Detoxification is the first phase of Xanax addiction treatment. During a detox, health professionals assess your addiction severity, design an individualized treatment plan, and prescribe medications to treat withdrawal symptoms.
Both inpatient and outpatient facilities provide Xanax detox services. However, most people prefer inpatient programs that provide 24-hour medical supervision to reduce their risk of developing life-threatening complications. You may consider switching to an intensive outpatient program once you are physically and mentally stable.
During detox, a doctor gradually lowers your dose of Xanax until you can function normally without taking the drug. Doctors call it “dose tapering.” Tapering is necessary to prevent severe withdrawal and seizures. Notably, since there is no standard tapering schedule, it must be customized to meet unique individual needs.
Besides, the doctor may give an equivalent dose of diazepam instead of Xanax. In the meantime, they will monitor your symptoms and gradually lower the dose of diazepam, usually once every 7 days. If your symptoms continue to be severe, they may reduce the dose less frequently.
You may also need to take medications to treat specific symptoms during Xanax detox. For example, depression drugs and beta-blockers are effective in relieving dysphoria and anxiety.
Muscle pain and stiffness
If you have used Xanax for more than 3-4 weeks, suddenly stopping it can cause the following symptoms:
Rebound anxiety and sleep problems commonly occur within 1 to 4 days after the last intake.
Most users will develop full-blown withdrawal during this period, including physical, neurological, and psychological symptoms.
Most addiction experts agree that combining dose tapering with psychotherapy is the safest approach for Xanax detox.
Also called talk therapy, this non-drug approach includes stress management and relapse prevention techniques. Notably, psychotherapy sessions before and during detox drastically improve treatment outcomes and help prevent relapse.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is the most commonly used psychotherapy in addiction treatment. It helps people identify and replace negative thoughts (likely contributing to addiction) with positive ones. Some rehab centers may also provide other non-drug interventions such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and massage therapy. Detox is only the beginning of a journey to a drug-free life. You will need to continue psychotherapy for long-term recovery from Xanax addiction. To improve the chances of full recovery, addiction centers provide individualized programs that address your physical and psychological issues.
Loss of appetite and weight is common during Xanax detox. Thus, it is crucial to eat healthy meals to maintain your weight and speed up your recovery. Detox centers provide balanced and nutritious meals specifically tailored to meet your needs.