When it comes to the signs and symptoms associated with prescription drug abuse, people tend to have a range of experiences. For example, some people who abuse prescription stimulants like Adderall find themselves more alert and focused; others find themselves irritable, short-tempered, and easily agitated. Conversely, some people who abuse benzodiazepines like Xanax find themselves relaxed and less anxious, others find themselves vacillating in and out of consciousness. The way that prescription medications affect you depends on several factors, including:
- Whether or not you were prescribed the medication for a valid medical concern by a prescribing physician.
- If you stick to the recommended dose, or if you increase the dose on your own accord.
- How frequently do you use the medication?
- Your age, weight, and gender (for example, certain medications tend to affect women more significantly than men).
- Whether or not you have any underlying mental health concerns or chronic health conditions.
- Whether or not you are simultaneously taking any other medications or any illegal drugs (or drinking alcohol regularly).
What is Xanax and Can it Cause Weight Loss?
Xanax is a benzodiazepine medication most commonly prescribed to treat moderate to severe anxiety and certain sleep disorders, like insomnia. People who abuse Xanax experience a range of serious physical and psychological consequences, ranging from regularly blacking out to experiencing severe anxiety when they lose access to the medication. If you or someone you love has been taking Xanax other than as prescribed, you might be wondering whether or not this specific medication will lead to weight gain.
More About How Does Xanax Affect People
Medications affect different people in different ways. In some cases, people who abuse Xanax experience a dramatically increased appetite. As a result, they snack aimlessly throughout the day, ultimately gaining a significant amount of weight. Other people lose their appetite completely, leading to noticeable weight loss. Suppose you are concerned about gaining weight as the result of a Xanax abuse disorder. In that case, the only way to truly manage your weight and take back control of your life as a whole is by tackling your substance abuse disorder and entering a program of recovery.
Signs and Symptoms of Xanax Addiction
How can you tell if you or someone close to you has been abusing Xanax? There are several symptoms of Xanax abuse that tend to stay consistent across the board, including:
- Drug-seeking behaviors, including attempting to obtain more than one Xanax prescription at a time, purchasing pills from a drug dealer or raiding the medicine cabinets of family members and close friends.
- A lack of interest in activities and hobbies that were previously enjoyed and held in high esteem.
- Social isolation/more time spent away from family members and close friends.
- A compromised performance at work or at school.
- Experiencing a range of personal consequences and continuing to use Xanax despite this fact.
- Appearing sleepy and “out of it” throughout the day.
Start Xanax Addiction Recovery at Evoke Wellness
At Evoke Wellness, we focus on providing our clients with a program of addiction recovery that works. We believe in treating addiction at its roots, thoroughly exploring all underlying issues, and helping clients determine why they reached for chemical substances in the first place. Unfortunately, when clients first enter into our comprehensive recovery program, they are often malnourished and lack the basic skills necessary to take care of themselves. For this reason, we have an experienced nutritionist on staff who can help you prioritize a return to physical health, and we offer a range of other services geared towards helping our clients make a smooth and successful transition back into fully independent living. To learn more about our recovery program, or to learn more about the side effects of Xanax misuse and addiction, feel free to reach out to us at any point in time. We are standing by 24/7 to answer any questions you have and to help you begin living the life of prescription drug addiction recovery you deserve.
