Massachusetts Xanax Detox and Withdrawal Treatment Guide

For people who are physically dependent on the drug Xanax, which is the brand name for the benzodiazepine alprazolam, detox is a necessary step. This detox program reduces Xanax withdrawal symptoms and associated issues to give patients a safer, more relaxing drug dependence recovery. Benzodiazepine addiction can be treated by Xanax detox.

Read on to learn more about Xanax withdrawal, drug detox, and where to find effective addiction treatment in Massachusetts.

Xanax Detox: What Is It?

The initial phase of addiction treatment for those recovering from Xanax dependence or Xanax use disorder is detox. The treatment aims to control withdrawal symptoms and shield patients from potentially fatal side effects like seizures, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts.

Inpatient medical-like settings are commonly used for Xanax detox at drug rehab or detox facilities. Nurses and doctors regularly monitor patients receiving Xanax detox so they can identify symptoms early on and treat them.

Only the physical reliance on Xanax is addressed in this treatment; neither the behaviors that fuel addiction nor the lifestyle issues brought on by addiction are addressed. After completing Xanax detox, many individuals go to a drug rehab program to receive Xanax addiction treatment.

Who Requires a Xanax Detox?

Anyone whose Xanax use has resulted in physical dependence can benefit from and be treated by Xanax detox. A person is considered physically dependent on Xanax by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) if they experience withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop using the drug or take it to prevent them.

Not everyone who needs Xanax detox is addicted, and dependence is not the same as addiction. Many users of Xanax who later developed reliance on it were doing it following their doctors’ orders.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) states that prolonged use of Xanax and other drugs containing alprazolam can result in physical dependence. Premenstrual syndrome, depression, agoraphobia, panic attacks, and panic disorder may also be treated with Xanax and central nervous system depressant, frequently recommended for anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, mental health, and panic disorders. People who use Xanax to address these problems for a few weeks develop physical dependence.

What Is the Xanax Withdrawal and Detox Timeline?

The NLM states that withdrawal symptoms from suddenly discontinuing Xanax may persist anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year. However, according to the World Health Organization, Xanax withdrawal symptoms can sometimes last up to four weeks.

In the United States, typically, 24 to 48 hours following the last dose, Xanax withdrawal symptoms appear. Each person undergoing Xanax detox will have a unique withdrawal timetable depending on age, metabolism, and how long they have taken the medication.

The following are additional elements that may impact the Xanax withdrawal timeline:

• Body fat percentage and weight
• Family medical history and genetics
• Use duration and frequency of Xanax
• Daily Xanax consumption Immune system condition
• Food intake and diet
• Mentally ill
• Multi-drug substance abuse (using Xanax with alcohol, opioids, or other substance use disorder)
• One or more additional health issues

When creating a patient’s detox therapy, the nurses and doctors at a Xanax detox clinic typically consider the abovementioned variables. Although it may be challenging to predict the precise length of withdrawal and detox, certain treatment facilities can offer a general estimation based on a person’s symptoms and history of Xanax use.

What Signs and Symptoms Show Up During Xanax Withdrawal and Detox?

Xanax withdrawal symptoms and high doses can take many forms if discontinued suddenly. Typical signs include:

• Anxiety 
• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Agitation 
• Irritability
• Inadequate focus
• Bad memory
• Muscle pain
• Muscle tension

The NLM and a 2018 article published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine state that potential Xanax withdrawal symptoms include:

• Malaise (general discomfort) (widespread pain)
• Weakness
• Quick heartbeat
• Dizziness
• An earache that ringers
• Shaking
• Twitching of muscles
• Unusual motion
• Adjustments to mental health disorder
• Depression
• The feeling of burning or prickling in the extremities
• Hallucinations
• Suicidal or violent thoughts
• Overexcitement
• Psychosis (lost touch with reality) (losing touch with reality)
• Seizures
• Desire for drugs

Many of the Xanax above withdrawal symptoms can only be experienced by abruptly stopping the drug. These symptoms can typically be reduced or avoided during a Xanax detox treatment with narcotics or a tapering program.

How Does Xanax Detox Work?

Xanax detox is commonly carried out as part of an inpatient treatment program at a hospital or residential rehab facility (residential treatment). Patients are first made comfortable in their rooms, where they will remain throughout the withdrawal process. 

Then, Xanax is immediately swapped out for an equivalent dosage of diazepam, a different benzodiazepine with a much-reduced potential for substance abuse treatment than Xanax. A 0.5 mg dose of Xanax is the same strength as a 5 mg diazepam.

What Drugs Are Administered During Xanax Detox?

Most of the time, diazepam is used to substitute Xanax and assist in safe withdrawal. However, other medications designed to address similar symptoms may be prescribed to patients who endure other chronic withdrawal symptoms.

For instance, a drug called metoclopramide, customarily used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, may be prescribed to patients with nausea and vomiting (GERD). Patients may be prescribed an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen if they develop headaches or other aches and pains.

Medications used in Xanax detox are given case-by-case basis, depending on a patient’s symptoms and medical detox history.

Is Xanax Detoxing at Home Safe?

Some individuals may attempt to detox from Xanax on their own after reading or learning about it online or through their primary care physicians. The likelihood of seizures, a rapid heartbeat, psychosis, and suicidal and violent thoughts make an at-home Xanax detox unsafe and dangerous. 

Other potential risks related to Xanax detox at home include intense cravings for the drug and the possibility of relapse and overdose.

Any patient physically reliant on this medicine is not advised to do at-home Xanax detox. Although tapering off Xanax may appear simple, patients frequently cannot substitute Xanax for diazepam and are not taught to recognize, prevent, and treat withdrawal symptoms. 

Always carry out Xanax withdrawal in a monitored medical detox setting where staff members can monitor patients, secure them, and lower their risk of consequences.

Anxiety and Insomnia 

The two main conditions that Xanax and other benzodiazepines treat are anxiety and sleeplessness. The terms “rebound anxiety” and “rebound insomnia” refer to anxiety and sleeplessness that are worse and more persistent than before taking medicine.

Compared to other benzodiazepine drugs, Xanax abuse causes withdrawal symptoms like insomnia and significant rebound anxiety, according to the above study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. 

According to researchers, these rebound symptoms happen during Xanax detox because the drug has a short half-life and leaves the body swiftly. 27% of 126 individuals going through Xanax withdrawal experienced rebound anxiety worse than before taking the medication.

Rebound Symptoms During Xanax Detox: Effective Strategies?

Among the most challenging withdrawal symptoms to manage are rebound anxiety and insomnia. Here are some other sensible coping strategies that patients might employ to get these symptoms under control.

• Exercise regularly
• Establish a regular sleep schedule
• Eat healthy food
• Spend time in the sun
• Stay busy and productive
• Reduce caffeine intake
• Cognitive behavioral therapy

Does Health Insurance Cover Xanax Detox?

Given that Xanax abuse addiction is regarded as a behavioral health issue, many health insurance companies reimburse the cost of Xanax detox. Health insurance companies frequently pay for residential and inpatient addiction treatment programs.

Patients and clients can contact their insurance companies directly to clarify their benefits and coverage for Xanax detox and inpatient treatment. Alternatively, individuals can find out if their drug addiction treatment center accepts their health plan by contacting them. Many drug and alcohol treatment facilities are eager to examine customers’ insurance benefits for free so that they may talk about different treatment alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Treatment for Xanax Addiction in Massachusetts at the Haven

The Haven-New England is a state-of-the-art treatment facility designed to provide the ideal environment for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health disorders to overcome their condition. We have helped thousands of patients recover and get back to healthy lives. 

We provide a variety of treatment programs, including medical detox and residential services. 

To learn more about our services, contact us at (844) 933-4145. Our counselors are available around the clock to answer your questions.