The History of Xanax
What is Xanax?
Xanax, which has the name alprazolam, is a prescription anti-anxiety medication that belongs to the benzodiazepine drug group. This controlled substance is highly addictive, but can be beneficial for individuals with anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax works by decreasing abnormal excitement in the brain and working in the central nervous system to produce a calming sensation.
Why Do People Use Xanax?
Doctors typically prescribe Xanax to individuals who are struggling with a severe anxiety or panic disorder. If used according to dosage, this drug should help calm your body’s responses to stress and anxiety. Most individuals who use Xanax according to a prescription will feel “normal” after their first dose and begin to feel the sedative effects.
Other individuals, however, do not use Xanax according to prescription. Many people in the US use Xanax recreationally to produce a type of high. When people use Xanax without a prescription, they may feel relaxed, calm, and quiet. While these feelings may be pleasant for a period of time, Xanax can also come with some undesirable and possibly dangerous side effects.
Side Effects of Xanax
Xanax, like many other prescription drugs, does not affect everyone in the same way. How you feel after using Xanax depends on multiple factors, such as your age, weight, metabolism, mental state when using the medication, and the dosage you take. There are, however, some common side effects that may require immediate medical attention. If you use Xanax, whether according to prescription or recreationally, talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the symptoms or side effects below:
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Trembling & twitching
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
- Memory loss
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of balance
Someone who uses Xanax regularly, typically a person who takes it recreationally, may also experience withdrawal symptoms. If you or a loved one is planning to stop using Xanax, it’s important to contact a medical facility or rehabilitation center as soon as possible. Receiving medical attention during withdrawal can ensure a more comfortable detoxing process.
Other effects of Xanax, like extreme drowsiness, are extremely common and may help contribute to the relaxing properties of the drug. If you experience drowsiness and lethargy after using Xanax, it should not require medical attention unless the drowsiness begins to get in the way of your everyday life.
Fast Facts About Xanax
Here are some quick facts that you should know about Xanax:
- Effects of Xanax become more significant as your dosage increases.
- Effects are increased when taken with alcohol. It is recommended not to combine alcohol with Xanax or other prescription medications.
- Everyone who takes Xanax will begin to feel its effects within one hour. Some may even begin to feel a sedated sensation in just 5-10 minutes after using it.
- Xanax is now the most-prescribed psychiatric medication in the United States.
While mostly everyone knows what Xanax is now, it wasn’t always this way. To see just how much its popularity has grown, let’s take a look at Xanax’s past.
When Was Xanax Created?
Benzodiazepines, the drug group that Xanax belongs to, were first invented in 1966 by Leo Sternbach. It took about 15 years for Xanax to hit the scene, however. Alprazolam was introduced to the United States in 1981 as a prescription drug. Since 2006, its popularity has been increasing as a recreational drug.
Xanax was initially known for its immediate release and almost instantaneous calming effects. Since it provided rapid symptom relief, Xanax became a quick solution for panic and anxiety disorders.
The Future of Xanax
Even though Xanax comes with its own set of dangers, it can be beneficial if used responsibly. Abuse is continuing to rise, so it’s important to use Xanax responsibly and only according to prescription. There are also many alternatives to this prescription drug, which may be less addictive.
If you or a loved one are struggling with Xanax and are looking for treatment to help with Xanax addiction, please contact our team of medication and substance abuse professionals by calling 866-345-2147.