Xanax Abuse and Addiction 

Xanax, generic name: Alprazolam, is a Central Nervous System (CNA) depressant within the category of drugs known as benzodiazepines, which includes many other tranquilizers such as Ativan, Valium and Librium. The manufacture recommends Xanax for the treatment of tension, nervousness and panic attacks.

Benzodiazepines have come under public scrutiny mostly because of their severe addictive qualities. When these medications were first developed (Xanax was patented in 1969), the pharmaceutical manufacturer stated that they were non-habit forming or addictive, but experience has proven them to be one of the most addictive medications on the market. It is estimated that three million people in America have used benzodiazepine medications on a daily basis for a period of at least one year. Australia has cracked down on physicians writing prescriptions for Xanax and they reduced its sales buy 22% after taking these measure.

There are over 47 million prescriptions written for Xanax in the US. An estimated three million people have been taking benzodiazepines daily for over a year. (I could not find statistics for Europe, but my experience with those abusing Xanax tells me that it is following the US trend. In the US, about 1% of the population is addicted to benzodiazepines.)

People must be very careful to not blindly follow the suggestions of physicians when psychoactive drugs are being recommended and prescribed. This statistic also demonstrates how physicians may ignore recommended prescribing data for medications such as Xanax, since the government recommends that Xanax be prescribed for periods of less than eight weeks for the treatment of panic attacks and/or anxiety.

As with many psychiatric medications, the original presentation and defense asserting claims of efficacy by Upjohn pharmaceuticals (now a part of Pfizer) was based on anecdotal reports by psychiatrist David Sheehan who stated that Xanax helped his patients who suffered from panic attacks — even though research had previously documented that benzodiazepines had little to no effect on panic disorders. Upjohn compensated Dr. Sheehan for his “research” that helped win the government’s approval of Xanax. This is a common practice with pharmaceutical companies and the public needs to be aware that there may be problems with the research used to gain government approval of these types of drugs.

Xanax and to a lesser degree, Valium and Ativan, not only cause a feeling of relaxation, but initially they cause a feeling of euphoria and enthusiasm, or a rush, that is followed by an artificial feeling of relaxation.

Many have reported that after taking Xanax for one to two weeks, they began to have physical withdrawal symptoms, most commonly headaches that were only relieved by taking more of the drug. This addictive potential is more pronounced in Xanax than many of the other benzodiazepines.

Addiction professionals report that benzodiazepines are as highly addictive, both physically and psychologically, as opiates (such as heroin) and other narcotics. In some ways Xanax is more problematic than opiates in that abrupt stoppage of the drug can cause seizures, requiring medically assisted withdrawal—whereas opiate withdrawal is painful, but not medically threatening.

With Xanax being so easily prescribed for help with common stress and/or sleeplessness, there have been many elderly patients who have unwittingly become addicted to their “nerve” medicine and when attempting withdrawal have found that their original complaints are now compounded by severe withdrawal difficulties.

Everyone should read and understand the side effects of any psychoactive medications before accepting a prescription to help ensure that the outcome of a regime of treatment isn’t worse than the original complaint. Xanax has the following documented side effects:

• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat
• Drowsiness
• Decreased inhibitions (a lack of fear when facing dangerous tasks)
• Hallucinations 
• Agitations and hostility
• Hyperactivity
• Dizziness, light-headedness or fainting
• Urinating less than usual or not at all
• Flu-like symptoms: headaches, fatigue, joint pain and unusual weakness
• Speech problems
• Complete memory loss (amnesia) and concentration problems
• Changes in appetite (including weight gain)
• Blurred vision, unsteadiness and clumsiness (impaired coordination and balance)
• Decreased sex drive
• Dry mouth or increased salivation
• Nervousness, restlessness, sleeplessness and sweating
• Pounding in the chest or rapid heartbeat (panic attacks)
• Skin inflammation
• Muscle twitching, tremor and seizures (convulsions)

This list of side effects ought to stop anyone from taking the chance that Xanax might be of benefit. However, persons addicted to benzodiazepines or those in withdrawal from other drugs will compromise their better interest to find quick relief—only to find that they now have added addiction problems. 

When someone is seeking treatment at Narconon for continual Xanax use and addiction, they will need to consult their physicians and be monitored while they tapper off of the medication before they enter a “medicine-free” withdrawal. The long-term, uncomfortable side-effects of Xanax are quickly reduced and eliminated through the Narconon withdrawal part of the program.

I recommend that anyone feeling that they want to stop their use of Xanax or other benzodiazepines contact Narconon Europe. They will give you sound advice on how to address this problem. Call: 45 70 60 60 03

Photo credit: Dean812: https://www.flickr.com/photos/deanslife/1269477821/ Photo modified and used under Creative Commons License.