Published on 13 July 2023

Is Xanax A Controlled Substance?

Xanax (Alprazolam) Is-Xanax-A-Controlled-Substance
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Various reasons, such as experiences during childhood or adulthood, can trigger anxiety. Particularly if the person is going through stress or trauma at an early age, the anxiety will impact them severely. Emotional or physical abuse can be a common experience that triggers anxiety. 

The other reasons one would suffer from anxiety due to relationship issues, work culture, medical conditions, or sometimes genetics can also play a role. For some, lifestyle changes can be a curable option for treating anxiety, but for many, medicines play an essential role in curing the condition. 

Not all medicine can be curable; that is why you should first get checked by the medical practitioner and then move forward with whatever decision the doctor has chosen for recovery. Few medicines can be considered Controlled substances, for which you have to be safe before taking them. Xanax is one of the options for anxiety; let us know about the drug is a controlled substance or not.

What Is Xanax?

FDA-approved Xanax drug is mainly prescribed to many people. It helps people treat conditions like Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Generally, Xanax is not prescribed as an off-label drug because of its properties. If needed, doctors can prescribe Xanax for other conditions.

Xanax is available in its generic form Alprazolam. Either of the medicine works the same way. People under 18 are not preferred to take Xanax drug due to the drug's strong properties. It is also termed as a short-term treatment.

If a person wants to buy Xanax online, they must have a proper prescription from a licensed doctor.

Most Xanax Brands Prescribed By The Doctors In The USA

How Does Xanax Work?

The working mechanism of Xanax is quite common, like other benzodiazepine drugs. The anxiety is cured by raising the effects of neurotransmitters called GABA receptors (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid). These receptors help pass messages of the calming effect through nerve cells to the brain. 

Once these chemicals are boosted in the body, you will start to experience the changes of lowering tension and anxiety. This will eventually make your body calm and relaxed.

What Is A Controlled Substance?

Any drug is controlled because the government regulates the drug supply and usage due to the potential for abuse or addictiveness. If you are using any controlled substance drug without a prescription will be known as illegal.

  • Schedule I: Medications are misused, have highly addictive properties also termed illegal, and are not approved for medical use.
  • Schedule II: Medications should be taken with a prescription because it is addictive and has the potential for abuse.
  • Schedule III: Take the medicine with a prescription as it has moderate abuse and addictive properties.
  • Schedule IV: Prescription is mandatory despite the low potential for addiction and abuse.
  • Schedule V: Medicines do not have many levels of addiction or can be abused. You can get medicine with a prescription over the counter.

Is Xanax A Controlled Substance?

Use Xanax only with a prescription. Taking it from a black market or online pharmacies that help you get it without a cure will be a criminal offense that can keep you behind bars for a lifetime. 

Xanax is a Schedule IV controlled substance with potential abuse and addictiveness. The prescription is mandatory from a licensed doctor. For refilling your prescription, You can get it after six months. It is advised to take Xanax for a shorter period.

Not all prescription drugs are controlled drugs. Controlled substances have high levels of addiction and abusive properties, and prescription is taken for the correct way to use.

Can You Get Addicted To Xanax?

As mentioned above, it is a controlled substance due to Xanax's addictiveness. But even after taking it with a prescription, people use it differently and abuse such a drug. They depend on the medicine and start taking higher doses for relaxation. 

Various studies have shown that 44% of people who consume medicines that belongs to the Benzodiazepine drug class get addicted to the drug.

Others also use it differently by mixing it with other substances or taking it with alcohol. This kind of misuse can cause overdose and enhances the calming effects of the brain, eventually causing addictiveness to an extent. 41% of people who are prone to alcohol addiction will misuse Xanax. 

Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

Take Xanax precisely till the time it is prescribed. Overconsumption or lower consumption cannot show effective results on anxiety. If you stop taking Xanax abruptly without informing your doctor, you can face withdrawal symptoms that can harm your health.

Symptoms you can experience are as follows:

  • Panic attacks
  • General Discomfort
  • Seizures
  • Tremors
  • Anxiety
  • Abnormal sensations
  • Muscle spasms.

These are a few of the symptoms that are commonly affected by people. If you decide to stop taking medicine, inform your general practitioner first, then gradually lower the dose for better quitting Xanax medicine.

Possible Side Effects

Getting affected by side effects is common after medicine consumption. If you are consuming it for the first time, there are higher chances of side effects getting involved. Common side effects can fade off, but care should be taken for severe side effects.

Common Side Effects  Severe Side Effects 
Weight Change Breathlessness
Headache Hallucination
Upset stomach Severe allergic reaction
Trouble breathing Depressive thoughts
Dizziness/ vertigo Increased heart rate
Dry mouth Maniac symptoms
Nausea Blurred vision

Mentioned above side effects are not an entire list of side effects. If you feel any other products on your body, inform your doctor without hesitation and get cured as soon as possible.

Precautions Of Xanax

  • Inform your medical history to your doctor before you get a Xanax prescription. It will ensure the doctor will prescribe the best medicine for your condition. Following precautions can also keep you safe from unnecessary side effects.
  • If you are allergic to Xanax, you should not take the drug.
    People over 65 will suffer from side effects more than others due to the medicine functioning in the body.
  • If an individual has liver issues, it would be hard for the medicine to process in the system, which worsens the liver problem.
  • If an individual suffers from kidney issues, the drug to get off the system gets difficult, causing more problems.
  • Xanax can severely affect people who have breathing problems or lung issues.
  • If you are pregnant or about to be pregnant, it is essential to inform your doctor and get the dosage accordingly.
  • It would be best not to breastfeed a kid while on Xanax.
  • Apart from the following preventive measures, Being sensible about reading the medicine leaflet is mandatory. Accordingly, you can take the medicine as written.

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Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

Xanax is a controlled substance. The potential for addiction and abusive properties is less, but still, it is considered a controlled substance. Always follow the doctor's suggestion and inform the medicinal history you have been through; this will help you from various effects on your body. 

To take this kind of drug, you should have a mandatory prescription from a doctor who will inform you about all the side effects possibilities and preventive measures. Also, you will be prescribed according to the diagnosis and the medicines you have been consuming.