Xanax (Alprazolam) is part
of the class of drugs called benzodiazepines more commonly
referred to as BENZO�s.
Xanax is a depressant, used primarily for
short term relief
of mild to moderate anxiety, nervous tension, acute stress,
and panic attacks.
Xanax
is only approved by the FDA for up to 8 weeks of use and it is
only approved for only 4 weeks of use in Great Britain. This
is because it is extremely addictive. The greater the dose
taken, the faster one becomes dependant. If one uses these drugs
long term, the body will develop tolerance for the drugs, and
larger doses will be needed to achieve the same initial
effects. In addition, continued use can lead to physical
dependence and - when use is reduced or stopped the body goes
through.
The withdrawal symptoms from
Xanax and other benzodiazepines are quite similar, with the
exception that Xanax has a much higher incidence of panic
attack and a bereavement type of emotional liability that is
singularly more severe.
Xanax and other benzo�s are depressants.
They sometimes referred to as minor tranquilizers. The effect on the mind
is very similar to that of alcohol. It should be emphasized again that
all minor tranquilizers combine with each other or with other
central nervous system depressants�such as barbiturates,
antidepressants, neuroleptics, lithium, and alcohol�with a
potentially fatal result. While they can be lethal when taken
alone, they are especially dangerous in combination with these
other drugs. A large percentage of drug-related emergency room
visits involve minors tranquilizers. All of the minor
tranquilizers impair mental alertness and physical
coordination and can dangerously compromise mechanical
performance, such as automobile driving.
Here are the withdrawal
symptoms from Benzo�s and the thing to keep in mind is that
withdrawals can last for up to one year.
Single asterisk are symptoms
that are common, and occur in most people. The double
asterisk indicates symptoms that occur to some degree or
another, at one time or another, in virtually every person
experiencing benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Psychological symptoms:
anxiety** (including panic attacks), depression**, insomnia*,
derealization/depersonalization* (feelings of
unreality/detachment from self), abnormal sensitivity sensory
stimuli* (such as loud noise or bright light), obsessive
negative thoughts*, (particularly of a violent and/or sexual
nature) rapid mood changes* (including especially outbursts of
anger or rage), phobias* (especially agoraphobia and fear of
insanity), dysphoria* (loss of capacity to enjoy life;
possibility a combination of depression, anxiety, and
derealization/depersonalization), impairment of cognitive
functioning*, suicidal thoughts*, nightmares, hallucinations,
psychosis, pill cravings. Note that it is far more common to
fear psychosis than it is to actually experience it. Physical
Symptoms: muscle tension/pain**, joint pain*, tinnitus*,
headaches*, shaking/tremors*, blurred vision* (and other
complications related to the eyes), itchy skin* (including
sensations of insects crawling on skin), gastrointestinal
discomfort*, electric shock sensations*, paresthesia*
(numbness and pins and needles, especially in extremities),
fatigue*, weakness in the extremities (particularly the
legs)*, feelings of inner vibrations* (especially in the
torso), sweating, fluctuations in body temperature, difficulty
in swallowing, loss of appetite, "flu like"
symptoms, fasciculations (muscle twitching), metallic taste in
mouth, nausea, extreme thirst (including dry mouth and
increased frequency of urination), sexual dysfunction (or
occasional increase in libido), heart palpitations, dizziness,
vertigo, breathlessness.
What has become clinically
apparent with Xanax which appears to be somewhat different
than the other benzodiazepines is that the patients ability to
self-detox or be able to be gradually tapered off of the
medication is markedly more difficult. Thusly, once the
physiologic dependence has occurred with Xanax, the ability of
the patient to discontinue use successfully on their own is
quite low, and medical assistance becomes of significant
necessity in the majority of cases
Links
whatmeds.com
psyweb.com
breggin.com
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