When you talk to people about Xanax, there seems to be a perception that there are no dangers associated with this medication. While that is true when it is taken per a doctor’s orders, Xanax abuse can lead to addiction relatively quickly. Xanax is used mainly as a tranquilizer to help people find relief from anxiety disorders. It is usually prescribed for long periods of time, which can lead directly to addiction. The irony is that once a person has recovered from their debilitating panic or anxiety through the use of Xanax, they now have to deal with the painful withdrawal symptoms as they fight their addiction to the medication. 

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include dizziness, nausea, insomnia, chills, violent mood swings, and headaches. Fighting a Xanax addiction is not something that should be attempted alone. There are ways that a health professional can help you wean yourself from the medication so that you experience as little discomfort as possible through the process. In extreme cases, it may be advisable to check yourself into a facility that can help you fight your addiction 24 hours a day.  A safe withdrawal process is the key to eliminating your dependence on Xanax. 

Valium has been prescribed to treat anxiety disorders since the 1960s. Due to the initial problems suffered by those who are prescribed Valium, it can be very easy for someone to begin to abuse the drug. Valium is very easy for people to obtain because it is prescribed so often. It is given to people to calm their nerves for things as routine as a dentist’s appointment as well as treatment of severe anxiety. Most households probably have a half-empty bottle of Valium in a back drawer somewhere. 

If you find that you feel the need to take your Valium in almost any situation, several times a day, regardless of your doctor’s orders, you have probably developed an unhealthy dependence upon the medication. As you take Valium more often, it will build up in your system and you’ll find that you need to take even more to achieve the balance you’re looking for. This endless cycle can lead quickly to addiction and dangerous side effects. 

The most common symptom of Valium abuse is a constant sense of drowsiness or unsteadiness. The sedative works to dampen your response to stimulation, and it slows your body’s systems down remarkably. You may feel more easily confused and make poor judgments while you abuse Valium. Since your nerve responses have become slowed down, you’ll find that you are more clumsy and it is harder to get around.  

It has been shown that individuals who abuse alcohol are more likely to abuse prescription drugs as well.  Individuals under the age of 25 are especially susceptible. Researchers at the University of Michigan have shown that men and women who abuse alcohol are 18 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs.  This is of great concern because using alcohol while taking the most commonly abused prescription medications can be a deadly combination.  At least seven percent of those claiming to abuse alcohol and prescription drugs claim to have taken them at the same time within the last year.

Some of the prescription drugs that were most often combined with alcohol included Vicodin, OxyContin, Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta.  There seems to be a correlation between the age that a person started drinking and how much they drink and prescription drug abuse.  It seems the younger an individual starts drinking and the amount, the more likely they are to be an abuser.  

As mentioned earlier, combining alcohol with prescription drugs is dangerous.  When a person reaches a level of alcohol that is excessive, they pass out.  This is the body’s self-protection mechanism.  When prescription drugs are added to the mix, namely stimulants, that mechanism can be overridden and pose possible life-threatening consequences.  Simply because medication are prescribed by doctors and tested by the Food and Drug Administration does not mean lethal side-effects aren’t present. Prescription drugs are safe when given under the guidance of a doctor.

Every day, many Americans are admitted to emergency rooms in hospitals across the country due to complications with prescription drug abuse.  This could be the result of many factors to include taking too many drugs at once or combining them with alcohol – a potentially deadly cocktail.  An individual who abuses prescription drugs may also experience mood disorders.  Some common affects on mood include:  lack of mental clarity, erratic behavior, a frequent state of confusion, anxiousness, the inability to sleep or sleeping too much and hyperactivity or increased alertness.  

The abuse of prescription drugs leads to changes in how the brain functions as well as its overall structure.  These changes in the brain, over time, can affect the ability of abusers to make rational and sound decisions as well as affect self control.  The desire to take more drugs can also be very intense.

  

Altering the mood and creating a calming effect is one of the main goals of the most commonly abused prescription drugs.  But when more and more of the drug is needed to obtain this calming effect, a problem with addiction begins to form.  

This can also complicate things when abusers attempt to seek treatment.  Not only do abusers need to be treated for their addiction to prescription drugs but frequently they also need to be treated for mental issues brought about by their use.  Stopping the use of certain prescription drugs that have been abused for long periods of time can have a deadly consequence.  Treatment with methadone or other aids is often necessary.