Dependence can lead to addiction and overdose. Xanax Dependence and AddictionĪlprazolam - the active ingredient in Xanax - can cause dependence. Your doctor will decide if the medication is right for you and how often you should take Xanax along with specific dosing recommendations. Xanax should not be taken without a prescription.

If not taken whole, the drug is released into the body all at once increasing one’s chances for overdose. Xanax tablets are meant to be slowly introduced to the body as an extended-release tablet. If a tablet is crushed, chewed or broken during ingestion, a person’s risk of overdose increases. Can You Overdose on Xanax?īecause of its fast-acting effects on the body, Xanax can lead to overdose. Xanax overdose can be serious and even life-threatening. The improper use of Xanax can cause overdose, but people who use the drug as prescribed can also overdose on Xanax. Xanax is the most commonly prescribed benzodiazepine in the United States, which means it is also the most commonly abused drug in its class. But studies have proved that the accompanying dopamine surge that fuels the brain’s reward center and causes euphoria can lead to misuse and Xanax addiction. Xanax works by acting on certain neurotransmitters in the brain that produce a calming effect.

Doctors sometimes prescribe Xanax off-label - meaning for purposes other than those approved by the FDA - to treat premenstrual syndrome and agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces. Xanax is a strong, fast-acting benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

Antidote for alprazolam