Text Size
Smaller
Bigger

Xanax is a potent benzodiazepine, prescribed most frequently to sufferers of anxiety or panic disorders. Xanax works fast and has a relatively short half-life, and this means that after quitting – withdrawal symptoms begin quickly and severely. 

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

Most people will start to feel symptoms within 12 hours, and symptoms will peak within 3-4 days. Residual and lingering symptoms of withdrawal can last for months.

Some common Xanax withdrawal symptoms:

  • Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Hallucination
  • Insomnia
  • Tremors
  • Convulsion
  • Nightmares
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

CAUTION: A drastic detox from Xanax or other benzodiazepine should never be attempted without medical supervision!

The most serious (but more rare) side effect is convulsion – and these can be life threatening. More common side effects are psychological in nature, and are very unpleasant. Problematically, many people take Xanax to manage symptoms of a metal health disorder, and when in withdrawal from Xanax, these mental health symptoms are greatly worsened.

How Does Xanax Work?

Xanax causes a decrease in anxiety through an increase in GABA (a neurotransmitter) in the brain. This increase in GABA calms and soothes an excited mind, and can be very pleasant.

Because the medication feels good, especially when used in excess, the drug is classified as a schedule 4 medication – a drug with some probability for abuse.

Xanax can work very well, but when used for too long, or when used in excess, it can create a physical and psychological dependence, and withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Xanax Changes Your Mind

Xanax increases the activity of GABA in the brain, and this increase in GABA calms an otherwise excited and anxious mind.

Over time, the brain responds to this increased GABA activity by lowering the amount of available GABA.

At this point, the patient will need to take a larger dose of Xanax to feel the same effects – and at this point, if the user tries to stop taking Xanax completely, they will experience withdrawal pains.

Once the brain has adjusted to prolonged Xanax usage, GABA levels are reduced. GABA keeps anxiety and other negative feelings in check, and so with less GABA, and no medication increasing the activity of existing GABA, the user will go into very uncomfortable withdrawal.

Quitting Xanax: Tapering Down

The best way to break an addiction to Xanax is through a medically monitored period of tapering down the dosage. This can take many months, but is safer and far less unpleasant than a "cold turkey" detox.

The pace at which the dosage is reduced will depend on the length of the dependency, with longer dependencies requiring a slower reduction. One suggestion is to reduce the dosage by 0.25mg each every two weeks, but individual recommendations must come from a doctor familiar with your case and your medical history.

The advantage of a very long and slow tapering down is that it allows your brain time to adjust to the decreasing dosages of medication, and to begin producing more GABA to compensate. The symptoms of withdrawal are caused by this GABA insufficiency, so allowing the brain to "keep up" with the tapering, alleviates the severity of the symptoms.

Just as the brain compensated for increased levels of Xanax by lowering endogenous levels, it will compensate for reduced quantities of the ingested drug by increasing endogenous levels – but it takes time!

By tapering very slowly, you avoid severe symptoms of withdrawal, and most users report minimal discomfort. An additional advantage is that by controlling for withdrawal symptoms, you are better able to gauge your need for the medication. If you were initially prescribed Xanax for panic – and you detox quickly – you will feel panic, but you won’t know if you are feeling panic as a symptom of withdrawal, or as a symptom of a still active panic disorder.

By tapering slowly, you can better judge your need for the continuing use of the medication.

Quit Xanax Cold Turkey?

It is possible to detox safely off of Xanax quickly while under medical supervision, but even with the prescription of symptoms controlling medications, a quick detox is very tough and uncomfortable.

A drastic detox should never be attempted without medical supervision! In extreme cases, a Xanax withdrawal can induce potentially fatal convulsions.

Xanax Addiction Treatment

If you have been taking the medication as prescribed for a legitimate disorder, then once you have tapered down off of the drug you will have no need for any addiction treatment. You were dependent physically, but not addicted psychologically – and the risk of relapse is very low.

If you abused the medication to get high, you will likely need addiction therapies to help you stay drug free.

Email It Send this page Print It Print friendly page Subscribe Subscribe to this topic category

Page last updated Jan 17, 2018

Creative Commons License
Copyright Notice
We welcome republishing of our content on condition that you credit Choose Help and the respective authors. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Call Now for
Rehab Options
24 Hours ☆ Confidential ☆ Free
Helpful Reading
70 Reasons to Quit a Heavy Marijuana Habit
70 Reasons Why Life is Better without a Heavy Marijuana Habit © Bingbing
Thinking about giving up marijuana but not sure you’re ready to take the plunge? Well, here are 70 benefits of quitting – all first-hand accounts from previously heavy users about how life changes for the better once you don’t need to get high all the time. Read Article
Addictions April 20, 2012
11 Secrets to a Successful Benzodiazepine Tapering
How to Taper off Benzodiazepines – 11 Secrets to Success © Dean812
11 tips for making a tapering plan that minimizes the discomfort, puts you in control of the process and gets the results you want. Read Article
Detox December 19, 2011
Alcohol Addiction – the Straight Facts
Addicted to Alcohol? Learn About Alcoholism & Treatment © Josep Salvia I Bote
The difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction (alcoholism), what puts you at risk of becoming an alcoholic and what to do once you’ve crossed that invisible line to addiction. Read Article
Addictions November 19, 2017
Like Our Site? Follow Us!