Can You Overdose on Xanax? Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention

It is a misconception that just because something comes from a pharmacy, it cannot do any harm. In reality, while prescription medications undergo extensive clinical trials prior to approval by regulatory agencies, the fact remains that prescription medications can still be dangerous.

When it comes to a benzodiazepine like Xanax, overdose is a possibility. Fortunately, identifying the symptoms early and responding appropriately can greatly increase chances of survival. Below, we’ll discuss what an overdose of Xanax typically looks like, when it happens, and what actions you need to take if you suspect someone has overdosed.

Can You Take Too Much Xanax?

Yes.

Xanax is a benzodiazepine, a group of drugs used to slow down the activities of your central nervous system, including your breathing, heart rate, and alertness.[1]

This works to calm anxiety and panic disorder that Xanax is typically prescribed for, but the more you take, the more you slow down your central nervous system, and the harder it becomes to breathe and remain conscious.[2] The amount of Xanax it takes to reach this unsafe level depends greatly on factors such as your age, weight, if your liver is in good health, and how long Xanax stays in your body after you have stopped taking it. The same number of pills could be safe for some people and potentially deadly to others.

Even an appropriately prescribed normal dose may become risky at times depending on what else is in the person’s system (for example, if they’ve taken it while drinking alcohol) or if they have a medical condition they have that makes them process Xanax differently than another person.

Is There Such a Thing as Xanax Poisoning?

When you ingest too much Xanax, and your body can no longer safely handle the increasing amounts of the drug building up inside you, you develop Xanax toxicity, or an overdose.[3] As your body stores more and more of the active ingredient in Xanax in your bloodstream, the symptoms will range from minor to life-threatening.[7] If you have consumed a large quantity of Xanax, it is critical to seek immediate medical attention since the higher your levels of Xanax in your body, the faster you may fall victim to severe symptoms such as ineffective breathing and loss of responsiveness.

Side effects of Xanax overdose can generally be categorized by how severe they are.

Mild Symptoms:

• Extremely drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Impaired coordination
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Slowed thinking

Moderate Symptoms:

• Inability to stay awake
• Poor balance
• Muscles weakness
• Reduced reflexes
• Low blood pressure
• Heart palpitations

Emergency Symptoms:

• Slowed or stopped breathing
• Blue tint to lips and fingertips
• Unsconsciousness
• Someone cannot be woken

What Increases the Likelihood of a Xanax Overdose?

Mixing Xanax and alcohol increases the likelihood of an overdose. When both alcohol and Xanax act on your brain, they will each act to slow down breathing. The danger associated with this combination is that it creates a double effect of the same action.[4] In mild cases, you may find yourself unable to remember some things you did while drunk. In extreme cases, your breathing could slow so much that your body will not be able to get enough oxygen, known as acute respiratory failure, which can be deadly.

Using Xanax along with an opioid, such as fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, or heroin, greatly increases your risk of an unintended overdose.[5] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed a boxed warning — its strongest warning — on all benzodiazepines that carry the warning for use with opioids. A boxed warning is used to highlight the severe risks of taking benzodiazepines with opioids, which include excessive sedation, respiratory problems, and even death.[6]

Increasing the amount of medication you take without consulting your doctor, using another person’s prescription, or using Xanax for non-medical purposes can lead to an overdose.

What Should You Do If Someone Overdoses on Xanax?

Call 911 right away. Do not wait around to see if symptoms go away. If the person overdosing can remain awake, keep them that way and sit with them. If they are still breathing but unconscious, place them in a position of lying on their side so that they don’t choke. While waiting for help to arrive, never leave the individual alone.

When reporting back to emergency responders, provide them with all information available to you such as: what the medication bottle looks like, an estimate of how much of this medication was taken, any additional medications or substances that were ingested at the same time, and when all of these medications/substances were taken.

What not to do:

• Never attempt to make the victim vomit.
• Never give coffee or use caffeine in an attempt to wake them up
• Never allow the victim to simply “sleep it off.”

What Happens After a Xanax Overdose?

Once a patient arrives at the hospital with a suspected Xanax overdose, the main priority of their care team will be to ensure that the patient’s airway and circulatory systems remain stable. The team will monitor the patient’s breathing closely, provide additional oxygen through a nasal tube as needed, administer intravenous fluids to maintain the patient’s blood volume, and continuously monitor the patient’s heart rhythm using an electrocardiogram.

The doctor treating the patient may choose to give activated charcoal to the patient based on the amount of time that has elapsed since the last dose of Xanax was administered. Activated charcoal helps slow down or stop the drug from being absorbed into the bloodstream.[7]

Flumazenil that can be administered by doctors to counteract the sedative effect of benzodiazepines.[8] However, this medication should only be used under specific circumstances. If a patient is dependent on benzodiazepines, administering flumazenil could lead to seizure activity.

Typically, patients are admitted to the hospital and monitored until their symptoms have completely subsided. Some patients may need extended periods of stay depending upon the severity of their respiratory distress or if other complicating conditions arise.

How Do You Recover From a Xanax Overdose?

When receiving immediate medical attention, most individuals recover without long-term complications from a Xanax overdose. A number of variables determine how well a patient recovers from a Xanax overdose, such as how quickly medical personnel responded to treat the patient, what quantity of Xanax was ingested, what else besides Xanax was consumed, and the general health of the individual. The earlier treatment begins, the lower the likelihood of developing complications that can result in permanent damage to the lungs, memory loss, or brain function.

Treatment for Benzodiazepine Use

Addiction treatment services offer programs designed specifically to treat addiction to benzodiazepines like Xanax.

This may involve a medical detox, followed by inpatient, intensive outpatient, or standard outpatient treatment, plus behavioral therapy using evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.

Group therapy, support groups, and family therapy are also very helpful for regaining stability, staying accountable, and protecting sobriety.

Take the First Step Today

A benzodiazepine overdose can happen faster than many people realize, but acting quickly can save a life. If you think someone has taken too much Xanax, don’t wait to see if they’ll get better on their own; call 911 right away.

If Xanax use has become difficult to control for you or a loved one, you’re not alone. Recovery from Xanax addiction is possible, and with the right support, people overcome benzodiazepine addiction every day. Reach out to Paramount Wellness today to take your first step toward a healthier, safer future.