Alprazolam is a substance used for treating anxiety and panic disorders. Sometimes it is also used as an addition to chemotherapy as studies have shown it is beneficial for treating nausea. The FDA advises doctors to review the effectiveness of this drug regularly due to how dangerous it is.
It has lost its status as the first line of treatment for panic disorders in recent years due to the introduction of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that have greater effects on the body. However, it is still used in moderation in conjunction with first line treatment. It’s also used as a short-term treatment option for severe acute anxiety, mainly for the first two to four weeks.
Known Addictive
Alprazolam is known as something that causes severe addiction. It is a prescription drug commonly found on the streets due to the number of people being treated with it. The numbers of illicit drugs have decreased in recent years because of the development of new treatments, but it is still a significant problem.
Depression and constipation are just some of the most common side effects. Serious dependency can lead to reduced inhibitions and the inability to think logically. Some patients have been known to take incredible risks whilst under the influence of Alprazolam.
Treatment
Alprazolam has different effects on different people. Generally, it is not something addiction treatment centres prefer to use. Since it is highly addictive, most centres believe it’s best to explore other options. In theory, it is effective at treating some of the anxiety caused by withdrawal from other drugs, but the risks are too high.
For patients seeking drug addiction treatment as a direct result of addiction to Alprazolam, the centre takes a very specific treatment path. They will first assess whether they started ingesting the substance to counter any existing problems with anxiety or panic attacks. This will dictate whether they simply replace the substance with something less addictive or opt for a complete cold turkey approach.
