Written by: THE BALANCE
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Boss, MD
Last updated: January 21, 2026
Fact checked
Quick Summary
  • When you think about prescription drug addictions, Xanax is the first name to pop into the minds of many.
  • Despite the high abuse liability and addiction potential, a progressively increasing number of individuals continue to develop tolerance and addiction to it.
  • This is partly because Xanax, a type of benzodiazepine, is commonly used to treat a wide range of panic and anxiety disorders.
Reading time: 8 min

When you think about prescription drug addictions, Xanax is the first name to pop into the minds of many. Despite the high abuse liability and addiction potential, a progressively increasing number of individuals continue to develop tolerance and addiction to it. This is partly because Xanax, a type of benzodiazepine, is commonly used to treat a wide range of panic and anxiety disorders. Its calming effects on the central nervous system have made it the drug of choice for problems like high-stress levels and sleep disorders. These circumstances have opened the door to Xanax being abused by those who are desperate to get the problems mentioned above under control, as well as the recreational drugs in search of an easy way to get high.

Estimates suggest that approximately half of the people who rely on benzodiazepines like Xanax daily develop an addiction. While this addiction can have devastating consequences on various aspects of life, treatment is available.

Recovery from Xanax addiction moves on two fronts: psychological and physical. Medical detox centres allow the bodies of the addict to become accustomed to the lack of drugs. In contrast, Xanax addiction rehab provides an opportunity to build skills while preventing relapses.

The temptation to abuse Xanax can be too good to resist for many people, and it can be particularly dangerous to consume, especially for at-risk populations. This drug’s mechanism of action is such that its effects can be felt almost immediately upon consumption, sometimes within 25 minutes. However, these effects dissipate rapidly at well in a couple of hours. This property makes people compelled to take more of this drug, even if it means violating their prescription limit. With the increasing consumption of Xanax, tolerance begins to build up, forcing people to take increasingly larger doses every day. Over time, this habit can get them hooked on Xanax.

Due to the circumstances mentioned above, it is always best to get a prescription for a short period of time, with no more than four weeks, to minimise the risk of the body getting acclimatised to it. Even if an individual requires long-term use for a legitimate medical reason, it is better to go for a staggering treatment with intermittent phases of consumption followed by tapering off. The dose must also be kept as low as possible.

Sometimes, despite following all precautions, dependence on Xanax sets in. Once dependence is in place, the fear of withdrawing from this drug kicks in. People may genuinely wish to stop using this medicine after realising its negative consequences, but withdrawal symptoms may be too severe to let them take a step towards recovery. In such circumstances, the best way out is to join a Xanax addiction treatment program at a dedicated rehab to get professional help under constant supervision.

With various Xanax rehabilitation centres in the UK, it can be difficult to choose one. The best way to get a recommendation for rehab is to ask your GP or another healthcare professional. You may also search for a treatment facility close to where you live.

Most Xanax addiction UK centres offering treatment begins with a process of detoxification. This is because the withdrawal symptoms of Xanax addiction are much more severe than those of other benzodiazepines. In most cases, mild symptoms appear soon after stopping the drug and can quickly become intense. These symptoms include:

  • Aggression
  • Aches and pains
  • Headaches
  • Anxiety
  • Blurry vision
  • Dizziness
  • Tremors
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Irritability
  • Shits in mood
  • Hypersensitivity to light and sound
  • nightmares
  • insomnia
  • tense muscles
  • paranoia
  • depression
  • tingling in feet, hands, and face
  • difficulty breathing
  • suicidal thoughts

Detoxification, commonly known as detox, is a process that aims to help clients stop taking Xanax safely while managing and minimising the withdrawal symptoms mentioned above. The process usually takes place in a hospital’s rehabilitation center under 24/7 medical supervision.

In many cases, Xanax is stopped over time in a gradual way. Sometimes, experts may swap it with another longer-acting benzodiazepine to make the process easier. In both cases, the aim is to gradually reduce the drug levels in the body until it is completely out of the system. This process is known as tapering and may require up to 6 weeks to complete.

The goal of treatment is to avoid the use of Xanax in the long run. It may also include other targets, such as addressing all co-occurring diseases, such as depression and anxiety. To achieve these goals, most rehabs offer a multitude of treatment options. More than one of these treatments is often used simultaneously to speed up recovery and increase the chances of success.

Most types of treatment plans for Xanax addiction are based on the following two elements:

Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most common and effective type of therapy used to overcome Xanax addiction. It works by addressing the learning processes that lead to substance abuse disorder in the first place and provides clients with a chance to work alongside a qualified therapist to develop different healthy coping strategies. Research has indicated that the use of CBT along with tapering can effectively reduce the use of benzodiazepines, including Xanax, in a period of three months.

Other therapies commonly used to address Xanax addiction include:

  • Self-management training
  • Individual counseling
  • Cue exposure
  • Couples or family counseling
  • Support groups

Medication

As mentioned before, the detox period for Xanax addiction might be longer as compared to detox for other drugs due to the severity of withdrawal effects. The drug dose has to be slowly tapered over time to prevent these effects from negatively affecting the body. As a result, detox may overlap with other forms of addiction treatments, and medicines may be prescribed to reduce the intensity of these symptoms.

Once the detox is over, and the treatment process has ended, clients need no additional medicine. For those with a dual diagnosis, experts may prescribe a medication to treat their concurrent mental health issues, such as an antidepressant medicine for depression and anxiety.

FAQs

What is Xanax?
Xanax is a type of medication belonging to the benzodiazepines family. These medications work by increasing the effects of a neurotransmitter called GABA within the brain. This particular neurotransmitter is extremely important for optimising the electrical excitation in the nerves, and a lack of it has been attributed to the development of anxiety. Xanax and other forms of benzodiazepines work by boosting the release of GABA throughout the user’s nervous system to produce sedating and calming effects on the brain.

While Xanax is most commonly prescribed as oral pills, people can abuse it in several ways, such as:
 
Injecting it
Taking it via blotter paper
Snorting it
Combining it with alcohol or other drugs
What are some common Xanax drug combinations practised by addicts?
Individuals with Xanax addiction frequently abuse this medication in combination with other agents to get a better high. Alcohol is one of the most common combinational agents that can significantly enhance the effects of Xanax when taken together. Among other pills, opiates, methadone, and heroin are often taken alongside a dose of Xanax. However, it is important to keep in mind that while these combinations can significantly increase the sedative properties of Xanax, there is a very high risk of an overdose leading to respiratory failure and even death associated with this habit.
Why do people typically use Xanax?
The sedating and calming effects of Xanax and other benzodiazepines make them particularly beneficial for people suffering from a number of ailments, in addition to panic attacks and anxiety. Some of the most common conditions that are well-controlled by Xanax include:
 
Seizures
Muscle spasms
Mania
Agitation
Difficulty sleeping
Withdrawal from alcohol
At what point should I start looking for Xanax treatment options?
According to experts, caution must be observed while taking benzodiazepines as they have very high addiction potential. Almost half of the people who take them every day for at least six weeks end up developing an addiction to these pills.
Xanax addiction constitutes the following symptoms, the presence of which serves as a cue to start looking for a treatment rehab as soon as possible:
 
The need to take increasing amounts of Xanax to feel the same high.
A compulsion to take more medication, even when it goes beyond the prescription limits.
Experiencing unpleasant withdrawal effects, such as insomnia, dizziness, and mood swings, if the use of the drug is discontinued.
Trying to get more Xanax without a prescription.
Is Xanax dependence the same thing as Xanax addiction?
Contrary to popular belief, addiction and dependence on Xanax are not the same things. Dependence indicates a physical state in which your body starts depending on a drug, such as Xanax in this case. After dependence, tolerance soon follows, which indicates a need to use more and more amount of Xanax just to achieve the same effects. At this point, if you stop using these pills abruptly, many physical and mental withdrawal symptoms may appear.
 
On the other hand, if you have a Xanax addiction, you carry on consuming the pills despite their negative consequences on life. Physical dependence may occur with or without an underlying addiction; however, it is a common feature of most types of addiction.

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