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Xanax bar strength. Xanax Bars: Strengths, Dangers, and Side Effects Explained

What are the different strengths of Xanax bars. How do Xanax bars affect the body. What are the potential dangers of misusing Xanax bars. What side effects can Xanax bars cause.

Understanding Xanax Bars: An Overview

Xanax, the brand name for alprazolam, is a prescription medication used to treat panic disorder and various anxiety disorders. As a benzodiazepine and central nervous system depressant, Xanax comes in several forms, including tablets, extended-release tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, and liquid solutions. Among these, the rectangular tablets, commonly known as “Xanax bars,” have gained particular attention due to their potency and potential for misuse.

Xanax bars are the strongest immediate-release form of alprazolam available, containing 2 milligrams of the active ingredient. These bars are scored in three places, allowing for easy division into smaller doses when necessary. While brand-name Xanax bars are white, generic alprazolam bars come in various colors, including green, yellow, and blue, depending on the manufacturer.

The Strength and Colors of Xanax Bars

When comparing Xanax bar strengths, it’s important to note that all bars, regardless of color, contain the same amount of alprazolam:

  • White bars: Brand-name Xanax, 2 mg
  • Green bars: Generic alprazolam, 2 mg
  • Yellow bars: Generic alprazolam, 2 mg
  • Blue bars: Generic alprazolam, 2 mg

While Xanax bars are the strongest immediate-release form, the overall strongest form of alprazolam is a green, triangular, extended-release tablet containing 3 milligrams of the drug. This extended-release version is designed to provide a longer-lasting effect compared to the immediate-release bars.

The Dangers of Xanax Bar Misuse

When used as prescribed, Xanax bars can effectively manage anxiety disorders by producing a mild calming effect. However, misuse of these potent medications can lead to severe consequences, including addiction and overdose.

Xanax Bar Addiction

The euphoric or “high” feeling produced by Xanax bars, especially at higher doses, can lead to abuse and addiction. Xanax abuse occurs when the drug is taken in a manner not prescribed by a doctor, such as taking more bars than prescribed or using them without a prescription.

Even when used as directed, frequent Xanax use can lead to addiction. For this reason, medical professionals typically prescribe the drug only for short-term or occasional use to prevent or treat panic attacks.

Common symptoms of Xanax bar addiction include:

  • Tolerance (needing higher doses to achieve the desired effect)
  • Physical dependence (experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using the drug)
  • Mood swings
  • Avoiding family and friends
  • Neglecting work or school responsibilities
  • Doctor shopping (visiting multiple doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions)

Risk of Xanax Bar Overdose

Xanax is a short-acting drug, with effects typically wearing off within a few hours. This characteristic can lead some individuals to take multiple Xanax bars in a short period or mix them with other substances like alcohol or opioids to prolong and intensify the high. These behaviors significantly increase the risk of overdose.

Signs of a Xanax bar overdose may include:

  • Confusion
  • Extreme drowsiness
  • Unusual talkativeness
  • Nausea
  • Impaired coordination
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of consciousness (coma)

An untreated Xanax bar overdose can be fatal, making it crucial to seek immediate medical attention if these symptoms occur.

Side Effects of Xanax Bars

In addition to the risks of addiction and overdose, Xanax bars can cause various side effects, ranging from mild to severe.

Common Side Effects

The most frequently reported side effects of Xanax bars include:

  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Headaches
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Increased talkativeness
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Changes in sex drive or ability
  • Fluctuations in weight or appetite
  • Joint pain

Serious Side Effects

While less common, Xanax bars can also cause more severe side effects that require immediate medical attention:

  • Depression
  • Severe rash
  • Yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
  • Memory problems
  • Speech difficulties
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures
  • Suicidal thoughts or attempts

The Importance of Proper Xanax Bar Use

Given the potential risks associated with Xanax bars, it’s crucial to use them only as prescribed by a healthcare professional. Patients should never adjust their dosage or frequency of use without consulting their doctor. Additionally, it’s essential to be aware of potential drug interactions and to inform healthcare providers of all medications being taken.

For individuals struggling with Xanax abuse or addiction, professional help is available through inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment centers. These facilities offer comprehensive programs to help patients safely detox from the medication and prevent relapse through therapy, support groups, and other recovery-focused services.

Alternatives to Xanax Bars for Anxiety Management

While Xanax bars can be effective for short-term anxiety relief, there are alternative treatments that may be more suitable for long-term anxiety management. These options can help reduce the risk of dependence and addiction associated with benzodiazepine use.

Non-Pharmacological Approaches

Several non-drug therapies have shown effectiveness in managing anxiety disorders:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Regular exercise
  • Stress management strategies

These approaches can be used alone or in combination with medication, depending on individual needs and preferences.

Alternative Medications

For those requiring pharmacological intervention, there are other medication options that may be considered:

  • Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
  • Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
  • Buspirone
  • Beta-blockers

These medications often have a lower risk of dependence compared to benzodiazepines like Xanax.

The Role of Education in Preventing Xanax Bar Misuse

Educating the public about the potential risks and proper use of Xanax bars is crucial in preventing misuse and addiction. This includes raising awareness about:

  • The importance of following prescription guidelines
  • The dangers of mixing Xanax with other substances
  • Signs of addiction and overdose
  • Available treatment options for those struggling with Xanax dependence

Healthcare providers play a vital role in this education process, ensuring patients understand the risks and benefits of Xanax bars before prescribing them.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations for Xanax Bars

Xanax bars, like all forms of alprazolam, are classified as Schedule IV controlled substances in the United States. This classification reflects their potential for abuse and dependence, while still recognizing their medical use. As a result, there are strict regulations surrounding their prescription, dispensing, and use.

Prescription Requirements

To obtain Xanax bars legally, patients must have a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. Prescriptions for Xanax bars typically have limitations on quantity and refills to help prevent misuse and diversion.

Penalties for Illegal Possession and Distribution

Possessing or distributing Xanax bars without a valid prescription is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The severity of these penalties often depends on factors such as the quantity involved and whether it’s a first or repeat offense.

Efforts to Combat Illicit Distribution

Law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies are continually working to address the illegal distribution of Xanax bars and other prescription medications. This includes efforts to:

  • Shut down illegal online pharmacies
  • Monitor prescription patterns to identify potential doctor shopping
  • Implement prescription drug monitoring programs
  • Increase penalties for healthcare providers who improperly prescribe or dispense these medications

These efforts aim to reduce the availability of Xanax bars for non-medical use while ensuring that patients with legitimate needs can still access the medication.

The Future of Anxiety Treatment: Beyond Xanax Bars

As research in mental health and neuroscience progresses, new approaches to anxiety treatment are emerging that may provide alternatives to traditional benzodiazepines like Xanax bars.

Emerging Therapies

Some promising areas of research include:

  • Novel pharmacological agents with reduced addiction potential
  • Personalized medicine approaches based on genetic profiling
  • Advanced neuroimaging techniques to better understand and target anxiety disorders
  • Virtual reality-based exposure therapy
  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for anxiety disorders

These emerging therapies may offer new options for individuals who don’t respond well to current treatments or who are at high risk for benzodiazepine dependence.

Holistic Approaches to Anxiety Management

There’s also growing interest in more holistic, integrative approaches to anxiety management that combine multiple therapeutic modalities. These may include:

  • Combining psychotherapy with mindfulness-based practices
  • Incorporating nutrition and lifestyle changes into treatment plans
  • Exploring the potential of complementary and alternative medicine in anxiety management
  • Developing comprehensive, long-term anxiety management strategies that reduce reliance on medications like Xanax bars

As our understanding of anxiety disorders continues to evolve, so too will our approaches to treatment. While Xanax bars may continue to play a role in anxiety management for some individuals, the future of anxiety treatment is likely to be more diverse, personalized, and focused on long-term wellness rather than short-term symptom relief.

Xanax Bars | Strengths, Dangers, & Side Effects

Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, which is a prescription drug that can treat panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. It’s classified as a benzodiazepine (or “benzo”) and central nervous system depressant.

It’s available as a tablet, extended-release tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, and liquid solution. 

Some of the tablets are oval-shaped, while others are rectangular. The rectangular tablets are often called “Xanax bars.” As with all forms of Xanax, Xanax bars pose a high risk of abuse and addiction. 

Xanax Bar Colors & Strengths

Brand name Xanax bars are white. Generic alprazolam bars are green, yellow, or blue, depending on the manufacturer. 

No matter the color, each bar contains 2 milligrams of alprazolam and is scored in three places so you can break it into smaller doses if necessary. 

The bars are the strongest immediate-release form of alprazolam available. The overall strongest form is a green, triangular, extended-release tablet that contains 3 milligrams of alprazolam. 

Dangers Of Xanax Bars

When taken as prescribed, Xanax bars produce a mild calming effect that can help people better manage their anxiety disorders. When misused, however, the bars can lead to addiction and overdose. 

Xanax Bar Addiction

Xanax bars can make you feel euphoric or “high,” especially at high doses. That’s why some people abuse them. Xanax abuse occurs when you take the drug in a manner not prescribed by your doctor. 

For example, someone might take more bars than prescribed or take them without a prescription. 

People who abuse alprazolam often become addicted to it. Frequent Xanax use, even as prescribed by a doctor, can also cause Xanax addiction. Thus, most medical professionals prescribe the drug only for short-term or occasional use to prevent or treat panic attacks. 

The most common symptoms of Xanax bar addiction include:

  • tolerance, which means you need increasingly higher doses of the drug to feel the desired effects
  • physical dependence, which means you experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use the drug 
  • mood swings
  • avoiding family and friends
  • avoiding work or school
  • doctor shopping (visiting multiple doctors to get multiple prescriptions of Xanax bars)

People who struggle with Xanax abuse or addiction should seek professional help at an inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment center.  

Medical professionals can help them safely detox from the medication and prevent relapse through therapy, support groups, and other recovery-focused services. 

Xanax Bar Overdose

Xanax is a short-acting drug, which means its effects usually wear off in just a few hours. 

To experience a longer, more intense high, some people take multiple Xanax bars in a short period of time, while other people mix the bars with drugs like alcohol or opioids. These behaviors pose a serious risk of overdose.

Common signs of Xanax bar overdose include:

  • confusion
  • drowsiness
  • unusual talkativeness
  • nausea
  • impaired coordination
  • trouble breathing
  • loss of consciousness (coma)

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, seek emergency health care services immediately. When left untreated, a Xanax bar overdose can be fatal. 

Effects Of Xanax Bars

Along with the risk of addiction and overdose, Xanax bars come with a number of possible side effects. The most common side effects include:

  • tiredness
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • dry mouth
  • constipation
  • trouble urinating
  • talkativeness
  • trouble concentrating
  • altered sex drive or ability 
  • changes in weight and/or appetite
  • joint pain

The bars can also cause more serious side effects, such as

  • depression
  • severe rash
  • yellowing of the eyes or skin
  • memory problems
  • trouble speaking
  • hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there)
  • seizures
  • suicidal thoughts or attempts

Seek medical advice immediately if you or someone you love experiences these or other unusual side effects. 

If you or a loved one misuses Xanax bars, please reach out to an Ark Behavioral Health specialist to learn about our comprehensive substance abuse and addiction treatment programs.

Written by Ark Behavioral Health Editorial Team
©2023 Ark National Holdings, LLC.

| All Rights Reserved.

This page does not provide medical advice.

Sources

Food and Drug Administration – Xanax Label
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus – Alprazolam

Types of Xanax Bars | Southern California Sunrise

Did you know that about 21 million Americans abuse at least one type of addiction?

An important fact to know is that many Americans also abuse prescription medicine. One of these is Xanax. There are several forms of Xanax, one of which is Xanax bars.

Are you ready to know how these bars affect you? Read on and find out:

What is a Xanax Bar?

Several types of Xanax pills are available on the market. These pills have varying strengths and dosages. Alprazolam has lots of colors, shapes, and sizes.

A Xanax bar refers to the pill’s shape. It’s long and thin, containing about 2mg dosage amounts. It means most bar-shaped tablets have high doses of alprazolam.

These bars have some of the highest dosages around. The highest one is the 3mg tablet with extended-release. Often, they’ll have four sections, making it easier to break into pieces.

Here are some common Xanax bars around:

  • White Rectangle – 2mg
  • Green Xanax – 3mg
  • Blue Round – 2mg
  • Blue Oval – 1mg
  • Four-sided Yellow – 1mg
  • Oval Orange – 0.5mg
  • Round Peach – 0.5mg
  • Football-shaped Peach – 0.5mg
  • Oval white – 0.25mg

Every manufacturer designs their Xanax pill’s unique color and shape. These manufacturer uses FDA-approved colorants to comply. Knowing these colors and shapes is important when it comes to addiction.

If you suspect someone of Xanax addiction, you need only examine the colors of the bars. Check out some common bars and what they can do:

Green Xanax Bar

Several pharma companies use green for their Xanax bar products. Each manufacturer will insert their unique imprint on these pills.

In most cases, they have 2mg of Xanax. It’s around the same level compared to yellow and white bars.

As stated before, 2mg is a high dose. If you know someone taking these pills, ask if a medical professional tracks their dosage. Its effects can differ depending on the person taking it.

Pink Xanax Bar

A pink Xanax bar is one of the most common variants of the drug with 0.5 mg alprazolam. It’s the most common dosage that experts recommend. It’s typically used for treating both panic and anxiety illnesses.

These bars are often round or oval-shaped. Sometimes, they look like footballs. Regardless of their form, pink Xanax pills are only legal when taken with a prescription.

White Xanax Bar

Some street peddlers call these bars “sticks.” They have 2mg of active alprazolam. They’re common prescription bars that most pharma companies make.

When taking a white Xanax bar, you’ll feel a strong sedative effect within minutes. It’s because the dosage is high enough. To avoid abuse, it’s better to take it with close physician supervision.

Effects of Xanax

Xanax is one of the most abused medicines around the world. One of the primary reasons is that it’s easy to obtain. It’s also desirable because it affects the brain faster rapidly.

Xanax fixates on a specific area’s chemical balance. It mainly affects the area that’s responsible for anxiety and depression.

It’s safe when taken under a physician’s recommendation or medical supervision. However, if you choose to abuse it, Xanax becomes dangerous and addictive.

Xanax Use

Although people receive benzodiazepines as a prescription drug, they do carry the risk of addiction.

People who take them at a high enough doses develop a strong addiction over a long enough period of time. At the very least, individuals with the prescription will develop a rebound effect when they stop taking Xanax. 

Addiction to Xanax can also come from recreational use.   Many people use this drug because of the state of pleasure and euphoric state that comes from it.  

From the social situation, like parties and concerts, xanax is widely used for recreational purposes rather than medical purposes.   This causes young adults to form a Xanax addiction.

Xanax Addiction and Withdrawal

Addiction to Xanax carries a lot of medical risks in the long run. Even without overdosing, using Xanax for a long time causes permanent health effects. At worst, you might suffer from brain damage.

When addiction happens, it’s a difficult ordeal to stop. It applies even when you understand the dangers associated with it. It has nothing to do with your willpower or character.

Not all drug abuse will lead to addiction. However, the longer you use a Xanax bar, the likelier it is for you to develop an addiction. Get to know the signs of addiction to Xanax to prevent them from progressing to the point of no return.

These include:

  • Unexplained mood swings
  • Hyperactivity and restlessness
  • Increased risky behaviors
  • Aggression and agitations
  • Memory and concentration problems
  • Other strange physical symptoms

As addiction develops, people find it impossible to live without the drug. They can get desperate enough to forge prescriptions or go to other doctors to get one. If they don’t get their dose, they might experience dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Xanax withdrawal is dangerous and sometimes fatal. It happens when people take high dosages for extended periods. When they stop taking it instead of tapering off, these symptoms appear.

At their worst, withdrawals may cause psychosis, seizures, and urges of suicide. It can last for months or even years. It’s more likely to happen if the user already experiences anxiety and depression.

It’s common for Xanax users to have rebound anxiety, like from alcohol withdrawals. It makes their existing condition worse compared to before they started taking it.

Xanax Rehab with SoCal Sunrise

These are some things you must know about Xanax bars. If you suspect someone is overdosing on them, call for help. Never let them go down that rabbit hole and never return.

Are you looking for addiction recovery centers? Use our contact details to reach us for a free consultation.

Benzodiazepines – Xanax / Xanax / Alprazolam – Telegraph

Tonka Gribz🍍

Pineapples, for a long time we did not have a pharmacy on the channel. But, I think that among you there are those who need benzos, and today we will talk about the most popular benzodiazepine, though they can help. When it comes to waste, releases, or just panic attacks, gasoline pumps are indispensable. Soon on the channel we will fully analyze this huge topic, and now we have left!

I am writing this article to give people advice from both a recreational and medical point of view. I want to highlight the fact that Xanax can act like a miracle drug if used correctly and that you don’t have to be a dumb junkie to have a good time with it.

Doses

Taking 0.25mg Xanax without tolerance is likely to produce very few recreational effects. This is the lowest dose. Medically, it is used to treat minor panic attacks or moderate insomnia. A dose of 0.25mg of Xanax may not do anything for some people, while for others this dose may make them feel a little more relaxed. At such a low dose, little can happen.

By taking 0.5mg Xanax, a person without tolerance will experience subtle recreational effects. For medical purposes, this dose is prescribed for moderate panic attacks and from moderate to severe insomnia. A dose of 0.5mg Xanax will produce a more marked feeling of relaxation, slight lethargy and moderate feelings of drowsiness/lethargy.

Taking 1mg Xanax without tolerance, a person will get noticeably more powerful recreational effects. In medical settings, this dose is prescribed for severe panic attacks and to combat severe insomnia. 1.0mg will give a significantly stronger feeling of relaxation, more lethargy and a moderate feeling of drowsiness/lethargy.

Taking 1. 5mg Xanax without tolerance, a person will get even more powerful recreational effects. This dose is rarely given in medical settings because it involves taking two 1.0mg tablets and breaking one of them in half. A dose in of 1.5mg of will give even stronger feelings of relaxation, even more lethargy, and still relatively moderate feelings of drowsiness and lethargy.

A person who has taken 2.0mg Xanax without tolerance is likely to experience very strong feelings of relaxation, but will now be accompanied by a complete loss of the ability to move and a very strong feeling of drowsiness/lethargy.

Taking 3.0mg Xanax without tolerance, the dose will make a person feel so relaxed that he will completely lose the ability to move and will not pay attention to all possible consequences. Some people experience euphoria at this dose, but black out . (We’ll tell you what it is below)

Taking 4. 0mg+ Xanax, a person with no tolerance is guaranteed to get a storm of shit. Don’t take the whole Hulk Bar (that’s what the street calls 4mg Xanax bar) if you don’t have a tolerance. You will always get black out.

A regular Xanax bar contains 2mg and looks like this:

I’m on 1.5mg right now and I have a slight tolerance. I am functional enough to type this article, quite relaxed, not too sleepy, but I am not motivated enough to work on an essay that I have to take tomorrow.

Xanax is too good to be true. You quickly develop tolerance and, unlike other drugs, can actually kill you if you stop too soon.

It’s hard to hear, but based on what I know, I wouldn’t recommend taking it unless you can afford to be addicted to it. You say that you already have some kind of addiction and are depressed and can’t sleep, etc. You start taking a highly addictive drug in the mix with your whole bunch, and congratulations, you are now addicted to it as well.

So either you get a prescription from a doctor or you buy 30 tablets from someone else to last a month . As long as you keep an even, steady dosage, you’ll be fine. Once per night is not a problem.

The problem occurs when one becomes two during the night of or one during the day of . Don’t take this as an opinion from a pro or anything, this is an opinion from someone who has “fucked” with Xanax for 9 years.0012 6 years.

I knew what I was dealing with when I started. I played doctor at age 16 and started with small pink 0.5mg Xanax, then blue 1mg and white/green/any color bars for three or four .

I once calculated that I reached 124 bars per month. Legal, free, through my doctor and insurance.

This is 8mg Xanax per day, 2mg every 4 hours. It’s a crazy dose in a way, but they let me take it. Of course, I did not take the pills as prescribed by the doctor.

This recipe burned out in four days or so. It was the same with pink, blue pills and bars. Scenario: Take a little, take a little more, wait a few days (all the time, the method worked great, according to people around me) and wait for gas station. You repeat.

Oh, and of course, nightmares. When you get out of petrols, you always have these terrible nightmares (as I had), but here’s the interesting thing: they don’t start until your body notices that something is wrong.

So even if you take 30-50 bars per day, you will hit your limit one day, once your system realizes this, the nightmare effects will start. This means that when I have a prescription, I fill it out, take everything I can and eat for a week, going through hell and nightmares for the next week, and repeating this every month. Just for the love of Xanax.

I will definitely do it all again. Now I’m waiting for registration to open in November so I can get insurance sometime in January to get legal, free Xanax.

Just be careful. Xanax tastes like shit on the back of your tongue, but it’s so sweet.

What is Blackout?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines blackout as “a period of amnesia during which a person is conscious but does not create memories of these events as they occur.”

There are two types of blackouts, but both are classified by the amount of amnesia. Blackout types are classified as:

  • Fragmentary blackouts:

The most common form is the fragmentary blackout, where you can remember parts and pieces of the night, but not all of the events that happened. Also known as a “glitch” in memory, which can be recalled if someone else reminds you of the events of the night.

  • Blocking blackouts:

These blackouts are much more serious and dangerous. They occur when the memory is completely disabled, which means that large chunks of time are simply erased. They are often referred to as “time travel” because no matter how hard you try, you will never be able to remember those time periods.


Drinking large amounts of alcohol can shut down the glutamate receptors in your hippocampus, the part of your brain responsible for consolidating memories from everyday life. When this “recording system” of the psyche is broken, new information, such as memories, simply falls into the void and is never processed. Simply put: it’s not about forgetting what happened. The fact is that these short-term memories were never stored in your memory. Pretty scary, right?

For this article, gave me material THANK YOU to the person who wrote:
“Thank you for the informative article about Xanax! Once again I am convinced that it is better not to try it !!”

📄 Have you read the cocaine manual yet?

📑 School soon? Read how to properly use stimulants for this.

📰 And everything about stimulant supplements!

🔖 Everything you need to know about Phenibut.

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💰 SAY THANK YOU 💰 Credit + Reddit guys 9 0180 Pineapple Espresso 2018

addiction, harm, treatment at the Rehab Family clinic

Xanax is an effective drug from the benzodiazepine group. The drug is used to treat a variety of conditions in the clinical picture of which anxiety is present.


When properly used and taken in prescribed dosages, a tranquilizer has a good therapeutic effect.


The increased interest of drug addicts is associated with the ability of Xanax to induce a state of mild euphoria, reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and the level of anxiety.

Uncontrolled use of Xanax is a problem that is known to specialists in various fields of medicine.

Xanax – description, composition, effect, properties

Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine anxiolytic with a medium duration of action.

The drug first appeared on the pharmaceutical market in the early 80s of the last century and has found wide application in medicine.

The active substance is alprazolam. The preparation also contains auxiliary components: potato starch, lactose, magnesium stearate, etc.

Available in tablet form of 0.25, 0.5 and 2 mg and retard tablets of 0.5 mg.

Officially, Xanax can only be purchased with a prescription from the attending physician, written out on special forms.

Alprazolam to varying degrees has all the properties of classical benzodiazepines.

It has a pronounced anti-anxiety, soothing, muscle-relaxing, anticonvulsant effect, improves sleep quality. A characteristic feature is an anti-panic effect, in connection with which the drug is prescribed for panic disorders. According to some reports, it has some antidepressant effect.


Most effective in the treatment of disorders with a pronounced anxiety component.


The spectrum of activity of Xanax determines the main indications for its use. These include:

  • panic attacks;
  • anxiety states, mixed anxiety-depressive disorder;
  • neuroses;
  • increased irritability, internal tension;
  • depressive states;
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder;
  • psychomotor agitation;
  • simple and social phobias;
  • sleep problems, appetite disorders;
  • withdrawal syndrome in alcoholism and drug addiction;
  • a feeling of anxiety and anxiety in a number of somatic diseases;
  • tremor of the limbs.

To prevent undesirable consequences of use, it is important to consider contraindications to the use of an anxiolytic:

  • individual intolerance;
  • angle-closure glaucoma;
  • severe damage to the cardiovascular system, respiratory organs, liver, kidneys;
  • myasthenia gravis;
  • poisoning with alcohol and psychoactive substances;
  • depression with suicidal tendencies;
  • the period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
  • age up to 18 years.

With prolonged use and excess dosages, Xanax is addictive and highly addictive.

The effect of the drug on the human body

The active substance of the drug has a depressant effect on the central nervous system.

The mechanism of action of Xanax on the body is based on an increase in the inhibitory effect in the brain and a decrease in the excitability of subcortical structures: the limbic system, hypothalamus, and thalamus.

The drug is an agonist (stimulator) of specific benzodiazepine receptors. By binding to the GABA-A receptor complex, the affinity and sensitivity to the mediator increases. The GABA-ergic system is activated, the frequency of opening of chloride channels and the flow of chlorine into the neuron increase. This leads to suppression of neuronal activity and inhibition of the transmission of nerve impulses.

One of the differences between Xanax and other tranquilizers is less pronounced sedation and behavioral toxicity, which is manifested by daytime sleepiness, a decrease in the severity of reactions and cognitive functions.

The main effects of Xanax:

  1. Pronounced anxiolytic (anti-anxiety): reduces the feeling of fear, anxiety, emotional stress.
  2. Moderate sedation.
  3. Increases the duration of sleep, promotes rapid falling asleep.
  4. Central muscle relaxant, which occurs as a result of inhibition of the spinal reflexes of the brain stem.
  5. Anticonvulsant.

With an increase in the dose of the drug, there is a slight euphoria, a feeling of comfort, calmness, peace, relaxation. To obtain such sensations, the drug is often used by drug addicts.

Drug dependence

When using alprazolam for medical purposes, as prescribed by a doctor, addiction develops slowly. Gradually, adaptation to the action of the drug occurs, and it loses its medicinal properties. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the dose or change the drug. A safe treatment regimen in these cases is selected by a specialist.

With prolonged use of a tranquilizer to achieve a narcotic effect, addiction occurs within 2-3 months. A decrease in the intensity of the body’s reaction to repeated administration of a substance leads to the need to increase the dose to obtain the same effect.

As a result of abuse, dependence on Xanax develops, which is manifested by a strong and uncontrollable desire to use the drug. The likelihood of dependence is especially high in people suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, personality disorder.

Against the background of taking an anxiolytic, there is a feeling of physical and mental comfort, well-being, self-confidence. The concentration of attention decreases, the sense of danger, the surrounding reality can be perceived in a distorted form.

Signs of Xanax use:

  • a feeling of a surge of strength and energy;
  • increased mood, mild euphoria;
  • drops in blood pressure;
  • tachycardia;
  • pallor of the skin;
  • trembling of the limbs;
  • loss of appetite.

Outside the state of intoxication, irritability, dissatisfaction, discomfort, internal tension appear. If symptoms suggestive of drug abuse appear, it is recommended to contact a specialist in a mental health clinic.

How long does Xanax stay in the body and how is it excreted?

Xanax is a medium-acting benzodiazepine with an average half-life of 12-15 hours.

After oral administration, it is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Bioavailability is high (about 90%).

The maximum content in the blood plasma is reached after 1-2 hours. Plasma protein binding is 70-80%.

The drug is metabolized in the liver with the participation of cytochrome P450 with the formation of two metabolites.

Alprazolam and its metabolites are excreted mainly unchanged in the urine, a small part through the intestines.

Stages and types of drug dependence

Long-term use of large doses of the substance leads to an increase in tolerance and the development of psychological dependence. The timing of its formation depends on a number of factors: experience of use, dosage, susceptibility of the organism, state of health.

By reducing the dose of the drug, a person experiences discomfort, feels depressed and tense. To get rid of negative symptoms, the addict returns to taking the substance.

With continued use of alprazolam as a narcotic drug, physical dependence occurs, a characteristic manifestation of which is withdrawal syndrome (abstinence).

Withdrawal symptoms:

  • anxiety, fussiness, irritability;
  • depression, apathy;
  • deterioration in general well-being;
  • excessive sweating;
  • malaise, weakness;
  • heart palpitations, high blood pressure;
  • pain in the region of the heart;
  • lack of appetite;
  • nausea, vomiting, dizziness;
  • insomnia;
  • involuntary muscle twitches, spasms.

In severe cases, at the peak of abstinence, hallucinations, psychomotor agitation, and suicidal intentions are possible.

Side effects of this drug

Excessive passion for Xanax leads to chronic intoxication and serious health consequences. These include:

  • violation of the functions of internal organs;
  • deterioration of mental abilities, absent-mindedness, forgetfulness, decreased memory and attention;
  • behavioral disorders: impulsiveness, irascibility, aggressiveness;
  • depression, suicidal behavior;
  • neurotic states.

Among the main side effects are the following:

  • slowness of motor and mental reactions;
  • headache, dizziness;
  • dry mouth, increased salivation;
  • loss of appetite;
  • dyspeptic symptoms;
  • unsteady gait;
  • deterioration of liver and kidney function;
  • urination disorders: urinary incontinence or retention;
  • skin rashes.

To enhance the effect, the dependent person constantly increases the dose or mixes the drug with other substances. This is fraught with an overdose – a dangerous condition that requires emergency medical attention.

Signs of a Xanax overdose are:

  • lethargy, drowsiness;
  • disorientation in the environment;
  • inhibited state;
  • slow heart rate;
  • weakness, chills;
  • shortness of breath, oppressed breathing;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • tremor;
  • impaired coordination of movements.

The severity of symptoms can vary from mild poisoning to severe intoxication. Severe cases lead to impaired consciousness and coma.

Overdose often occurs in addicts who take Xanax with alcohol or other CNS depressants.

Combination of the drug with other substances

The combination of alprazolam with other drugs can lead to irreversible consequences.

The joint use of Xanax and alcohol is unacceptable, since the anxiolytic enhances the effect of ethanol and increases the likelihood of acute intoxication. This is dangerous by inhibition of cardiac and respiratory activity up to the complete cessation of breathing and cardiac arrest.


Other tranquilizers, sleeping pills, opioid analgesics should not be used simultaneously with alprazolam.


Drug dependence affects the quality of life, performance and social activity of the patient. Not only the addict himself suffers from its consequences, but also his relatives.

Relationships in the family worsen, conflicts arise at work, former interests and contacts are lost.

Don’t neglect the health of your loved one. Timely assistance of specialists and constant support of relatives at all stages of treatment will help to cope with the problem and get rid of addiction.

You should not, also, self-medicate, use traditional medicine, turn to “healers” without a medical education. This can lead to dire consequences.

You need to contact only specialized medical centers, where highly qualified specialists with relevant experience work.

Diagnosis and treatment

An accurate diagnosis is established only by a specialist after diagnosing dependence on Xanax. An important role is played by the data of anamnesis, conversation, general examination and assessment of the mental status of the patient.

It is necessary to pay attention to changes in the character, habits, appearance, behavior of an addicted person, which may indicate the presence of a disease.

To completely get rid of addiction, complex therapy and the help of a team of specialists are needed.


It is important to understand that it is impossible to cope with the problem on your own.


Treatment is carried out in stationary conditions under the supervision of doctors and medical personnel. Therapeutic measures are aimed at stopping the intake of the substance, preventing relapses, resolving intra-family and social conflicts, controlling behavior and emotional state, and returning to a full life.

The first stage of treatment is detoxification, which is carried out to completely cleanse the body, remove toxic products, and stop the withdrawal syndrome.

Symptomatic drug therapy is necessary to relieve somatic and neurological disorders, normalize impaired functions, correct behavioral disorders, and eliminate the negative consequences of taking the drug. For this purpose, painkillers, antispasmodics, anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, vitamins, nootropics and other drugs are prescribed.

Important stages of the treatment program are the course of psychotherapy and rehabilitation. Psychotherapeutic sessions help to realize the presence of an addiction, create motivation to eliminate it, overcome psychological dependence and stop using an anxiolytic.

Rehabilitation helps to fully adapt to life in society. The former addict returns to society, can work, independently solve problems and build full-fledged relationships in the family.

After the end of therapy, in order to prevent relapses, it is desirable to create an optimal microclimate and a friendly environment. In addition to special psychotherapeutic techniques, you should observe the daily routine, eat right, and exercise.

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Prevention or advice

Xanax, which is addictive due to abuse, requires special care when used as a drug. The drug is prescribed in short courses and canceled, gradually reducing the dosage.


The main condition for safe treatment and the absence of abstinence is gradual withdrawal.


When treating with alprazolam, it is important to follow some recommendations:

  • apply a tranquilizer strictly according to indications, under the supervision of a specialist;
  • before starting to take into account contraindications, possible risks and adverse reactions;
  • if you experience unpleasant symptoms, contact your doctor immediately;
  • it is forbidden to independently adjust and increase the dose of the drug;
  • remember about compatibility and interaction with other substances.