Xanax and Alcohol: Side Effects and Risks

Taking Xanax with other central nervous system depressants presents a high overdose risk. Opioids and alcohol produce some of the same effects as Xanax, and when these effects are compounded, they may be fatal. Mixing central nervous system depressants can result in extreme drowsiness, respiratory depression , coma, or death. The most deadly side effects of long-term Xanax use and abuse are seizures. This term refers to an intense brain disturbance that may cause the body to spasm. Seizures can result in brain damage or death if they repeatedly occur or last an extended period.

How slowly your dosage will be lowered and when you can stop Xanax depends on how you react to dosage changes. If withdrawal symptoms appear, your doctor will slow down your taper of the drug. Overdoses can occur when taking Xanax alone, but they commonly occur when people combine Xanax with alcohol. Combining Xanax with other medications and illegal substances can also increase the risk of overdose.

Xanax is mainly used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. One study found that 15 out of 17 patients with panic disorder experienced a “reoccurrence or increase” in their panic attacks after tapering off Xanax. Self-medicating with Xanax or mixing it with other substances has life-threatening consequences, including overdose.

Does Xanax Raise Blood Sugar

Though less common and less effective, some people take Xanax by snorting or injecting it. These methods can also raise the likelihood of overdose, as the drug gets into the bloodstream quicker, making it more difficult to predict its effects. A Visual Guide to Generalized Anxiety Disorder Learn about generalized anxiety disorder . See if your worries are normal or something more by learning about symptoms,… Seizures can occur in more severe cases of withdrawal.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or do not go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. It’s called Xanax XR, and it’s approved to treat only panic disorder. There are special rules around prescribing and supplying Schedule IV controlled drugs. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about this.

This means the drug could build up in your blood, which could increase your risk of side effects. Doctors report an increase in deaths among people with severe breathing problems who were taking Xanax. If you have severe breathing problems and take Xanax, your doctor will need to monitor you closely for worsening of this condition. eco sober house cost If signs and symptoms of worsening breathing occur, your doctor will have you stop taking this drug. If you’re concerned about weight changes while taking Xanax, talk with your doctor. They can offer suggestions, such as nutrition changes or exercise recommendations, to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight.

In July, limits went into effect that flag and sometimes block pharmacies’ orders of controlled substances such as Adderall and Xanax when they exceed a certain threshold. The requirement stems from a 2021 settlement with the U.S.’s three largest drug distributors — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. But pharmacists said it curtails their ability to fill prescriptions for many different types of controlled substances — not just opioids. Anyone experiencing an overdose requires immediate medical attention. Once at the hospital or with emergency services, they are often given intravenous fluids, respiratory support, and/or medications to help combat the effects. Glotzer said that he’s had trouble getting all attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medications including Concerta and Ritalin.

Xanax dosage

Xanax may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. (This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether Xanax is a good treatment option for you. Some important things to discuss with your doctor when considering treatment with Xanax include your overall health and any medical conditions you may have. Some people report an increased sex drive, but others report a decrease. Yes, adults ages 65 years and older may have a higher risk of certain side effects of benzodiazepines. (This is the drug group that Xanax belongs to.) Older adults may have higher levels of Xanax in their body because their kidneys don’t work as well.

• Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
• In another study, people with panic disorder symptoms experienced a reduced sex drive, orgasm dysfunction, and ED when taking Xanax.
• You can talk with your doctor about whether Xanax is right for you.
• Also, remember to do the things you know will help keep your levels under control.
• A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration.
• Xanax is typically prescribed for short periods of time to relieve anxiety symptoms while other treatments, such as antidepressants, are taking effect.

Below is a list of medications that can interact with Xanax. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Xanax. Xanax is an effective medication for reducing the number of panic attacks you have. To find out how the drug performed in clinical trials, see Xanax’s prescribing information. Xanax is FDA-approved to treat panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia, in adults. It’s common to have anxiety about the stresses of everyday life.

Mood and behavioral effects

Ask them about other medications that might be better options. Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Xanax affects you. They can then use this https://rehabliving.net/ information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. Changes in appetite and weight can happen when taking Xanax. You may gain or lose weight, but Xanax is not a weight loss drug.

This combination also increases the risk of a fatal overdose. The risks of mixing alcohol with the benzodiazepines listed above are comparable to the risks of mixing alcohol with Xanax. Taking high doses of either Xanax or alcohol can be fatal. When combined, these substances are more likely to cause death. Alcohol levels in Xanax- and alcohol-related fatalities tend to be lower than alcohol levels in alcohol-only fatalities. This means they can cause fatigue, drowsiness, or impairment.

These side effects can vary depending on the condition the drug is being used to treat. When mixing Xanax and alcohol, some side effects can be extremely dangerous. In severe cases, an alcohol and Xanax overdose can occur.

Increased Thoughts of Suicide

If Xanax is causing you bothersome constipation, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend over-the-counter laxatives to help relieve this side effect. While it’s possible to have constipation with Xanax, sober house boston some people may have diarrhea. Doctors suggest that dehydration and the use of benzodiazepines such as Xanax can cause constipation. If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives.

If you’re having difficulties controlling anxiety or it’s causing issues in your daily life, you must speak to a doctor to find the appropriate treatment. Xanax has a short half-life, which means its effects do not last long. The period between doses of Xanax may cause someone to experience mild withdrawal symptoms. This leads some people to take Xanax more frequently than prescribed in an effort to avoid unpleasant effects.

Combining Xanax with an opioid can cause severe drowsiness, trouble breathing, coma, or death. But there may be times your doctor cannot avoid prescribing both drugs for you. If this is the best alternative for your condition, they’ll limit your doses and treatment duration to the minimum. Specific medicines such as naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram may discourage alcohol abuse. Others may manage any underlying anxiety or other mental health issues.

Other drugs, including opioids and SSRIs, can also adversely interact with benzodiazepines and alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can also lead to headaches and blurred vision as well as gastrointestinal issues. Combining the two substances will increase your risk for experiencing physical side effects. For some people it causes a temporary mood boost, although it’s a depressant.

To help avoid withdrawal symptoms, do not stop taking Xanax unless you first talk with your doctor. When you and your doctor agree that you should stop taking Xanax, they’ll reduce your dose slowly over time. Xanax and Valium may be used to treat anxiety disorders, although both drugs have other uses that differ. Misuse refers to taking a drug for a purpose or in a way that a doctor has not prescribed. People often misuse drugs to produce a pleasurable, calm, or high feeling.

Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. About one in five people on Xanax report feeling light-headed and two in five say they feel sleepy when taking Xanax for anxiety disorders, according to the FDA. If you think you might be addicted to Xanax, it’s safe and smart to confide in your doctor.

As of March 23, Glotzer said he hadn’t been able to get any medications from Cardinal. That means that pharmacies are often blocked from fulfilling prescriptions to patients in need of refills. A clause in the settlement places a cap on the number of controlled substances that pharmacies are allowed to dispense, according to Bloomberg News. The pharmaceutical companies were accused of fueling the opioid epidemic by flooding areas with pills while downplaying their health risks. Even if you’ve been using Xanax for a while with no problems, adding alcohol can trigger unpredictable side effects.