Xanax, a popular anti-anxiety popular used for its calming effects, is causing a noticeable number of overdoses across the country.  Xanax is one sedative in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines.  Experts cite that it’s widely misused and abused causing dismal consequences.   Quite often, the combination of opiate painkillers and benzodiazepines like Xanax is frequent in deadly overdoses.  Xanax is very addictive with a high risk for abuse and withdrawal.  Its effects are felt almost instantly but short-lived, leaving users wanting more.  As their tolerance rises, users want increasingly higher doses for the same effect.

A controversial practice is starting to emerge across the country where health care providers are cutting off prescriptions for controlled substances like opiates and benzodiazepines.  Doctors at Seven Counties Services, a mental health center in Louisville, Kentucky, have stopped writing new prescriptions for Xanax and its generic counterpart, and plan to wean their current patients off of it completely.  Dr. Hedges from Seven Counties states, “The literature strongly suggests there are lots of really good ways to treat panic and anxiety disorders without using this particular medication.  And the risk to the community, if we continue to use this medication, is very high.”

The patients tapered off of Xanax have now been turned on to clonazepam, which is a longer-acting benzodiazepine with a slower onset and a lesser risk of addiction. The eventual goal is to wean the patients off of the clonazepam as well.  Patients with severe anxiety need to learn coping mechanisms gained through cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as take an antidepressant in addition to the benzodiazepine.

Dr. Hedges claims, “We haven’t had any episodes of violence, any acting out or difficult behavior in our clinics; we tried to prepare for that, but in fact it hasn’t happened.” For the complete story, click here.