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May 11, 2006
Xanax abuse: Detox and rehab
by SirGan
 Alprazolam, trade name Xanax, is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class used to treat anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for depression. Alprazolam is also effective in the treatment of activity depression or panic attacks. It can also be useful in treating irritable bowel syndrome and anxiety due to a neurosis. Problem with this medication is that, both- tolerance and dependence can occur with the use of Xanax and person may experience withdrawal symptoms if stop using the drug abruptly. The drug dosage should be gradually reduced and only doctor should advise on how to discontinue or change dose.Biochemical structureIf we talk about biochemical structure then we should know that - Xanax is a triazolobenzodiazepine, which is nothing more then a simple benzodiazepine with a triazolo-ring attached to its structure.
Basically, alprazolam binds to the specific receptor called GABA-A, which is subtype of the GABA receptor. That’s how it works on increasing inhibitory effects of GABA within the central nervous system. What's special about this medication- unlike other benzodiazepines, alprazolam may also have some antidepressant activity, although there is no clinical evidence of this.
Mechanism of actionThe truth is that still- the real mechanism of action is not fully understood. Good thing about it is that it is easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and only after hour or two; the blood concentration peak is reached! When it enters blood stream it attaches to plasma protein, mainly albumin.
Indications for usageThere are several medical indications for the use of Xanax and the most commons are:
It is clinically proven that Alprazolam is very effective in preventing panic attacks. However, many psychiatrists refuse to use it because of the possibility of dependence due to its short-acting nature.
Alprazolam, if taken as needed is also very effective in treatment of panic attacks!
Alprazolam may be used for long-term treatment of anxiety if other therapies either do not work or are contraindicated. Duration of therapy in this case is often four months or longer. The decision to use alprazolam for this purpose must be carefully made by a specialized psychiatrist, taking into account the individual's suffering, quality of life, loss of social performance and risk of dependence.
Alprazolam is sometimes used together with other medications such as paroxetine, sertraline, or fluoxetine to alleviate symptoms of depression. However, it is proven that this may cause sexual dysfunction. In these cases, a tricyclic antidepressant may be used instead.
Xanax may help the symptoms of PMS if extreme, and, if given with various narcotics, the pain from some cancers. It can also relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia and ringing ears.
Contraindications for the usageUse of alprazolam should be avoided in individuals with the following conditions:
Possible side effects of XanaxThere are several possible side effects that could occur when using this medication and some of them happen often and some rarely!
Xanax abuse and dependenceBecause the drug is extremely addictive, Xanax is only approved by the FDA for up to 8 weeks of use and it is only approved for only 4 weeks of use in Great Britain. It is proven that, if the greater the dose is taken, the faster one becomes dependant.
If one uses these drugs long term, the body will develop tolerance for the drugs, and larger doses will be needed to achieve the same initial effects. Patients typically notice relief of insomnia initially, followed by a gradual loss of efficacy. In addition, continued use can lead to physical dependence and - when use is reduced or stopped the body goes through.
Xanax is rarely abused as a sole drug. Almost 80 percent of benzodiazepine abuse is part of poly-drug abuse, most commonly with opioids. There is also very expressed and present co-abuse with alcohol. Studies indicate that 3 to 41 percent of alcoholic persons report that they abused benzodiazepines at some time, often to modulate intoxication or withdrawal effects. As potential drugs of abuse, short-acting benzodiazepines seem to be preferred among addicts because of the rapidity of their onset of action.
Incidence of prescription drugs abuseA 2001 National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) report stated that the number of people who abuse prescription drugs each. This report also showed that the number of Americans who began to misuse sedatives, especially Xanax, practically doubled from 1990 - 1998. The latest statistics indicate that in 2002, 2.6 percent of the population, or 6.2 million Americans, aged 12 years or older were currently abusing prescription drugs. The highest numbers of new users are 12 to 17-year-olds and 18 to 25-year-olds. And, from 1998 - 2002, visits to hospital emergency rooms for benzodiazepine related episodes increased significantly.
Patients at a High Risk for Abuse and DependenceAt a particularly high risk for misuse, abuse, and dependence are:
Xanax detoxication and rehabilitationDrug rehabilitation is one multi-phase, multi-faceted, long term process.
For the addict, admitting they have an addiction problem can be the most difficult part of a rehab program. However painful this may be, it must be acknowledged as the first gradient to overcoming the problem. The next hurdle is being willing to seek and accept help from an addiction professional.
Most people think that detox-therapy is enough! Well, that of course isn't true! Detoxification is only the first step on the road of addiction treatment. Physical detoxification alone is not sufficient to change the patterns of a drug addict.
During the rehab period, the addict needs new tools in order to deal with situations and problems which will eventually arise in perspective.
Most of the addicts, even when they do admit that they have problem, rarely choose to talk with some professional about it. When an addict makes an attempt at detoxification and to discontinue drug use without the aid of professional help, statistically the results do not last long. In specialized Detox Centers, addicts are treated with respect. The dose of the drug is gradually reduced and the help is given to battle all the possible withdrawal symptoms. Battling not only suppress their drug of choice, but it is also re-stimulating their past and changes in the way their brain functions. Therefore, it is no wonder that quitting drugs without professional help is an uphill battle.
Xanax withdrawalThe withdrawal symptoms from Xanax and other benzodiazepines are quite similar, with the exception that Xanax has a much higher incidence of panic attack and a bereavement type of emotional liability that is singularly more severe.
When we talk about withdrawal effects from therapeutic dosages of benzodiazepines, then we should know that they are mainly anxiety symptoms. Some people also experienced autonomic instability, insomnia and sensory hypersensitivity. The most serious acute withdrawal symptoms are seizures and delirium tremens, which most commonly occur with abrupt discontinuation.
Symptoms of Xanax abuse withdrawal are much more dramatic because they include effects which occur after much longer period of usage! The most common are:
anxiety, blurred vision, decreased concentration, decreased mental clarity, depression, diarrhea, headache, heightened awareness of noise or bright lights, hot flushes, impaired sense of smell, insomnia, loss of appetite, loss of reality, muscle cramps, nervousness, rapid breathing, seizures, tingling sensation, tremor, twitching, weight loss…
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