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Detox From Xanax

Many inpatient rehabilitation programs that offer a full spectrum of substance abuse care begin with a period of medical detox to effectively manage Xanax withdrawal and keep the person safe and comfortable. Withdrawal symptoms are likely to emerge in people who develop some degree of physiological Xanax dependence. Severe dependence often develops in cases of chronic Xanax abuse, though some amount of dependence may form even when used as prescribed. Dependence develops as a person’s body adapts to the presence of the benzodiazepine and, eventually, requires it to function optimally. This can occur when someone who is prescribed Xanax takes it for an extended period of time. That is a normal adaptation, and often the person can detox from Xanax in a doctor’s office setting. The physician will likely create a gradual tapering schedule for you to slowly quit using Xanax.^1,2

That being said, if you consistently abuse Xanax—if you use it without a prescription or use it in a way other than prescribed for its rewarding or pleasurable effects—then you may benefit from the assistance of a treatment program to rectify your maladaptive behaviors. Long-term Xanax abuse can lead to addiction, a complex and chronic condition. Someone who has a severe addiction to Xanax may experience dangerous or life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures and delirium, when they abruptly quit, which is why inpatient medical detox is often necessary to help a person safely achieve medical stability.^1,2

Once the person is stable, they can then begin the formal addiction treatment program, which more thoroughly addresses the underlying issues driving compulsive Xanax use. The treatment center provides intensive counseling and behavioral therapy, which help patients return to a normal, drug-free life.

Inpatient Versus Outpatient Facilities

There is no shame in admitting that you need help for yourself or for someone you care about.-Rehabs.comSubstance abuse treatment programs at both inpatient facilities and outpatient clinics help treat Xanax addiction. Outpatient treatment allows you to live at home while recovering from your addiction. You schedule predetermined treatment sessions that work with your school, work, or home obligations. There are several levels of outpatient treatment: standard outpatient, which involves about 2-4 hours per week of treatment; intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), which involve about 6-9 hours of treatment from nonmedical professionals per week; and partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) or day treatment programs, which may involve up to 35 hours of therapy from both medical and nonmedical professionals per week. Typically, treatment will involve a combination of group counseling and individual therapy, as well as some drug education classes.¹

Inpatient or residential Xanax rehab involves living at the treatment facility for the entire length of the treatment program, which may last anywhere from 28 to 120 days, or longer, if necessary. These programs provide you with around-the-clock monitoring, support, and substance abuse treatment. They tend to cost more than outpatient programs due to room and board, but they provide you with a highly structured environment free of triggers to use Xanax or any other drugs. Inpatient treatment varies from program to program, but generally speaking, some services offered in inpatient include:

• Individual therapy.
• Group counseling.
• Family therapy.
• Support group meetings.
• Aftercare planning.

Depending on the specific program, services may include adjunct treatments such as meditation, yoga, relaxation techniques, and other holistic therapies. Faith-based inpatient programs may host prayer circles and religious meetings on top of the standard treatment. It all depends on the rehab’s individual treatment philosophy.

Since Xanax is an anxiolytic medication, many people who abuse Xanax may have an underlying anxiety or panic disorder. Someone who struggles with an addiction and a co-occurring mental health disorder is said to have a dual diagnosis. Dual diagnoses require specialized treatment that integrates substance abuse treatment with psychiatric care so that both conditions are adequately addressed. Someone struggling with a Xanax addiction and mental health disorder will want to find an inpatient program that has significant experience in treating the unique needs of a dual diagnosis.

In general, an inpatient facility is able to provide relatively intensive treatment and may be more suitable for someone with a severe Xanax addiction, an addiction to more than one substance, a history of treatment drop-outs, a co-occurring medical condition, a mental health condition, or a special medical consideration, such as pregnancy.

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Addiction and Tolerance

Though it is one of the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder, tolerance alone isn’t enough to indicate the presence of an addiction. The phenomenon of tolerance means that a person requires higher or more frequent doses of a substance—in this case, Xanax—to achieve the desired effects. To some extent, this can occur even in someone taking Xanax in a therapeutic capacity to manage panic attacks or anxiety. However, it is even more likely to develop when someone is abusing Xanax in excess of prescribed dosing guidelines in order to experience a euphoric or calming effect. People may begin to take more and more Xanax in attempts to overcome their growing tolerance. Although overdosing on Xanax alone isn’t common, it is more likely in someone using extremely high doses or in someone who combines Xanax with sedating or respiratory depressing drugs, such as opioids or alcohol. People often combine Xanax with other substances to amplify or enhance the high. Some overdose signs include:²

• Extreme drowsiness.
• Impaired coordination.
• Confusion.
• Diminished reflexes.
• Respiratory depression.
• Coma.

Taking increasing doses to overcome tolerance can drive the development of dependence, as well as addiction. As stated earlier in the article, physiological dependence can result even when someone takes the medication as prescribed, but it is likely to develop far more rapidly in someone misusing or abusing Xanax. And like tolerance, though physiological dependence is not the same as addiction, it is also a common sign of addiction.

Improper use of Xanax can be dangerous. A 2014 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) report stated that nearly 1 million emergency department visits between 2005 and 2011 involved benzodiazepines alone or in combination with alcohol or opioid painkillers.³

Patient Privacy

Xanax rehabilitation programs are private and confidential. U.S. government regulations regarding patient privacy apply to drug rehabilitation treatment, except in very specific cases where law enforcement or the justice system is involved. Even in such cases, only the exact information that the judge or law enforcement agency needs is divulged, and this is usually only a confirmation that a patient is indeed being treated at a particular center for a certain period of time. Private rooms are available at many Xanax treatment facilities, and while there may be a surcharge at some centers, other upscale and luxurious specialty facilities, such as luxury or executive treatment centers, provide only private rooms.

Duration of Treatment

The minimum duration of treatment in an inpatient Xanax rehab center is usually either 28 or 30 days. This allows about a week for intensive detoxification, if necessary, that stabilizes patients so they can undergo three weeks of very intensive therapy and counseling. Longer-term programs include 45-day, 60-day, 90-day and even 120-day or longer programs, which provide more time for inpatient counseling. In general, the longer a program the more effective it may be, but it also largely depends on an individual’s needs, severity of addiction, and motivation for change.

Course of Treatment

Treatment in an inpatient facility for Xanax addiction treatment begins with intake. A patient is welcomed to the facility after filling out personal information forms that include emergency contact information as well as personal medical information and financial forms. The patient provides a medical history and substance use history (complete with any past addiction treatment and/or detox experiences), undergoes physical examination, and is further evaluated for mental health status, demographic features, financial and living situation, support system, violence and suicide risk, and more.¹

The treatment team will use the information from the intake assessment to create an individualized treatment plan specifically tailored for the patient. If the person hasn’t already been through detox, the person will go through medical detox to achieve stability as they eliminate Xanax from their body. The detox team may use replacement sedatives, such as a longer-acting benzodiazepine, to minimize withdrawal symptoms, or they may create a gradual Xanax tapering schedule in which Xanax is slowly reduced.¹

The goal of medical detoxification is to stabilize the person and prepare them for comprehensive addiction treatment. Once a patient is in a drug-free and stable state, he or she works with an addiction treatment counselor to assess the triggers, stressors, and other issues that may have contributed to compulsive Xanax use. The patient will receive a variety of treatment services, as previously mentioned. These are likely to include:

• Group counseling.
• Peer support.
• Family education.
• Family therapy.
• Individual therapy.
• Drug education.
• Relapse prevention classes.

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Sources

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP), 45.
2. Food and Drug Administration. (2016). Xanax, alprazolam tablets.
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). The DAWN Report: Benzodiazepines in Combination with Opioid Pain Relievers or Alcohol: Greater Risk of More Serious ED Visit Outcomes.