Examples of these side effects are described throughout this article. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Xanax, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead. For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away.
Symptoms Of Overdose May Include The Following:
It gives the system time to recalibrate and keeps the process more manageable. Working with a clinician who knows how to taper off Xanax safely is recommended if you need to come off the medication. Stopping Xanax safely with a taper might take a few weeks or longer, depending on how long the medication was used and how the body reacts. For this reason, it’s worth checking in with your mental health provider before combining anything with Xanax, just to be safe. For instance, St.John’s Wort is considered a natural antidepressant, but it can cause contraindications with other medications. Even when something’s labeled “natural,” it can still affect how medications work.
Another drug used for this purpose is Valium (diazepam), which is a benzodiazepine like Xanax. The manufacturer does not recommend a specific dose for this purpose. With dependence, your body gets used to a drug and needs it for you to feel like you usually do.
WARNING: RISKS FROM CONCOMITANT USE WITH OPIOIDS; ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION; And DEPENDENCE AND WITHDRAWAL REACTIONS
The patient should inform the doctor about all the medications he/she is using since the drug can interact with many other medications. Therefore, it is recommended to start treatment with very low doses. Caution should be exercised when prescribing alprazolam in geriatric patients, as it may alter their motor functions and balance, as well as their cognitive functions. Caution should be taken with patients with a history of drug abuse since this drug may cause psychological and/or physical dependence. If a patients breathing becomes slow, shallow or their lips become blue, emergency medical attention is required immediately.
Is Xanax Used Long Term?
By the 1970s, there was a major uptick in prescriptions, and benzodiazepines became the most commonly prescribed class of drugs across the globe. If you’ve been prescribed Xanax, it’s crucial to understand how the medication works, its indications, contraindications and potential adverse effects in order to take it safely. 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. The compounded effects of combining these drugs may be dangerous and put you at risk for health issues or death. Xanax can help with anxiety symptoms, but it’s not meant for long-term use because it can be addictive and cause withdrawal.
XANAX is also indicated to treat panic disorder with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia). The most common side effects of XANAX include problems with coordination, hypotension, trouble saying words clearly, and changes in sex drive (libido). Take XANAX exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed.
