Xanax is the brand name for the benzodiazepine alprazolam, which is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.

It may also be used alongside other medications to treat nausea caused by chemotherapy. Xanax is often referred to as a tranquilizer due to its sedative and calming effects, reduction of anxiety symptoms, and pain relief. Despite being advertised as safer than barbiturates, Xanax is highly addictive, and those who develop a dependence on it may experiment with various doses and ways of using it. Today we’re looking into whether you can shoot Xanax as opposed to taking it orally and the side effects that can occur.

Why Do People Take Xanax?

People may take or be prescribed Xanax by a medical professional to treat conditions like Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic disorders, and insomnia. Like other benzos, Xanax works by activating the neurotransmitter GABA, which inhibits or blocks neural activity in the brain. This reduces the speed at which nerve cells communicate with each other, producing sedation and relaxation while slowing down functions like breathing and heart rate.

On the other hand, while Xanax is often effective in treating anxiety when taken as prescribed, Xanax abuse is also common. Alprazolam addiction can occur as a result of long-term use. Once someone is taking Xanax for a few weeks, tolerance begins to develop, requiring the user to take more doses to achieve the same effects.

Eventually, this constant increase in doses may lead to physical dependence, which is marked by withdrawal symptoms that occur when Xanax use is discontinued. Users with Xanax dependence may continue to take the drug to prevent withdrawals from occurring, which are often uncomfortable and terrifying.

Over time, the person may eventually develop a psychological addiction to Xanax, making it nearly impossible for them to control how often and how much of it they use. Someone with a Xanax addiction can take as many as 20 or 30 pills a day. If the user decides to quit at any moment or doesn’t take their usual dose for a few hours, they may begin experiencing withdrawals like restlessness, insomnia, tremors, and rebound anxiety.

Despite the possible consequences, once an addiction to alprazolam takes hold of someone, they may not be able to quit without prescription drug addiction treatment and medical assistance.

Can You Inject Xanax?

Although you can inject Xanax, it doesn’t mean you should. Those who are addicted to alprazolam may consider “shooting up” Xanax pills, which is another way to increase the intensity of the high.

The standard form of Xanax is a small tablet that’s taken orally. However, people who abuse this drug may shoot up Xanax by crushing up the tablets and dissolving it into a solution to be injected with a needle. Also referred to as intravenous (IV) Xanax use, shooting Xanax is done to get one dose of the drug to rush into the brain all at once and produce an intense, euphoric high.

Injecting benzos like alprazolam may also increase the typical side effects of the drug, such as feelings of relaxation and calm. However, this burst of euphoria is short-lived and doesn’t last as long as the effects of taking Xanax orally.

Side Effects of Injecting Xanax

Many people who abuse Xanax believe that injecting is a more effective way of getting high, but it comes with a high cost. Before searching for how to shoot Xanax, users should take note of the possible risks.

Some possible side effects of injecting Xanax include:

In 2019 alone,  AFib was mentioned on 183,321 death certificates and was the underlying cause of death in 26,535 of those deaths.³ Untreated atrial fibrillation can lead to stroke, which is one of the most common causes of death in the United States, so it’s safe to say that blood thinners like Xarelto can be life-saving. 

With that said, compromising the efficacy of Xarelto by drinking alcohol can place the user at risk of experiencing AFid complications, stroke, and other potentially fatal problems. The biggest risk of mixing blood thinner Xarelto and alcohol are the excessive thinning of the blood, which can lead to unwanted and life-threatening bleeding. 

Generally, side effects of Xarelto and alcohol include:

• Extreme euphoria
• Sedation and calm
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Excessive sleepiness or drowsiness
• Impaired coordination and judgment
• Difficulty concentrating
• Slowed heartbeat
• Difficulty walking, talking, and/or breathing
• Loss of consciousness
• Coma

In addition to these side effects, this method of Xanax abuse increases the rate of tolerance as well as the risk of addiction and overdose. Alprazolam overdose can occur if a regular dose is administered in a way that will flood the body and distribute it all at once. Rather than allowing the drug to gradually take effect, injecting Xanax sends it into the bloodstream and up into the brain in one moment, not giving the body enough time to process it.

Furthermore, when all that Xanax hits the central nervous system at once, it can greatly depress functions like heart rate and breathing, placing the individual at risk of losing consciousness, coma, and death. Victims of alprazolam overdose may also experience shallow or slowed breathing to the point where they don’t get enough oxygen to their brain, risking brain damage and death.

IV drug use of any kind also comes with the added risk of contracting bloodborne illnesses and diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. Repeated use of needles at the same injection site can also cause infection and collapsed veins.

Help for Xanax Addiction

Not only can you shoot up Xanax, but there are also other forms of administration that users might try to get high, including snorting Xanax. Again, while this is possible to do, it is not safe. Any form of alprazolam abuse can lead to physical dependence and addiction and can also increase your risk of a fatal overdose.

Drug abuse of any kind can also impact other areas of your life, including your relationships, work or school performance, mental health, finances, and more. If you or a loved one is addicted to Xanax or any other drug or alcohol, our Christian drug rehab can help.

Our team is trained to treat withdrawal symptoms, help patients manage drug cravings, teach patients how to sustain sobriety after rehab, and more. With the help of our faith-based recovery programs, including medically monitored detox and therapy treatment, addiction won’t rule over your life any longer.

For more information about the admissions process and how our faith-based drug treatment programs work, call Faith in Recovery today at 888-280-4763.

 

Related Reading: 

Benadryl and Xanax: A Deadly Combination
What the Bible Says About Addiction