects after consuming Xanax. Due to the half-shelf life, many people who use Xanax consistently will develop a high tolerance as they need to use more and more Xanax to reach the desired effects. As people begin to take higher quantities of Xanax to feel the euphoric or desired results, the risk of becoming physically, emotionally, and mentally dependent on the addictive components of Xanax increases.

 

xanax addiction

 

Risks of Taking Xanax

While the original use of Xanax was meant to be a method to treat anxiety and panic, it has become evident that this prescription medication can be easily addictive, and many people using it can develop a physical tolerance. The risk of addiction can affect a person’s well-being physically, mentally, and emotionally after developing a Xanax addiction. This physical tolerance can grow as quickly as one month as you begin to take Xanax in larger doses. 

Research has shown that prolonged use of Xanax can have long-term effects on people who regularly use Xanax daily. People who have used Xanax have experienced different drug effects and how it impacts their functioning, including patients who have difficulty with emotional regulation. Many people show dramatic mood swings, and these erratic mood swings can sometimes result in people displaying violent or aggressive behaviors. Others may experience changes in appetite. Some people may experience a loss in hunger resulting in weight loss, while others may experience binge-eating episodes that can contribute to weight gain. 

Long-term use of Xanax has been shown to affect the brain’s ability to function properly. People who use Xanax have been known to have difficulties with coordination and play. This often gives people difficulty concentrating on regular, mundane daily activities and has speech complications. Xanax has proven to affect the areas of the brain that are responsible for impulse control and engaging in high-risk behaviors. Many long-term users face challenges with being able to refrain from risky behavior such as picking fights, engaging in unsafe sex, or dangerous driving practices. People have also experienced difficulties with memory loss and cognition after quitting Xanax. 

When people attempt to quit their Xanax addiction and go into Xanax withdrawal, there is a high probability that their anxiety disorders and panic will present themselves again and have worse symptoms than before. Other people going through Xanax withdrawal experience an onset of seizures that were not present before their use of Xanax.

Signs of Xanax Addiction

People living with a Xanax addiction will often show the following signs and indicators:

  • Cognitive impairment 
  • Drowsiness
  • Delirium or confusion 
  • Experiencing prolonged bouts of sleep 
  • Lack of energy or motivation 
  • The onset of seizures during Xanax withdrawal 
  • Nausea or vomiting 
  • Isolating from loved ones 
  • Lack of interest in hobbies or activities that you once enjoyed 
  • Vertigo 
  • Experiencing legal concerns due to substance abuse 
  • Difficulty maintaining employment or attending school 
  • Inability to follow through on commitments and responsibilities 

 

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Xanax Addiction Treatment

Muse Treatment offers patients a treatment center that effectively provides the latest evidence-based treatment methods to support Xanax withdrawal and addiction treatment. We offer patients a comprehensive treatment plan that focuses on healing your addiction within your body, mind, and soul. The typical initial step you will need to take is to enter into Xanax detox, where you will be given the support and one-on-one care from healthcare providers to effectively remove the effects of Xanax from your body safely and comfortably. Once you have successfully moved through your Xanax detox, you will be able to transition into your drug rehab program that will focus on gaining perspective on the underlying causes of your addiction through individual and group therapy sessions. 

Xanax is commonly prescribed to treat an ongoing mental health disorder. While you remove the effects of Xanax, your mental health concerns will still need to be treated. Patients will be supported through a dual diagnosis treatment program to effectively heal from drug addiction while learning new coping methods and managing their mental health disorders through natural, holistic measures. Muse Treatment Center provides patients with a new foundation for a life in recovery through our evidence-based treatment methods. Contact Muse Treatment Center at (800) 426-1818 today to have any of your questions about Xanax addiction answered and find out when you can join us in our addiction treatment Los Angeles to regain your passion for life again in sobriety.

 

Prescription Drug Addiction,Prescription Drug Rehab,
David Rofofsky
David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.


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