Xanax, known generically as alprazolam, is a prescription medication categorized as a benzodiazepine. It primarily treats anxiety and panic disorders short-term. While therapeutic, it can also produce a “high” or euphoria, especially when misused. This effect contributes significantly to its non-medical use.
The Subjective Experience of a Xanax “High”
When Xanax is misused, the subjective experience of a “high” typically involves intense calm and sedation. Individuals may report significant anxiety reduction and deep relaxation. This can be accompanied by drowsiness, a sense of disinhibition, and sometimes euphoria.
The nature of this experience can vary considerably among individuals. Factors such as the dosage consumed, an individual’s tolerance to the substance, and the presence of other substances in their system can influence the perceived effects. These feelings diverge from the medication’s intended therapeutic outcomes, which aim to alleviate symptoms without inducing intoxication.
How Xanax Interacts with the Brain
Xanax belongs to the benzodiazepine class of medications, which primarily influences brain chemistry. It enhances the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a natural neurotransmitter that slows brain activity.
By binding to GABA-A receptors, Xanax amplifies GABA’s inhibitory signals. This increased GABA activity leads to central nervous system (CNS) depression, resulting in calming, sedative, and anxiolytic effects. Beyond prescribed doses, this suppression extends past therapeutic levels, contributing to the “high” by dampening anxiety and promoting exaggerated relaxation.
Risks of Non-Medical Use
Non-medical use of Xanax carries immediate and serious risks. Overdose is a severe danger, causing extreme drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, and slurred speech. Respiratory depression (dangerously slow breathing) is a critical overdose symptom, potentially leading to coma or death, especially when combined with other CNS depressants like alcohol or opioids.
It can also impair judgment and coordination, increasing accident risk, including driving under the influence. Memory impairment, such as “blackouts” (anterograde amnesia), is common, where individuals cannot recall events while under the influence. Some may experience paradoxical reactions (opposite effects), leading to increased agitation, aggression, or heightened anxiety.
Understanding Dependence and Withdrawal
Prolonged non-medical use of Xanax can lead to the development of tolerance, physical dependence, and psychological dependence. Tolerance occurs when the body adapts to the drug’s presence, requiring increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effect. Physical dependence means the body has adjusted to the drug, causing withdrawal symptoms if use is suddenly stopped or reduced. Psychological dependence involves intense cravings and compulsive drug-seeking behavior.
The withdrawal syndrome from Xanax can be severe and potentially life-threatening. Symptoms may include rebound anxiety, which is a return of anxiety symptoms that are more intense than before medication use, as well as panic attacks, insomnia, and tremors. More severe manifestations can include seizures, delirium, and hallucinations. Due to these serious risks, abrupt cessation of Xanax is highly dangerous, and medical supervision is crucial for a safe and gradual tapering process to manage withdrawal symptoms effectively. Chronic misuse can also contribute to long-term cognitive impairment and the development or worsening of mood disorders.