Xanax what does

When doctors prescribe Xanax, they have to consider other medications that a person may already be taking. CNS depressants, such as antihistamines and anticonvulsants, can increase the effects of benzodiazepines.

As alcohol is a CNS depressant, people should limit their alcohol intake when using Xanax. A doctor or pharmacist will explain the risks when they prescribe this medication. Some drugs interact with Xanax by blocking or reducing the effect of the liver enzymes that play a role in its elimination.

These drugs include fluoxetine and birth control pills. People take Xanax to control anxiety and panic. It produces feelings of calm and relaxes the muscles. Xanax is an effective medication, and some people use it recreationally. The drug can cause side effects, especially if people combine it with other CNS depressants, such as antihistamines and alcohol. People may also experience negative effects when coming off Xanax after taking it for a long time.

Talking to a doctor and following a discontinuation schedule can help avoid these symptoms. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can vary in severity. Learn more about benzo withdrawal, including the common symptoms and the coping strategies that people…. There are many types of anxiety, including phobias, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Learn all the symptoms and treatments here.

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Learn more about the causes and treatment. What does Xanax feel like? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm. Almost everyone will feel the effects of the drug within an hour.

One of the reasons why Xanax is so effective for treating panic is that peak impact from the dose comes quickly. Most people will experience it between one and two hours after taking their dose.

The effects of Xanax are brief. Most people will feel the strongest impacts from the drug for two to four hours. If that happens, you may begin to notice it takes longer for you to feel the sedative effects of the drug, and the feelings may wear off more quickly. Xanax has a half-life of about 11 hours. By that point, your body will eliminate half of the dose from your bloodstream. Everyone metabolizes medications differently, so the half-life is different from person to person.

As Xanax wears off, most people will stop feeling the calm, relaxed, lethargic sensations that the drug is associated with. If you take this medication to relieve symptoms of anxiety, like a racing heart, those symptoms may begin to return as the drug is eliminated from your system. A comedown is the letdown of high emotions following peak drug effects.

This rebound anxiety or depression is usually temporary. Xanax has high potential to be a habit-forming drug. Symptoms of withdrawal typically begin two to seven days after your last dose. They can last two to eight weeks. Some withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. Your doctor can administer medication to help ease these symptoms and prevent further complications. Xanax can interact with several common medications, resulting in serious side effects.

The dosage will be based on the following factors:. A doctor may gradually increase the dosage of Xanax until the drug works effectively for the person. If a person has used this medication regularly for a long time or in high dosages, withdrawal symptoms can occur if they suddenly stop taking it. A person should not crush, chew, or break a Xanax extended-release tablet. They should swallow the tablet whole. It is specially made to release the drug slowly into the body.

Breaking the tablet would cause too much of the drug to be released at once. People should not share their medications with other people. It may not be suitable for them and may harm them.

If a person misses a dose of Xanax, they should take the missed dose as soon as they remember. However, they should skip the missed dose if it is almost time for their next scheduled dose. Death has occurred in association with overdoses of Xanax by itself, as it has with other benzodiazepines. If an overdose of Xanax occurs, a person needs emergency medical attention. Somebody should call or Poison Control at Benzodiazepines, including Xanax, can produce extra depressant effects on the CNS when a person takes it alongside:.

Studies of benzodiazepines other than Xanax suggest a possible interaction with the following drugs:. This list is not complete, and other drugs may interact with Xanax.

A person should tell their doctor about all the medications they use. This includes prescription, OTC, vitamin , and herbal products. It is important to taper off Xanax gradually. Otherwise, there is a risk of benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome. To discontinue treatment of Xanax, a doctor should reduce and taper the dosage slowly. However, it all too often becomes abused. There are many types of anxiety disorders that Xanax can help treat.

According to Healthline , the side effects of anxiety that Xanax can help treat include:. Unfortunately, one of the major downsides of Xanax is that it is a highly addictive medication.

This is why it is extremely important to take it as prescribed and if you are starting to feel dependent or addicted to the medicine, let a medical professional know as soon as possible. If you feel as if you or a loved one might be becoming addicted to Xanax, pay attention to these major red flags of addiction:.

Xanax works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain that people who experience anxiety suffer from. As a Benzodiazepine, Xanax acts on the brain and central nervous system to produce a calming effect and ease anxiety symptoms.

It is fast-acting, which is helpful for someone who is suddenly experiencing anxiety and needs relief quickly. However, this fast-acting euphoric effect can often become abused and addiction can occur. When someone has been abusing Xanax for a period of time and suddenly stops taking it, the body can begin to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. This is because the brain and body have become chemically rewired to depend on the drug, so readjusting back to normality can be uncomfortable.

In an effort to comfortably stop taking Xanax and become sober, medical detox may be offered. This is the process of taking advantage of medications that will help curb withdrawal symptoms and cravings while allowing the body to comfortably readjust and rewire without Xanax.