In 2022, over 100,000 people died due to drug overdoses. California had the most total deaths due to fentanyl with 6,453. Florida (5,083) and New York (4,950) had the second and third most total deaths. 

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. synthetic opioids are the substance responsible for the most overdose-related deaths. Opioids kill more than 136 Americans every day. More than 30% of these opioid-involved overdoses also involve benzodiazepines.

While many Americans have benefited from the ability of Xanax to treat anxiety and panic disorders, there also many individuals to use the drug recreationally. Are you wondering if  you or someone you know is dependent or addicted to Xanax, or if it’s possible to get a Xanax hangover?

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about the drug Xanax and the potential side effects and risks. 

What Is Xanax?

The generic name for Xanax is alprazolam. This drug belongs to a class of medications known as benzodiazepines which interact with the central nervous system and brain in order to create a feeling of calmness. By enhancing the effects of GABA, a natural chemical in the body, Xanax is able to help individuals with anxiety or panic disorders.

Does Xanax Give You A Hangover?

The short answer to this question is yes. Basically, when a person takes benzodiazepines such as Xanax, they can experience mild Xanax withdrawal symptoms when they start to wear off. This is referred to as a “Xanax hangover.”

I hangover this type can impact anybody who takes medication, however, it is more common among people who are abusing or misusing the drug.

If you’ve been prescribed this medication by a doctor in order to help manage a panic or anxiety disorder, it’s possible that you’ll experience these hangover symptoms in the process of your body adjusting to the medication. This can also happen if your doctor makes adjustments to your dosage amount.

What Do Xanax Hangovers Feel Like?

A Xanax hangover shares many similar symptoms to the type of hangover you received from drinking too much alcohol. There are emotional, mental, and physical symptoms that can because by Xanax hangover.

Some of the most common mental or emotional symptoms include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory impairment
• Lack of motivation
• Agitation
• Heightened senses
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Increased anxiety
• Depression
• Thoughts of suicide

The most common physical symptoms of a Xanax hangover include:

• Fatigue
• Increased pulse
• Insomnia
• Increased body temperature
• Increased blood pressure
• Rapid breathing
• Excessive sweating
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Difficulty breathing
• Muscle tension interment

It’s important that you talk to your doctor if you are regularly experiencing any of the symptoms. It’s possible that they could make a change your medication or adjust your dosage amount.

How Long Does a Xanax Hangover Last?

The approximate half-life of immediate-release formulations of Xanax is 11 hours. However, this can vary between six and 27 hours for different people. For the drug to be eliminated entirely for your body, however, it takes quite a bit longer. There is a high likelihood that your symptoms will fade away before the medicine has been completely eliminated from your body.

Most of the symptoms you experience should start to go away within 24 hours of the last time you took Xanax. Some people might still experience some minor symptoms for one or two days after the final dose, such as having a decreased appetite.

How To Come Down Off Xanax?

Similar to an alcohol hangover, the only foolproof solution for a benzodiazepine hangover is time. Once the drug has completely metabolized in been eliminated from your system, the symptoms should go away.

There are a few things that you can do to help yourself find some relief in the meantime, cells.

One of the things that can help you produce endorphins and get a natural energy boost is to get some exercise. You don’t need to push yourself too hard, going for a walk would be enough. Exercise can also help you to alleviate anxiety and reduce stress in a natural way.

Another thing you can help to find some relief from your Xanax hangover is to eat. By putting protein, fat, and fiber into your system, it can help your body to metabolize Xanax faster.

Lastly, if you have the luxury of being able to spend some time sleeping while you’re experiencing a Xanax hangover, and this is probably one of the best ways to deal with the symptoms. Essentially, you can try to sleep through the most extreme experiences of the symptoms and wake up at a later time when there is less of the drug still in your body.

Can I Get a Hangover In Every Xanax Crash?

Anyone who takes Xanax always is running the risk of experiencing a hangover at the point when the drug wears off.

However, there are some things that will make you more likely to experience a Xanax hangover. These include if you use the medication infrequently, is it your first time taking Xanax, if you recently change your dose after having taken the medication for a while, or if you recently missed one or more doses after having taken the medication for a while.

Many people become accustomed to the drug over time and the side effects can lessen. It’s important to understand, however, that high dose use or long-term use can result in a drug dependency. For this reason, people should only take Xanax or any benzodiazepine precisely as they are prescribed by a doctor.

How Can I Prevent a Xanax Hangover?

There are a few things that you can do to assist your body and its adjustment to the medication. This can help you to reduce the risks of Xanax hangover symptoms.

One thing that you can be sure to do is to get adequate sleep. If you are prescribed to take Xanax, go to bed early tonight that you take it and plan on giving yourself extra time to sleep in. This can help you stay more emotionally stable if you do experience symptoms and also allows you to possibly sleep through some of the symptoms.

Next, it’s important to take Xanax exactly as a doctor prescribes it to you. People should not take any Lasser anymore than the dose prescribed to them without talking with the doctor first. Also important to not mix Xanax with alcohol, recreational drugs, or other medicine, as there is a high risk for negative interactions.

What Are the Side Effects of Xanax?

There are a number of potential side effects that come along with taking Xanax. Some of the most common side effects include:

• Tiredness
• Insomnia
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Poor coordination or balance
• Memory problems
• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Increased sweating
• Nausea
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Weight or appetite changes
• Blurred vision
• Muscle weakness
• Swelling in your fever hands
• Stuffy nose
• Dry mouth
• Loss of interest in sex

Many of the individuals that use Xanax don’t have any serious side effects. However, if you experience any serious side effects such as thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, mood or mental changes, loss of coordination, trouble speaking, memory problems, or trouble walking, you should tell your doctor right away.

There are a few very serious but also rare side effects that include seizures and yellowing skin or eyes. If either of these side effects should occur to you, you should seek medical help immediately.

It is uncommon for people to have a very serious allergic reaction to Xanax. If you find that you are experiencing any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, however, you should seek medical help immediately. The symptoms include severe dizziness, swelling or itching (particularly of the throat/face/tongue), rash, or trouble breathing.

There are many potential side effects from the drug, but that means is that if you experience another side effect that is not listed should still talk your doctor right away.

Xanax Dangers

Xanax has a high risk of dependence but can also have an impact on your long-term health. If an individual is abusing Xanax, it can lead to long-term memory damage and emotional changes. People can also experience withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop taking it after long-term use.

Withdrawal symptoms of Xanax include insomnia, blurred vision, seizures, psychotic episodes, and rapid heart rate.

If you or someone you love is deciding to detox from Xanax, they shouldn’t do so alone. The right care is necessary during the withdrawal process and continuing treatment is often needed in order to help users get their life back together.

There also major dangers in mixing Xanax with other drugs. This includes mixing it with alcohol, which is common. Drinking alcohol and taking Xanax at the same time can lead to extreme respiratory depression, heart problems, loss of consciousness, and increases the risk of dangerous accidents.

People can also overdose on Xanax. The risk of overdose increases when people are taking other drugs or alcohol with Xanax, however, it can also happen when someone takes a large dose of the drug alone.

Xanax is not the only drug but it is dangerous to mix with alcohol. Take a look at these five reasons you shouldn’t mix vyvanse and alcohol.

Are You or Is Someone You Love Abusing Xanax?

Anyone who takes the drug can experience a Xanax hangover, however, it is more common when people are abusing the drug.

If you or someone you love has been abusing Xanax or other benzodiazepines, there is help. At Laguna Shores Recovery, we offer a wide variety of treatment options for people who are suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. Contact us today if it’s time to get real with your recovery.