Blue Xanax is a specific brand of alprazolam, a prescription medication used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It’s important to understand that Xanax is a controlled substance with potential risks, so it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional before considering its use.
Need help getting addiction treatment?
This blog aims to provide information about Blue Xanax, its uses, potential side effects, and legal implications. We encourage you to make informed decisions about your health and seek professional guidance if needed.
What Is Blue Xanax?
Xanax is a branded version of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine from the same family as Ativan, Valium, and Klonopin. It is also commonly known as the 031 blue pill because of the 031 imprinted numbers that identify the pill.
Xanax is one of the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medication in the U.S. Benzodiazepines like Xanax are prescribed at 66 million doctor’s appointment every year.
Blue Xanax, like all forms of Xanax, is prescribed for the short-term treatment of the symptoms of anxiety disorders or panic disorders.
Xanax works by reducing activity in the CNS (central nervous system) and brain. This mechanism of action induces a sense of calm, intensifying the effects of a naturally occurring brain chemical, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).
First approved by the FDA in 1981, Xanax is still widely prescribed in spite of its habit-forming potential.
What Is Blue Xanax Bars?
Blue Xanax contains the same ingredients as Xanax pills in other colors. All that differs is the dosage.
Known as blue Xanax bars, Xanax blue pills are either oval or elliptical in shape and imprinted with XANAX 1.0. This expresses a dosage of 1mg of alprazolam. Another common name for these is blue football xanax, mg dosage being the same.
When healthcare providers prescribe Xanax, whether for anxiety disorders or panic disorders, starting dosages are typically low, often as low as 0.25 mg. This dosage can be gradually increased once brain chemistry adjusts to the effects of benzodiazepines. Maximum daily starting dosages of Xanax are usually capped at 4mg split across multiple doses.
If you take blue Xanax bars exactly as directed, effects set in rapidly, normally within 15 minutes to an hour. Blood concentration levels of alprazolam peak within two hours.
Often, those who abuse blue Xanax do not take the medication orally and as intended. Instead, Xanax abuse often involves crushing the Xanax bars and then snorting the fine powdered alprazolam. This triggers the drug’s effects within minutes.
What Are the Different Forms and Strengths of Xanax?
Alprazolam in the form of the branded Xanax is available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Different manufacturers each want to stamp their brand and characteristics on their version of alprazolam so they can better stand out in a crowded benzodiazepine market.
The colors of Xanax pills are as they contain colorants approved by the FDA.
Xanax bars are a specific form of this medication containing a 2mg dose of alprazolam. This means the long and thin Xanax bars contain a high dosage of alprazolam, the highest dosage available besides the 3mg extended-release Xanax tablet. The bar is scored into smaller sections, allowing for fractional dosing.
These are the most common forms of Xanax bars:
- Blue Xanax bar
- White Xanax bar
- Yellow Xanax bar
- Peach Xanax tablet
- Purple Xanax pill
- Green Xanax bar
- Pink Xanax bar
Blue Xanax bars
Blue Xanax pills contain 1mg of alprazolam, but blue Xanax bars contain a 2mg dosage. Bars can be easily snapped in half, allowing for smaller dosages.
All blue Xanax pills are schedule IV controlled substances and available only by prescription.
Round blue Xanax pills (1mg strength) are imprinted 031 R by Actavis, the manufacturer. The blue colorant comes from inactive filler ingredients approved as safe for human consumption by the FDA.
The oblong shape blue Xanax bars are sometimes referred to as blue footballs for their shape.
White Xanax bars
White Xanax, often known as sticks, is the most common color of this medication, more common even than blue Xanax.
White Xanax bars contain dosages of between 0.25mg and 2mg of alprazolam.
Yellow Xanax bars
Yellow Xanax pills are a generic form of alprazolam containing 2mg dosages.
Similar in effect to white Xanax pills, yellow Xanax is often informally known as yellow school bus for its shape and color. The difference in color is due to the pills being manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies.
Peach Xanax tablets
Peach Xanax bars, sometimes known as orange Xanax bars, contain lower doses starting at 0.5mg of alprazolam.
Pfizer manufacturers this form of alprazolam in oval, orange-colored pills.
Purple Xanax pills
Another Pfizer-produced variant of Xanax, purple Xanax comes in rounded pill form imprinted with the name of the drug and A23.
Green Xanax bars
Several companies manufacture green Xanax bars, each imprinted with the unique characteristics of the pharmaceutical company.
Similar in strength to white and yellow Xanax, green Xanax bars typically contain 2mg dosages of alprazolam. Green bars come in various shapes, including round, oval, rectangular, and triangular.
Pink Xanax bars
Pink Xanax contains a 3mg dosage of alprazolam and is seldom prescribed.
What Are the Risks of Blue Xanax Abuse?
Like all benzodiazepines, Xanax has the potential for abuse and dependence with sustained use.
Taking Xanax without a supporting prescription or taking more Xanax bars than prescribed is considered Xanax abuse. Abusing benzos increases the likelihood of dependence and substance use disorder developing, and also heightens the risk of benzo overdose.
Using Xanax long-term means tolerance to the medication will build. You’ll then need more Xanax to deliver the same effects or more frequent doses of Xanax. Tolerance often leads to physical dependence developing. At this point, you will experience Xanax withdrawal symptoms if you discontinue use of alprazolam.
The most common Xanax withdrawal symptoms include:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Hypersensitivity to light
- Panic attacks
- Rebound anxiety
- Muscle pains
- Tremors
- Sweating
The abrupt and unsupervised withdrawal from blue Xanax can trigger a potentially deadly seizure. A tapered reduction of dosage is the optimum route to recovery, ideally in a licensed medical detox center.
Learn More About Renaissance Recovery’s Xanax Treatment Center
Struggling with addiction to Xanax, prescription medication, or any other substance? You’re not alone.
At Renaissance Recovery, we understand the challenges of addiction and are here to offer support and guidance. Our treatment centers in Florida and California provide comprehensive programs tailored to individual needs.
We recognize the link between mental health and addiction, which is why we offer dual diagnosis treatment alongside personalized therapy and support plans. Our goal is to empower individuals to achieve lasting recovery in a safe and supportive environment.
Ready to take the first step?
Contact our compassionate team today at 866.330.9449. We’re available 24/7 to answer your questions and guide you on the path to healing.
