A person addicted to alcohol has to go through serious trials to defeat the disease. And the first barrier on the way to sobriety is the withdrawal syndrome. The body of the alcoholic has adapted to the doses of the psychoactive substance, which is alcohol, and to work relatively normally, he needs it very much. Therefore, after giving up alcohol, painful withdrawal symptoms are manifested. To cope with them, different medications are used. In this article we will talk about whether Xanax will help with alcohol withdrawal and whether there are alternatives.
At New Breath Recovery, we know how hard it is for people with addiction at first. That’s because we see it every day. Our job is to make our treatment center patients feel comfortable. That’s why, in addition to caring professionals, we have cozy rooms, chef services, and recreational areas. If you are thinking about using Xanax in order to quit drinking, we recommend that you consult your doctor first.
What is Xanax?
Xanax is one of the trade names of an anti-anxiety drug that contains the active substance alprazolam. This is a benzodiazepine-type drug that has a depressant effect on the nervous system. Therefore, it is often prescribed to combat anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, tremor.
Like other sedatives, Xanax has a calming effect on humans. Blind randomized trials have shown the effectiveness of alprazolam-containing medications in treating withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms
The need for medication is explained by the appearance of alcohol withdrawal symptoms already in the first day after withdrawal from alcohol. On the second day they intensify, on the third day they reach their peak. This condition is very dangerous.
How exactly withdrawal will manifest itself depends on the length of alcohol abuse, age and condition of the body. A mild form is manifested by a state of anxiety, insomnia and headaches.
Severe withdrawal symptoms include:
- nausea;
- depression;
- seizures;
- cardiac dysfunction;
- white fever.
Abrupt withdrawal from alcohol for a person who has been drinking for years can be fatal. Also in the state of withdrawal, the patient may not control himself and may damage the health of people around him.
How Xanax is Used in Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment
To understand how the use of Xanax in alcohol withdrawal affects the patient’s body, it is necessary to first understand the effects of alcohol in general terms. This is a psychoactive substance that has a sedative effect on the central nervous system, and its prolonged use seems to restrain the body within certain limits. Giving up alcohol can be compared to the bursting of a dam: nothing else holds the body back. That is why one of the most common withdrawal symptoms is seizures.
Xanax acts as a substitute for alcohol. Despite the fact that its mechanism of action is different, it too has a sedative effect. It enhances the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid, which reduces neuronal activity. It turns out that alcohol is replaced by benzodiazepines to calm the body, to get rid of severe stress due to the refusal of the usual depressant.
Xanax relieves acute anxiety and relaxes the muscles. Taking pills as prescribed by the doctor, the patient sleeps better, is less prone to panic attacks, does not suffer from hyperactivity, which interferes with the rehabilitation process.
An important point: Xanax should be taken only at the stage of fighting withdrawal symptoms, which last on average from three days to two weeks. And this is a big problem, because many patients disregard the recommendations of doctors, receiving instead of alcohol dependence benzodiazepine addiction.
Risks and Side Effects of Xanax in Alcohol Withdrawal
In the past, the development of benzodiazepine dependence has not received much attention. Therefore, benzodiazepines were prescribed even when there were alternative medications for symptomatic treatment. All of this has led to a huge problem: an entire generation of drug-dependent people has grown up in the United States.
Xanax is addictive on both a physical and mental level. Moreover, the symptoms of withdrawal from the drug are as dangerous as those of withdrawal from alcohol. Therefore, when the first signs of addiction appear, it is necessary to seek help in a rehabilitation center that provides Xanax Addiction Treatment services. Under no circumstances should you try to deal with it on your own!
Why else might using Xanax to taper off alcohol be a bad idea? Because the alprazolam in its formulation has a number of side effects:
- visual impairment;
- dizziness;
- drowsiness;
- confusion;
- impaired coordination of movement;
- speech problems;
- low blood pressure;
- feelings of fatigue.
Even more dangerous are situations when patients take Xanax together with other anti-anxiety or sleeping medications (and even with alcohol). In this case, respiratory depression, cardiac arrest, and failure of other vital internal organs are possible.
Alternatives to Xanax for Alcohol Withdrawal
In addition to alprazolam, which is part of Xanax, other benzodiazepines may also be prescribed: diazepam, phenazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, etc. Phenazepam in this series is the least dangerous. It is not as toxic and is less likely to cause addiction.
Alternatives to benzodiazepines are:
- antidepressants: mirtazapine, sertraline, paroxetine;
- anticonvulsants: gabapentin, valproic acid, carbamazepine;
- other anxiolytics, such as buspirone;
- drugs for symptomatic treatment: beta-blockers, hypnotics, clonidine.
It is important to realize that the decision on the choice of a particular drug should be made by a doctor based on the data obtained as a result of the patient’s examination. Independent transition from one remedy to another can cause irreparable damage to the body.
The Importance of Comprehensive Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Which drug should be prescribed? How long should it be taken? At what point should one medicine be replaced by another? Which drugs should never be taken at the same time? All of these questions can only be answered by a qualified doctor who has not only gone through years of training, but also has practical experience in treating alcohol addiction.
At New Breath Recovery, we utilize advanced evidence-based methods to treat addiction to alcohol, drugs, and prescription medications. We have assembled a team of doctors and medical staff who are qualified and love to help people.
The effectiveness of our rehab center is due to our individual approach to each patient. We have developed several treatment programs, each of which is adjusted depending on the patient’s condition, age and degree of dependence on psychoactive substances.
Of course, the first stage after the examination, diagnosis and treatment plan is medical detoxification. During this time, patients are under constant supervision and can always expect to receive highly skilled care. Our staff is on hand to help manage the withdrawal syndrome. This includes not only medication, but also a whole range of therapeutic measures.
People come to us with despair and pain, and leave having learned to cope on their own and to ask for help in a timely manner with minimal risk of relapse.