Table of Contents
Xanax Side Effects & Dangers
Understanding Xanax Effects
Xanax side effects and addictive potential make this
benzodiazepine
only safe for consumption for short-term, medically supervised use. This medication is a CNS (central nervous system) depressant that can produce a calming effect from GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), increasing its potential for abuse.
While Xanax does have some short-term side effects as well, long-term side effects include a range of debilitating health issues including cognitive issues, addiction, and serious withdrawals.
If you or a loved one are struggling with Xanax side effects, this blog highlights what to expect, and how you can get treatment for Xanax dependence if you need it.
What Are the Side Effects of Xanax?
Many people use Xanax (often misspelled as zanex, xanes, or canex) to cope with the symptoms of anxiety disorders. You may be wondering, “what are the side effects of xanax?”.
Less frequently, this drug is prescribed for the treatment of panic disorders. The medication can deliver fleeting relief from the general symptoms of anxiety.
Xanax takes 1 to 2 hours before levels peak in your bloodstream.
Some long-term and short-term side effects of Xanax use are:
- Drowsiness
- Feeling light-headed
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Talkativeness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Cotton mouth
- Salivation
- Changes in libido
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Lowered or increased appetite
- Changes in weight
- Difficulty urinating
- Joint pain
Get Insurance-Covered Addiction Treatment
Serious Side Effects of Xanax
Serious side effects of Xanax include:
- Shortness of breath
- Seizures
- Severe skin rash
- Skin or eye yellowing
- Feeling confused
- Speech problems
- Losing coordination or balance
Often, people misuse alprazolam for its calming effects, without properly considering the possible side effects of Xanax abuse.
Xanax and aggression are often linked as the misuse and abuse of the drug can trigger aggressive and impulsive behavior, depression, and psychosis. The chronic misuse of Xanax can rapidly lead to dependence and addiction.
Tolerance to Xanax quickly builds, meaning you will need progressively more alprazolam to achieve the same result.
When addiction develops, you will experience an array of adverse withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medication.
Common FAQs
Does Xanax Make You Aggressive?
Although Xanax is known as a depressant, making people more relaxed when they take it, it can
cause aggression in some cases. You may be wondering, “does Xanax make you aggressive?”.
Studies done by The National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) concluded that this drug can cause aggression in some individuals, although the Xanax anger side effect may be caused by other factors like personality traits and the size of the dosage.
Does Xanax Cause Weight Gain?
Xanax does not directly cause weight gain, however it can occur as a result of other symptoms of drug use like fatigue, insomnia, and increased appetite.
How Long Is Xanax Effective?
Effects of taking this drug can last about 2 to 4 hours. However, this timeframe can change as you build tolerance to it, requiring a higher and higher dosage to create an effect.
The average half-life of Xanax use is around 11 to 12 hours.
How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System?
In these instances, it can be very easy to begin to take larger doses, leading to physical dependency or even addiction. This drug only stays in your system for 2 to 3 days, increasing the risk for accidental detox which can be incredibly disruptive to your daily life.
Suddenly stopping the drug is quite dangerous and can be fatal if you try to detox from them on your own.
Call your doctor if you suddenly start experiencing withdrawal, or contact a detox facility to begin detox in a safe, medically supervised way.
Effective treatment for addiction, founded by people in recovery.
Xanax Side Effects in Elderly
Studies have not indicated any geriatric-specific symptoms that would limit the efficacy of Xanax in the elderly.
Seniors are more likely to experience unwanted side effects, including:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Clumsiness
- Drowsiness
- Unsteadiness
- Kidney problems
- Lung problems
- Liver problems
Slips and falls are also more likely among seniors taking alprazolam.
Fight Back Against Xanax Addiction
Get evidence-based treatment to overcome Xanax addiction at Renaissance Recovery. Call our team now to learn more about the process.
Our Addiction Treatment Programs
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
- Sober Living Homes and Communities
Sources
- https://www.simplypsychology.org/central-nervous-system.html
- https://www.healthline.com/health/gamma-aminobutyric-acid
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25183003
- https://www.foxnews.com/health/popping-xanax-is-more-harmful-than-you-think
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/benzodiazepine-use-may-raise-risk-alzheimers-disease-201409107397
THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE
At Renaissance Recovery our goal is to provide evidence-based treatment to as many individuals as possible. Give us a call today to verify your insurance coverage or to learn more about paying for addiction treatment.
