How is xanax taken

However, benzodiazepines are also commonly used to treat difficulty sleeping and alcohol withdrawal. Generalized Anxiety Disorder GAD occurs when a person experiences excessive anxiety or worry for at least six months. Other symptoms include:.

Panic Disorder occurs when a person experiences unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear. These episodes have physical symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, dizziness, and nausea. Fear of future episodes is also part of panic disorder.

Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you because you may notice that you feel tired or dizzy. Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam, are often used for short periods of time only. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Do not stop taking alprazolam or change your dose without talking to your health care provider first.

Stopping alprazolam abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: trouble sleeping, anxiety, irritability, nausea, tremor, dizziness, blood pressure changes, rapid heart rate, and seizures.

Withdrawal reactions may occur when dosage reduction occurs for any reason. The use of alprazolam with drugs like opioid medications has led to serious side effects including slowed and difficulty breathing and death. Opioid drugs are medications used to treat pain and include medications such as: codeine, oxycodone, morphine, and illegal drugs like heroin.

Some opioid medications are also in cough syrup. If you are taking alprazolam with an opioid medication, get medical assistance immediately if you feel dizziness or sleepiness, if you have slow or troubled breathing, or if you pass out. Caregivers must get medical help right away if a patient does not respond and does not wake up. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications.

People living with anxiety disorders who wish to become pregnant face important decisions regarding risk versus benefit of benzodiazepine use in pregnancy.

Alprazolam can increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. It is important to discuss this with your doctor and caregivers. Typically, your healthcare provider will limit the number of doses you should take in one day.

Your healthcare provider will determine the dose and method of taking the medication that is right for you based upon your response.

Alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets must remain in their original packaging. Open the package with clean dry hands before each dose. Do not try to put tablets in a pillbox if you take the orally disintegrating tablets. Take the tablets right away, do not store for later use. Alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets will dissolve in your mouth within seconds and can be swallowed with or without liquid.

A doctor who prescribes this medication for longer than eight weeks should check on the status of your anxiety to see if other treatment options might be more suitable. If your doctor determines that you no longer need to take Xanax, they will slowly wean you off of the medication. Your specific schedule may vary, but generally, they will reduce your dosage by 0. Xanax can be prescribed as:.

You should take Xanax exactly as your doctor prescribes. Overdoses are possible with this medication, so be sure you don't take too much or double-up on your doses.

If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it's not too close to your next scheduled time. Xanax should be kept at room temperature and, since it is a controlled substance, you should store it securely, out of the reach of others, in a tightly closed container.

Do not take Xanax with grapefruit juice, as it could increase the medication's effects, or with any other substance that can depress your CNS, like alcohol. There are several factors to keep in mind when taking Xanax.

Good communication with your doctor can help you determine what's normal and when to be concerned. The most common side effects of taking Xanax are sedation and drowsiness. In general, benzodiazepines like Xanax have fewer side effects than other longer-term medications for anxiety.

Avoid driving, operating machinery, and participating in hazardous activities until you know how you react to Xanax. Xanax can cause mania, as well as lead to abuse and physical and psychological dependence. Talk to your doctor if you have a history of substance abuse, as Xanax may not be a good choice to treat your SAD.

Using Xanax together with opioids can carry serious, life-threatening side effects. This combination can result in extreme sedation with the risk of slowed breathing, coma, and death. You shouldn't take opioids and Xanax together unless your doctor believes there is no alternative treatment available to you. If that is the case, they should keep your dosage as low as possible and watch you closely for signs of respiratory depression and sedation. A number of medications can potentially interact with Xanax.

It is important that your doctor is aware of all the medications you are currently taking. Drugs that may cause issues include:. Grapefruit juice may also interact with Xanax. In addition, the effects of Xanax may be intensified if combined with alcohol. There is a risk of emotional and physical dependence when taking Xanax. Withdrawal symptoms are possible if the medication is abruptly stopped and may include the risk of seizures.

This is why it's so important to work with your doctor to wean off of this medication slowly. Be sure to follow your doctor's directions for stopping Xanax or changing the dosage. If an overdose of Xanax occurs, a person needs emergency medical attention. Somebody should call or Poison Control at Benzodiazepines, including Xanax, can produce extra depressant effects on the CNS when a person takes it alongside:. Studies of benzodiazepines other than Xanax suggest a possible interaction with the following drugs:.

This list is not complete, and other drugs may interact with Xanax. A person should tell their doctor about all the medications they use.

This includes prescription, OTC, vitamin , and herbal products. It is important to taper off Xanax gradually. Otherwise, there is a risk of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. To discontinue treatment of Xanax, a doctor should reduce and taper the dosage slowly.

They should decrease the daily dosage of Xanax by no more than 0. Anxiety and related mental health conditions can cause ear ringing or tinnitus, and tinnitus can exacerbate existing anxiety.

Learn more about the…. Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder that causes an inability to speak in certain situations. Learn more about the causes and treatment. After lockdown, many people feel different types of anxiety, including social, health, or work-related stress.

Learn ways to overcome this. Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause people to feel anxious. Learn more. What you need to know about Xanax. Medically reviewed by Dena Westphalen, Pharm. What is Xanax? You may also work with a therapist to develop plans for you and your family. Those who struggle with addiction will find that the detox process can be difficult and can be accompanied by potentially serious withdrawal symptoms such as aches, fever, nausea, and fatigue. Because detox leaves the body and mind vulnerable, it also raises the risk of overdose, which can sometimes prove fatal.

This is why home-based detox is not recommended; instead, those with addiction are encouraged to pursue medically supervised detox through Experience Recovery. We use science-based, clinically proven models that provide a safe, expedient, and fully effective detox process, preparing the client for ongoing treatment and recovery. You must be logged in to post a comment.

What is Xanax? Ingredients Xanax is made up of alprazolam which is part of the 1,4 benzodiazepine class of compounds for the central nervous system. Uses for Xanax The primary use for Xanax is to treat panic attacks and anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are described as: Restlessness Shortness of breath Trembling Worry and apprehension Aches Heart palpitations Flushing Sweating Lightheadedness Clammy hands Smothering sensation Insomnia Difficulty concentrating Exaggerated startle response Xanax is also used to treat anxiety that may come from panic attacks.

Side Effects of Xanax During the early stages of using Xanax there can be some side effects associated.

Panic Attacks Panic attacks can happen as a result of panic disorder or agoraphobia and Xanax can help with these symptoms. Getting a Xanax Prescription A physician or doctor will determine whether it is right for you to begin taking Xanax for anxiety or panic disorder.