Can You Overdose on Xanax

Can You Overdose on Xanax?

The Reality of Xanax Overdose and How to Get Help to Prevent It

It’s difficult to explain to someone what a Xanax addiction is like. Drug addiction in general is an all-consuming issue as it is, but when you start messing around with drugs like Xanax you really are gambling with your life.

The answer to, “Can you overdose on Xanax?” is absolutely, yes, you can.

A Xanax overdose is one of the scariest things you can imagine, and it’s not difficult to overdose on either.

Yes, you can absolutely overdose on Xanax. Typically, a Xanax overdose occurs when you combine Xanax with other central nervous system depressants like opioids. There are a lot of factors that lead to Xanax overdose, including body weight, tolerance level, Xanax dosage, and mixing other drugs. I regularly abused Xanax and alcohol in combination, and it made for some very scary experiences.

Keep reading to learn more about Xanax or Alprazolam overdose and how South Shores Detox can help if you or a loved one is struggling to stop using this powerful benzodiazepine drug.

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How Xanax Affects The Central Nervous System

Xanax is a benzodiazepine that is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It directly affects the central nervous system by slowing brain activity, which causes a calming effect. For those struggling with heavy anxiety and able to use the drug as prescribed, it can be a great tool. For those who are just trying to get high, it can quickly lead to dependence and addiction.

The effects of Xanax vary from person to person, but generally, the side effects of Xanax include drowsiness, slowed breathing, poor concentration, and dizziness. Headaches are also common. These side effects usually depend on how much Xanax you take. Long story short, Xanax is a drug that is prescribed for very specific reasons.

When I first tried Xanax, I had never felt that kind of relaxed euphoria and lack of care about just about everything. Needless to say, for an anxious person like me, it is a very easy drug to get addicted to.

After an extended period of addiction following that initial ‘honeymoon,’ I finally sought treatment at South Shores in order to get control of my addiction. It was hard, but it isn’t impossible. Want to get help for a Xanax addiction? Read on to find out how I did it.

The Complications Of Prescription Medication Addiction

Complications Of Prescription Medication Addiction

Drug abuse is a tricky situation to find yourself in. When it comes to prescription drugs, it can be even more complicated. A lot of people who find themselves with a medication addiction were originally prescribed the drug for good reason. Unfortunately, prescription drugs are very easy to get addicted to.

When I got my first prescription for Xanax, I started off by taking the prescribed dosage. Soon enough, I made all kinds of excuses for why I needed to take more than the recommended amount. I rationalized all of this by saying that it was okay because I had a prescription.

I made all kinds of excuses for my Xanax misuse, and it was all because I thought it was okay because I got those little blue pills (and later white bars) from a doctor.

Taking More Than The Prescribed Dose

There are risk factors all over the place when it comes to prescription drugs. Taking Xanax regularly leads to a tolerance development and it takes more and more of the drug to feel the effects. Taking too much Xanax can lead to Xanax toxicity which causes respiratory depression and a lack of oxygen getting to the brain. This is a dangerous game to find yourself playing.

How much Xanax is too much? To be blunt, any amount more than the prescribed amount is too much. The unfortunate aspect of pharmaceutical drugs is that many people lie about their conditions in order to get a prescription. It’s gotten harder and harder for doctors to prescribe drugs without dire consequences.

What Are Xanax Overdose Symptoms Like?

Xanax Overdose Symptoms

Because I regularly combined Xanax and alcohol, I suffered multiple overdoses. It isn’t difficult to overdose on Xanax when you are taking more than you need and also dabbling with other substances. A Xanax overdose usually begins with impaired movement and speech. Slurred speech and slowed breathing are also common signs that an overdose is incoming.

A full-on Xanax overdose is much like any other overdose. Loss of consciousness is common. The sad part of a drug overdose is that if it happens when you are alone, coma and/or death are almost certain. Even if you are with other people, people often avoid calling for help or seeing the right medical professionals for fear of getting in trouble, especially if they are using the drug as well.

What Happens When You Wake Up From An Overdose?

If you are lucky enough to make it to the hospital during or after a Xanax overdose, you will often have to have your stomach pumped. I’ve experienced this firsthand, and it was a nightmare. You will typically be given intravenous fluids to flush the toxins from your body as well. Following this experience, I felt a tremendous amount of shame.

Despite how embarrassed I felt, I continued my Xanax abuse like nothing happened. Addiction treatment did not enter my mind at all. It goes to show you how powerful Xanax addiction can be. Even after a horrific overdose of Xanax, you will continue your abuse and totally forget about the experience.

Seeking Treatment Following A Xanax Overdose

Treatment Following A Xanax Overdose

The first overdose did nothing to persuade me to seek help, but the second one was different. Because of my consistent Xanax use and alcohol consumption, I had caused liver damage. The doctors told me I was at a point of no return. I could either continue my substance abuse and most certainly succumb to it, or seek help and get my body back to where it needed to be.

Following my second Xanax overdose, I finally had the fear of death put into me. I finally entertained the idea of addiction treatment and detoxing from benzos, and I began going to Narcotics Anonymous meetings. I went to about three meetings before I finally entered South Shores Detox. Listening to others speak of their drug history made me feel less alone, and I felt like I had a fighting chance.

Overcoming Substance Use Disorder: One Step At A Time

It’s easy to worry about the bigger picture when you are entering recovery. You wonder how it will all work out. How uncomfortable will it be? Will it be a waste of time? Will I go through rehab and then relapse as soon as I get out? All these questions circled around in my mind constantly. When I finally got to South Shores, they were quick to help me get into the right mindset.

Your attitude makes all the difference. If you are constantly worrying about it not working, then you are almost manifesting it. I threw myself into the process and quit overthinking every part of the process. I simply put in the work and took things one step at a time, one day at a time. That’s the only approach to take.

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Surround Yourself With Positivity at South Shores: Get Help Today

The company you keep goes a long way in recovery. If you continue to hang around people who are abusing drugs, there will always be a temptation. There will always be a risk of relapse. I made an effort to surround myself with healthy, positive people at every turn. I met so many great friends and peers through my time at South Shores Detox. These relationships continued after I completed treatment.

Because of my time at South Shores, I got past my days as a Xanax addict and got my health back. The body’s ability to bounce back following addiction is remarkable. It doesn’t matter where you are at in your addiction. If you put in the work and have the right attitude, your future can be bright and filled with a lot less anxiety.

Give South Shores a call if any of this sounds familiar. I know its a call I am glad to have made, and I believe it will be life-changing for you as well.