For example, while diazepam has a half-life of up to 48 hours, the half-life of alprazolam can be as short as six hours. This is important, as a shorter half-life is linked with a higher potential for addiction and dependence. That is one reason physicians typically are not excited cocaine addiction treatment about prescribing Xanax for long periods of time. Frequent use of benzos can result in you developing a tolerance to the drug which means you need to use more and more of them to get the same effects. This can then lead to benzodiazepine dependence, which is when the body becomes physically reliant on the drug to function without uncomfortable or unpleasant side effects.

 

This gives rehab medical teams the chance to fully assess each patient’s physical and mental state and accurately set their detox schedule and also be close at hand in case of any medical emergencies. Like all Benzodiazepine drugs Xanax should only be used for 2-4 weeks because if its use is continued beyond this period the risk of physical dependence drastically increases. In the UK the most common medication prescribed by doctors for anxiety is Valium, Xanax has been scientifically proven to be 10 times stronger than Valium. You will need to seek a GP referral to a community drug and alcohol service in order to access this treatment. The NHS lists some of these organisations on its website, and you can search their database of providers by inputting your postcode.

With a tailored rehabilitation programme and specialist support, a life of abstinence is possible. When your loved one is ready to access treatment, there will be local treatment options. Unfortunately, one of the effects of Xanax is that when a person stops using it, the original symptoms it was being used to treat can return at an increased level.

 

So sort of a bridge to get you to where you are managing your symptoms with behavioral skills. There are also antidepressants that are prescribed for anxiety in their higher doses. Again, a medication in the benzo family might be used as a bridge until the other medication is effective. The benzodiazepine family of medications hits the same receptor cells as alcohol so it is advisable that you are not drinking while on the medication.

 

Sleep better without medication

 

Street benzos are unpredictable in content and in potency and are causing people to be hospitalised in the UK and in some cases to die. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to skin infections and abscesses and rapid, potentially fatal, overdose. To get that ‘high’ they crave, people will often increase their drug usage or change the way they take it. In this example, inhaling Xanax through the nose, by first grinding the pill into powder, and then using either a tube or other device to snort through the nose.

 

Find Rehabs in Other Areas

 

I also often receive referrals for patients who are on these medications and reluctant to discontinue them. As an alternative, you can switch from Ambien to an
equivalent daily dosage of a long-acting benzodiazepine, like diazepam, without
feeling any withdrawal symptoms. Once stabilized on this longer-acting
medication, you can start tapering off just as you would for a straight Ambien
taper.

 

Unlike other medications, whose addiction symptoms are apparent from the start, signs of Xanax addiction grow more evident as the addiction progresses. Xanax is a benzodiazepine, a type of medicine that acts as a sedative and is classified as a central nervous system depressant. Xanax is a prescription medication created to be a substitute for barbiturates that is used to treat seizures and anxiety disorders such as panic disorder and agoraphobia (fear of open spaces). Xanax addiction is on the rise as more individuals are walking out of doctors offices with a prescription. However, treatment for Xanax addiction will depend on a person’s individual circumstances.

 

Our biochemical imbalance can be affected by diet and stressful life events, but it often goes back to genetics and epigenetics. We do specific biochemical laboratory testing to determine an individual’s biochemical imbalance. Our therapists will work with you treating the root causes and not just the symptoms and goes beyong your stay to ensure lasting success. “However, there is limited evidence and data for these drugs, so we do not have a clear picture of changes in use.

 

We found a number of websites openly claiming to offer Xanax and other benzodiazepines for sale and delivery to the UK. AN anti-anxiety drug, not available on the NHS, is posing a new risk in Northern Ireland, where it has been linked to a rising number of deaths over a three-year period. If you have a problem with alcohol and want help to safely and successfully stop, call and speak to our team of friendly addiction experts today. Some of the stronger benzodiazepines are used only within a hospital setting for sedation during minor operative procedures or as a premed for calming a patient before surgery. For example, Klonopin and Xanax are 20 times stronger than valium (Diazepam).

 

Our dedicated admissions staff is here to help you take the first step on the road to healing with confidentiality and care. At Castle Craig, you’ll be surrounded by a community of recovery peers in a safe and beautiful environment. Located in the Scottish Borders on an expansive, private estate, Castle Craig offers a reprieve from the daily stresses of life and a chance to focus entirely on getting well. Typically, tolerance leads to dependence, and dependence leads to addiction. If something is psychoactive it means it causes changes in the brain that affect thoughts, feelings, behaviour, awareness, and mood. In extreme cases, this can lead to seeing and hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations) or feeling depressed to the point of suicide.