Xanax xr how long does it last

The best way to avoid experiencing Xanax withdrawal is to follow instructions given by a medical professional. A medical professional should supervise a Xanax withdrawal by slowly tapering off the medication. Xanax has high levels of drug abuse. Here are some indications of a substance use disorder from Xanax:. Quitting Xanax can be challenging. A psychiatrist or other medical professional should treat a substance use disorder to assure a gradual and safe taper off of the medication.

Call its national helpline at to speak to someone who can direct you to local treatment centers, support groups, and organizations that facilitate inpatient detox and psychotherapy. Not all medications are as habit-forming as Xanax. These medications might take longer to start working but are a viable option for many people. Skip to main content Search for a topic or drug. How long does Xanax last? By SingleCare Team Feb.

Want the best price on Xanax? Top Reads in Drug Info. Can you mix Trintellix and alcohol? Does hydroxyzine for anxiety work? Do coffee and Zoloft mix? Treating heartburn during pregnancy Oct. Looking for a prescription? Search now! Type your drug name. In high doses, however, it has the potential to be abused and can lead to dependence addiction.

Xanax is taken by mouth and is readily absorbed into the bloodstream. You should start feeling the effects of Xanax in under an hour. The medication reaches peak concentrations in the bloodstream in one to two hours following ingestion. People who take Xanax will often build up a tolerance. For these people, it may take longer to feel the sedative effects of Xanax or the sedation may not feel as strong. One way to find out how long a drug will last in the body is to measure its half-life.

The half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body. Xanax has an average half-life of roughly 11 hours in healthy adults. In other words, it takes 11 hours for the average healthy person to eliminate half of the dose of Xanax. Studies have shown that the half-life of Xanax ranges from 6. It takes several half-lives to fully eliminate a drug.

For most people, Xanax will fully clear their body within two to four days. This is why you may be prescribed Xanax up to three times per day. The half-life of Xanax is higher in elderly people. Studies have found that the average half-life is For obese individuals, it may be more difficult for your body to break down Xanax. The half-life of Xanax in people who are obese is higher than average. It ranged between 9. Studies have found that the half-life of Xanax is increased by 25 percent in Asians compared to Caucasians.

A higher basal metabolic rate may decrease the time it takes for Xanax to leave the body. People who exercise regularly or have faster metabolisms may be able to excrete Xanax faster than people who are sedentary. It takes longer for people with alcoholic liver disease to break down, or metabolize, Xanax. On average, the half-life of Xanax in people with this liver problem is Each tablet of Xanax contains 0.

In general, higher doses will take longer for your body to fully metabolize. It also describes when Xanax expires and how to safely dispose of old medication. Experts use a measurement called half-life to determine how long a drug stays in the body. The half-life of Xanax is 8—16 hours in a healthy person, with a mean half-life of 11 hours. This is shorter than that of many other benzodiazepines.

This is because it takes four to five half-lives for the body to completely eliminate a drug. This means that it may take an average of 44—55 hours, or about 2 days, for Xanax to leave the body. Peak levels in the blood occur 1—2 hours after taking a dose. However, the person will feel the effects before levels peak. One study , which examined the effects of Xanax in 14 healthy people, found that participants felt the effects of the medication in under 1 hour, with an average onset time of 49 minutes.

The half-life of Xanax can vary from person to person. Several factors can affect how quickly the body processes it. All of these factors can increase the time that it takes for the body to eliminate Xanax completely. Some medications reduce the activity of CYP3A, which is a liver enzyme that helps process Xanax and eliminate it from the body. These medications are called CYP3A inhibitors. This can cause Xanax to build up in the blood and increase the risk of serious side effects.

Opioids are prescription pain relievers that block pain signals in the brain. Xanax can interact with opioids, and the interactions can be severe. Taking Xanax and opioids together can cause a fatal overdose, in addition to severe interactions. If a person has been taking an opioid pain reliever, they should talk with their healthcare provider before taking Xanax. Likewise, anyone taking Xanax should speak with a doctor before taking an opioid.

People can become dependent on Xanax, even if they take it as prescribed. The risk of dependency increases if a person takes a higher dosage for a longer period. When a person stops taking Xanax after their body has become used to receiving it, the lack of the drug can cause a range of physical and mental symptoms.

These are called withdrawal symptoms. They may last for at least 2—4 weeks. This is called protracted withdrawal. A doctor can help a person gradually reduce their Xanax dosage.