Xanax is a restricted drug that can only be taken when prescribed by a health officer. It is used to treat fear, anxiety and panic disorders.
These drugs calm the brain by working on the Central Nervous System. It is a tranquilizer, and therefore it decreases the abnormal excitement of one’s brain.
If these drugs are taken without a prescription, they will alter your normal body functioning, and it is highly addictive. The dosage of this drug is based on the patient’s age, weight, and medical conditions.
Since Xanax is not an over-the-counter drug, those who seek it must visit a qualified medical professional to certify that they are suffering from a panic disorder or anxiety. These medical professionals can be found in your local health center or online. Only then can the drugs be prescribed.
Who Should Take Xanax?
Xanax should be taken by people who suffer from anxiety, fear, panic attacks, and related illnesses. This drug should only be taken when it has been prescribed by medical personnel.
The drug can be addictive and must be used with the proper dosage and supervision from a medical practitioner.
Who Shouldn’t Take Xanax?
- People who take alcohol – alcohol is a depressant, and if taken together with Xanax, it may lead to a potential overdose.
- Pregnant women have proven that taking Xanax during pregnancy brings withdrawal syndrome to their baby because it causes emotional dependence.
- Breastfeeding mothers – upon withdrawal of breastfeeding, the infant will suffer withdrawal syndrome because it may be addicted to the Xanax present in the milk.
- People with underlying medical conditions – conditions such as asthma, liver, and kidney diseases do not work well with Xanax, and as such, it is not recommended.
Medications Similar To Xanax
Xanax appertain to a group of drugs referred to as Benzodiazepines. They are commonly referred to as Benzos. They act as tranquilizers, calming the brain.
These drugs can also be used as sedatives and are applied during surgery. Other examples of these drugs include Valium, Serax, Halcion, Restoril, Librium, Tranxene, Klonopin, etc.
Recreational Use Of Xanax
People who use Xanax recreationally are using it illegally since it can only be prescribed to someone who has a related problem. They use the drug to calm themselves for sedation.
The feeling is described to be relaxing, and users may often fall asleep or pass out for a couple of minutes. Those who have used it in higher amounts tend to suffer from memory loss, hallucinations, lack of sleep, nausea, and addiction.
Side Effects Of Abusing Xanax
Xanax, if used without the prescription of a doctor, can have massive effects on one’s health. Extreme side effects include; jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), chest pains, seizures, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. Other results are as listed below:
- Drowsiness – abuse of Xanax leads to excessive sleepiness.
- Insomnia – in other cases, Xanax causes little or no sleep to some of its abusers.
- Restlessness -most people will find it hard to relax or rest even in their most relaxed state.
- Depression – abusers, will feel sad, angry, and often withdrawn from their peers.
- Fainting – due to little or no oxygen in the brain, some people may lose consciousness.
- Poor coordination – this happens because the user is unable to concentrate and he/she incapable of doing simple tasks such as standing upright.
- Hyperventilation – breathing heavily and fast is another common side effect. This condition may cause an imbalance in the oxygen intake, causing a brain swell.
- Menstrual disorder – in women, a common side effect is an irregular menstrual cycle and often losing a lot of blood.
- Weight gain/loss – depending on particular individuals, Xanax may cause a gain or a loss in the person’s weight.
- Increased/decreased appetite – this is a common side effect to people who use Xanax.
- Irritability – some people who use Xanax get easily annoyed, mainly when they have not used it.
- Amnesia – Loss of memory is also common in people who have been addicted to Xanax.
Withdrawal Symptoms
People who are addicted to Xanax will experience withdrawal symptoms. Most of the symptoms are similar to the side effects of the drug. Some of the symptoms include; drowsiness, depression, cognitive disorder, memory impairment, erectile dysfunction, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, muscle tension, and even seizures.
Anxiety And Panic Attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks have a few differences. They mainly differ in terms of the symptoms’ intensity and the occurrence period.
For panic attacks, symptoms are quick and more intense and can cause significant disruption. In contrast, an anxiety attack starts slowly and intensifies over a while, and it can be long-lasting.
Panic attacks usually occur out of the blue without an obvious trigger, whereas anxiety attacks only happen when triggered.
Intense physical symptoms characterize panic attacks whereas anxiety attack varies. It can be mild, moderate, or severe.
Characteristics Of Anxiety
Types of anxiety disorders include obsessive-compulsive, social anxiety, panic, PTSD, and phobias. Some symptoms are unique to the kind of disorder but below is a list of common symptoms.
- Body tensions such as trembling, twitching, muscle tension, tiredness, body aches, and restlessness.
- Increase heart rate. One will experience his/her heart pounding heavily and fast, and sometimes, the heart might skip a bit.
- Dyspnea, otherwise referred to as shortness of breath, is when someone finds it hard to get air in and out of their lungs.
- Isolation – victims tend to isolate themselves from their friends, parents, and society.
- Feeling dizzy
- Nausea. The victim will feel a constant need to vomit caused by discomfort in the stomach.
- Xerostomia is when the salivary glands in the mouth fail to produce saliva, and the mouth remains dry.
- Frequent urination
- Blacking out of victims – A person actively participates in an activity, but he/she does not remember anything.
- Insomnia. A person experiences a lack of sleep and very irregular sleeping patterns.
- Irritability- One is easily offended.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of being attacked by a particular condition. Here are some of the factors that may predispose someone to anxiety or panic attacks.
- Sex – it has been found that more women suffer from anxiety attacks than men. The hormonal imbalances experienced by women majorly bring this about.
- Family bloodlines. Anxiety is a genetic disease, and therefore a child is likely to inherit the condition from the parent.
- Drug and alcohol abuse. These may alleviate the anxiety conditions, especially when their effects wear off. As a result, one may develop substance addiction alongside their anxiety which can be pretty fatal.
- Underlying medical conditions. People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and heart conditions have a higher risk of getting anxiety. Other conditions like thyroid may mimic anxiety.
- Other mental disorders. If one suffers from conditions like depression, the person is most likely to suffer from anxiety.
- Past traumatic events. Past stressful events may trigger memories causing anxiety or a panic attack. This condition is common in soldiers who come back from wars.
- Ongoing stressful events. Current problems and stresses may cause anxiety attacks—for example, exams, work, death, or abuse.
- Exposure to harsh environments
Prevention Of Panic And Anxiety Attacks
- Ensure that you get enough sleep to relax your brain and muscles.
- Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle by avoiding alcohol and un-prescribed drugs.
- Have at least thirty minutes of exercise daily to help your cardiovascular system work efficiently.
- Have people close to you, create a network of supportive people around you. They will help you in managing your fears and offering moral support when you feel low.
- Discover and manage your triggers. You have to know the factors that bring about your attack and try to avoid them or face them with someone.
- Victims should accept their condition. You have to learn to live with the fact that you have this condition and remind yourself that you will be alright in the end.
- Victims should stay active. One should ensure they engage in their favorite activities to reduce idleness and chances of being stressed.
- Early help. If a victim experiences signs of anxiety, he/she should seek help as soon as possible before the situation escalates.
- Have a positive attitude towards life and your everyday encounters
Conclusion
To acquire the Xanax drug, you must be having a disorder problem, and only a qualified medical practitioner is allowed to prescribe. These medical practitioners can be found online and in local hospitals.
Xanax is also used recreationally for calmness. However, this is illegal. If used in excess, it can have devastating effects on the user. It is associated mainly with anxiety.
Anxiety is a disorder that affects people who have been predisposed to a sad or traumatic event, and it is also genetic.
Eating healthy, doing regular exercises, and following the instructions given by a medical expert can prevent anxiety.
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