Xanax addiction has affected millions of individuals and their families every year since its introduction. Xanax is a drug which belongs to the classification benzodiazepines. It is available in different forms: oral liquid, liquid injections, extended release tablets and of course, tablets. The main purpose of the drug is to manage panic attacks associated or not with fear of open spaces or agoraphobia. The mechanism of action of the drug is to minimize the electrical activity of the brain through holding back the production of neurons that trigger panic and anxiety disorders.
Xanax Abuse Leads to Addiction
Xanax, if used excessively or in a long duration (two weeks or more) and not administered appropriately, can lead to addiction. It has been studied that drugs that belong to the benzodiazepine drug class are not meant to be taken for a long-term and must be prescribed for a maximum of one month as the situation calls. This drug is short-acting and that is why it is administered at regular intervals; its being short-acting and having a short half-life makes it addictive.
When Does Xanax Addiction Occur?
This happens when the body has already regulated itself to the particular drug dose and the euphoria is minimized or is not experienced anymore; that’s why the person seeks that short-lived relaxing feeling and raises the drug dose. But, the dilemma here is that the system has already created a tolerance to the drug, thus the relaxed sensation will not be restored. With this, people become dependent on Xanax and take high dosages with minimal or no effect at all. During that time, the single purpose left for continuing to take Xanax is to halt the possibility of withdrawal syndrome. As time goes on, the system’s tolerance to the drug persists in escalating and withdrawal syndrome will occur if the dosage is not raised.
Xanax Addiction Tolerances
Xanax addiction is very harmful. When the body’s tolerance to this drug increases, the urge to take the drug in higher dosages is greater. The brain will be incapable of normal functioning such as in making decisions and good judgment. It is also challenging to stop the use of the drug because the withdrawal symptoms are harmful and fatal; only detoxification designed for benzodiazepine addiction can address the problem.
There are a lot of different health effects for a person who has a Xanax addiction.
Cardiovascular Diseases
- This is going to be worse if a person has been taken the Xanax for a long period of time. Some of these cardiovascular issues are high blood pressure, hypertension, arrhythmia, and rapid heartbeat. Therefore, a person is going to be a lot more likely to have a heart attack.
Loss of Taste or Smell
- After a continued use of the Xanax drug a person will lose their sense of taste and smell.
Stomach Problems
- Some of these stomach problems could include urinary incontinence, constipation, diarrhea, and nausea. The longer a person uses Xanax, the worse the stomach problems are going to become.
Hearing Disturbances
- This means that a person might hear ringing in their ears along with having their hearing impaired. These hearing problems are worse when a person is going through withdrawals if they have not had Xanax for a while.
Respiratory Health Issues
- This means that a person is going to have a lot of trouble breathing, and maybe lung damage.
Perception
- This could be a very dangerous thing when a person is driving because a person might think that something is further away than it actually is.
Dermatological Issues
- The person might become sensitive or have an allergy to certain things on their skin that normally would not bother them. Therefore, a person might also suffer from skin infections, abscesses, or the tissue of the skin might die.
Dental Issues
- These dental issues include gum and tooth disease, cotton mouth (very dry mouth) and sometimes a person could lose teeth if they continue to use the drug.
Mood Change
- This could be due to clinical depression. Therefore, when a person becomes agitated with another person, they will possibly lash out at this person.
Memory Issues
- They might have some problems recalling certain things, or learning new tasks.
Change of Sleep Patterns
- These problems could include sleepwalking, insomnia, lack of sleep, disorientation, and exhaustion.
Pregnant and Addicted
Pregnant women who have Xanax addiction must consult their physicians at once. It can pose risks to their fetus such as birth defects. The more critical thing that could happen is that sudden halting of drug use would harm the mother and the baby, which is why the course of withdrawal from the drug must be closely monitored and supervised on an inpatient basis with an addiction specialist on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Xanax addiction can be very dangerous to a person. If in the process of taking the drug and you feel like you are feeling very down, have ideas of hurting yourself, feeling troubled and aggressive, having hallucinations, feeling dizzy, experiencing fatigue, having ineffective sleeping patterns, have inflamed, arid skin, urination problems, and appetite changes, then you should consult your doctor at once.
