Tapering Off Xanax: What to Expect
Xanax is a popular, commonly prescribed drug used by many Americans to treat anxiety and panic disorders. However, some people source Xanax–without a prescription and medical advice–to use recreationally.
It’s easy to form a Xanax dependence, which is why many people need to taper off it when they decide to stop using it.
Developing a dependence on Xanax can be possible even when taking small doses or with a prescription and advice from a physician.
As Xanax is a benzodiazepine, physical dependence is possible. This means your body will need to adjust when you stop taking it, which will probably result in withdrawal symptoms.
Here’s what you should know if you are planning on tapering off Xanax.
Regardless of your reasons for taking Xanax, if you feel you need help to quit, call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439.
Guide To Tapering Off Xanax
Tapering off Xanax can be different for every individual. Many factors can influence the experience an individual may have. Someone that is tapering off Xanax after taking a prescribed dose with advice from a medical professional may find it easier than someone with a high dependence after Xanax abuse.
Metabolism can also make a difference, as can previous medical history. If the individual has a history of substance abuse or addiction, they may also experience a more severe withdrawal.
Xanax’s half-life is fairly short. This means that once an individual stops taking Xanax completely, the drug will be mostly out of the bloodstream within 24 hours.
During tapering, a medical professional may recommend the use of other benzodiazepines with longer half-lives, such as Valium. This can help the body adjust slowly and not put it under the same shock as stopping suddenly.
You’ll need to seek advice from a medical professional before tapering off Xanax, as they will perform an assessment and advise the dosage you should taper at.
Timeline for Tapering Off Xanax
Remember that this timeline should only be used as a rough guide. You should seek guidance from a medical professional before tapering.
1. Between Days One to Three
- In the first few days, Xanax will normally be replaced with diazepam. The dosage of this will depend on the individual, but the rate will usually be 10 milligrams of diazepam for every one milligram of Xanax.
- It is common for individuals to experience depression and anxiety during this stage. Feeling restless and struggling to sleep are also common side effects at this stage.
2. Between Days Three to Seven
- At this stage, the dosage will usually be reduced by between 10-25%. This again depends on the tolerance the individual has developed to Xanax.
- Most people feel the peak of withdrawal at this stage. They may experience periods of sickness, tremors, a change to blood pressure and heart rate, pain in the muscles, cravings, vision changes, appetite changes and sweating. It is also common to experience sensitivity to lights, noises and touch.
3. Second Week
- After approximately two weeks, the dosage is normally reduced by another 25%. This depends on the individual and will be assessed by a medical professional.
- At this stage, the physical withdrawal symptoms start to decrease. Some people may still feel withdrawal symptoms, but these will be less severe than before.
4. Third Week
- The medical professional will usually advise the individual to reduce the dose by another 10%.
5. Fourth Week
- By week four, the individual will usually be taking half of the original diazepam dose. Remember, this will depend on medical advice.
6. Week Five to Week Eight
- At this stage during detoxification, the dose is usually kept the same and most physical withdrawal symptoms should start to subside.
- It is at this point where therapy sessions or counseling can be useful to manage psychological withdrawal. Not all individuals will suffer from these. However, they can include working through cravings, depression, and anxiety.
7. Week Nine to Week 10
- At week nine, the dose will normally be dropped again by an additional 25%. Some people may need to taper more slowly, however, which is why detoxification should only take place in a licensed medical facility.
- For those struggling with psychological withdrawal, certain skills are usually the focus of therapy. These include preventing relapse and managing stress and anxiety with coping mechanisms and reframing behaviors.
8. Week 11 to Week 12
- Dosage will usually be taken down by another 25%.
- Some people may need to continue therapy and counseling sessions. These can include individual and group sessions, possibly as an outpatient depending on the individual and their needs.
9. Week 13 to Week 14
- This is the final stage in the taper before complete discontinuation in week 15. At this stage, the dose will be reduced by another 25%.
10. Week 15
- By week 15, most people will stop taking diazepam completely. Some people may not feel ready to discontinue the drug altogether at this stage, but medical professionals manage this on an individual basis.
Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms
Everyone will experience withdrawal differently. However, common withdrawal symptoms felt by people tapering off Xanax include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Tremors
- Sweating
- Weight loss
- Irregular heartbeat
- Raised blood pressure
- Pain and tension in muscles
- Headaches
- Sensory problems
These are just some examples of the withdrawal symptoms associated with Xanax.
Dangers of Stopping Xanax “Cold Turkey”
Although it can be tempting to stop Xanax “cold turkey,” it can be very dangerous.
No benzodiazepine should be stopped suddenly because of the potential for dangerous withdrawal symptoms to develop, and this is especially true of Xanax, which is considered more toxic than other benzodiazepines.
Quitting Xanax this way can cause psychosis and seizures, among many other dangerous side effects, which can even lead to coma or death.
Using the “cold turkey” method can also increase your chance of relapse, which could potentially lead to a fatal overdose.
The only way to stop taking Xanax safely is with medical detox. The plan will include lowering the dose gradually to enable your body to adapt to the lack of Xanax until it is comfortable without the drug.
This can also help to reduce the withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping Xanax.
If you or a loved one is struggling with a Xanax addiction or to learn more about properly tapering down Xanax use, call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439.
When Should Someone Seek Help for Xanax Tapering?
It is normal to develop a physical dependence on Xanax, and experience withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing use and having to taper. However, an addiction to Xanax is entirely different.
If someone feels a strong desire to take Xanax and uses it recreationally, they may have an addiction. If your dependence on Xanax is purely physical and you have no emotional needs that are affected by the drug, then you should be okay after tapering.
However, someone with an addiction will need to seek additional help because of the psychological dependence they have on the drug.
Addiction is complex and involves habits and behaviors that develop around the use of a drug. An addict’s relationship to Xanax will be very different to someone that uses the drug as prescribed and has no strong desire to keep using it.
Call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439 to learn more.
Do I Have a Xanax Addiction?
It’s difficult to know whether you have an addiction to Xanax. If you’re unsure and you have concerns over your use, then here are some common traits of addiction to be aware of.
If you believe any of these describe you, then you may have a substance use disorder or Xanax addiction:
- Feeling overtaken by thoughts relating to using Xanax
- Repeated attempts to stop using Xanax with no success
- Taking more Xanax than you should or more than you intended to
- Having a desire to take Xanax multiple times a day
- Developing a tolerance to Xanax and needing to take a higher dose to get the same effects
- Using money that you cannot afford to spend on Xanax
- Being sure that you always have a good supply of the drug, sometimes going to significant efforts to get it
- Withdrawing socially because of Xanax or avoiding situations where you cannot use the drug
- Using Xanax in situations that may cause harm to you or others. For example, when driving or when drinking alcohol
- Failing to meet responsibilities at work, school or at home because of Xanax use
- Withdrawing from hobbies or commitments because of your Xanax use
- Breaking the law to get Xanax. For example, stealing money or possessions from others
- Feeling psychological or physical harm from taking Xanax, but continuing to take it anyway
- Taking Xanax even though you know it is influencing your relationships with others
- Dedicating most of your time to Xanax. You may spend much of your time sourcing the drug, using it or recovering from your use of it
- Feeling withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop taking Xanax
Withdrawal symptoms aren’t necessarily a sign of an addiction to Xanax. However, if you think Xanax is affecting your daily life, then this may be a sign that you need help.
Fortunately, there are many options to help people battle their addictions and live a drug-free life.
Get Help For Xanax Tapering and Addiction Today
Depending on the severity of your dependence or addiction to Xanax, treatment can be the path to recovery. Call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439 to learn more.
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