Author: John Carter

How Long Does Xanax Last: Withdrawal, in Your System, and More

During exposure therapy, the person is gradually exposed to the feared situation under the guidance of the therapist until the situation does not create anxiety anymore. Importantly, the skills earned during therapy can always be used, allowing better long-term outcome compared to medications. Recently, we have been learning more about the potential cognitive, memory, and psychomotor impairment in long-term use of benzodiazepines, especially in older adults.

Use in the Elderly

Beyond that, try to eat a healthy diet full of all the nutrients your body needs. It might surprise you how often a nutritional deficiency can contribute to mental health struggles. Many people take one or more prescription drugs as part of their daily regimen and worry about the long-term health effects of these drugs.

  1. These medications are tightly regulated and are only available with a prescription.
  2. As strange as it might sound, another great alternative to taking Xanax is to simply make a few changes to your lifestyle.
  3. Their high number of prescriptions stimulated considerable concerns and initiatives to limit their use 3.
  4. These effects help relieve the symptoms of certain conditions it’s used for, such as anxiety and panic disorder, and are why it is sometimes used for sedation.

Next day drowsiness and “hangover effect” is a concern with benzodiazepines that have long duration, for example, with diazepam or flurazepam. The sedative side effects can carry into the next day and impair driving and other daily activities; this is a particularly concerning risk in the elderly. Nayzilam (midazolam) and Valtoco (diazepam) are nasal sprays now approved for the treatment of seizure clusters (also known as acute repetitive seizures).

Therefore, it may be time to reassess the use of BZ in the long-term treatment of anxiety disorders. Rather than placing restrictions on the use of BZ, the indications for their usage should be thoroughly evaluated. Benzodiazepines are often coingested with other substances, such as opioids and alcohol, in overdose. Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs (commonly referred to as “benzos”) prescribed to treat anxiety, panic disorder, seizures, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal.

Dependency and Addiction

The main differences exist in how long they might remain in the body, possibly leading to prolonged side effects. For example, lorazepam has a much shorter duration than diazepam, allowing quicker clearance of the drug and theoretically less side effects. On the other hand, diazepam can remain in the system for days and boost the risk for long-term side effects, especially in the elderly. Drug treatment will depend upon the level of anxiety, patient characteristics such as age and organ function, and patient preference. For patients who do not want to use medications, cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation therapy have been shown to be effective; however the combination may work best.

Even worse, some physicians avoid prescribing them, and some patients take every pill feeling guilty or as if they are doing something against their health 2, 4. Most patients with anxiety disorders need long-term treatment to prevent recurrence of the disease. Two key issues in long-term treatment are the tolerability of pharmacological agents and withdrawal symptoms 15. Drug-related adverse events are the most common reason for premature cessation of treatment, especially with SSRI 7. Abrupt discontinuation of any anti-anxiety agent, both BZ and AD, is generally to be avoided. However, not only abrupt discontinuation of AD might cause severe discontinuation symptoms, but this can also be seen with AD slow and ultra-slow tapering 15.

Overdose and Death

For example, while diazepam has a half-life of up to 48 hours, the half-life of alprazolam can be as short as six hours. This is important, as a shorter half-life is linked with higher potential for addiction and dependence. That is one reason physicians typically are not excited about prescribing Xanax for long periods of time. There has been increasing attention into long-term risks of benzodiazepines, including potential for addiction, overdose, and cognitive impairment.

Can I become addicted to benzodiazepines?

Side effects, such as dizziness, confusion or unsteadiness may persist in the elderly who are prescribed long-acting benzodiazepines. Drowsiness, sleepiness, or dizziness are the most commonly reported side effects with this drug class. Driving or operating machinery or perform other hazardous tasks can be dangerous while using these drugs. Drinking alcohol in combination with benzodiazepines may heighten these effects. In those without co-existing conditions such as depression or a history of substance abuse, benzodiazepines may be used cautiously for a short period of time.

Health Effects of Long-Term Xanax Use

Therefore, psychotherapy should be considered as a first line of evidence for anxiety disorders treatment and should be performed independent of the drug choice. Stopping benzos abruptly, especially if high dose, can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as restlessness, irritability, insomnia, muscle tension, blurred vision, and racing heart. Withdrawal from high doses of benzos, especially those that are shorter acting, may be dangerous, leading to seizure, and getting off of these medications should be done under supervision of a physician. At FHE Health, we have seen a reduction in anxiety-related symptoms using Xanax. However, we follow a strict regimen that includes monitoring, combination treatments and eventual weaning off Xanax. It can depend on individual factors like the severity of an anxiety disorder, other co-occurring conditions, risks of addiction, the nature of symptoms and other considerations.

Discuss any medical questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider. The time needed to taper off of a benzodiazepine generally ranges from 4 weeks to 6 months, but can exceed a year in some circumstances. In the elderly, benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepine agents should be avoided, as recommended by the Beers Criteria, an expert opinion-developed guideline addressing safe drug use in the elderly. Withdrawal reactions can also occur if the drug is stopped suddenly, especially those that are shorter-acting. Discontinuation of a benzodiazepine should be done gradually under a doctor’s direction. Unusual sleep behaviors and anterograde amnesia may occur with traditional benzodiazepines.