How Dangerous Is a Xanax Blackout?
Many prescription medications can come with side effects, and the risks of serious problems or distressing symptoms can only increase when the medicine is misused or taken in a way other than intended. Benzodiazepines have many potential side effects, and taking more than prescribed or mixing them with other substances can often lead to what is sometimes referred to as a Xanax blackout. So, what are the risks of a multi-day blackout on Xanax, and what can people do to avoid these distressing lapses of memory?
Table of contents
» What Causes a Xanax Blackout to Occur?
» How Long Do Xanax Blackouts Usually Last?
» What Are the Short- and Long-Term Risks of Xanax Overuse?
» How Can You Prevent Blackouts While Using Xanax?
» Key Takeaways on Xanax Blackout
» Resources
What Causes a Xanax Blackout to Occur?
To better understand the causes of a Xanax blackout, it’s helpful to understand what this medication is, what it’s intended for, and its possible side effects and interactions. Xanax is a brand name for alprazolam, a short-acting benzodiazepine that takes effect just 30 to 60 minutes after taking and offers anti-anxiety and sedative effects for about four to six hours.
It’s most often prescribed to address anxiety symptoms, as well as panic disorders. Like all other benzodiazepines, it’s a central nervous system depressant, meaning it slows down the user’s central nervous system, which is why it can help them feel less anxious and more sedated.
The effects of benzodiazepines include a sense of calm or euphoria, as well as drowsiness, relaxation, and reduced stress. Side effects can include:
- Headaches
- Appetite loss
- Digestive problems, such as diarrhea or constipation
- Feeling weak
- Memory loss, confusion, and blackouts
- Aggression
- Dry mouth
- Double vision
- Feeling sad or isolated
- Nausea
- Coordination problems
Combining benzodiazepines with other central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol or opioids, can significantly increase the risk of side effects like drowsiness or dizziness, as well as lowered inhibitions and difficulty concentrating or focusing. If you’re wondering why blackouts, or gaps of missing memories, can occur when taking benzodiazepines, the answer comes down to how these drugs affect the brain.
Some users can experience what is known as temporary anterograde amnesia, or the inability to form new memories, due to the way benzodiazepines interfere with how the brain forms new memories. This means that someone can be walking around or seemingly functioning normally, but will be completely unaware of what they did or said during this blackout at a later time.
Several factors can significantly increase the risk of a blackout, especially if more of the medication is taken than prescribed or if benzodiazepines are combined with other substances. Liver impairment can also affect how the body metabolizes this drug, increasing the risk of a blackout. In addition, users who are elderly or have a low body weight can be at a higher risk of blackouts due to the drug having a stronger effect on them.
How Long Do Xanax Blackouts Usually Last?
Benzodiazepines affect the user’s GABA activity, leading to reduced brain activity, sedation, and relaxation and, at higher doses, this can cause cognitive impairment and slowed brain activity that blocks out the ability to form new memories. This is why a Xanax blackout is possible, especially when someone takes a lot of the drug or combines it with other substances, such as alcohol, opioids, or other benzodiazepines. Prolonged use of the drug can also put the user at a much higher risk of blackouts that can even last for several days.
Someone who has experienced a Xanax blackout might feel like they have memory gaps, or periods of time when they can’t remember what they did or said, as well as extreme confusion. Even if the user won’t remember it, others might sense that someone who is actively experiencing a blackout like this is behaving in an unusual or risky way they normally wouldn’t, or they might pick up on the person’s clumsiness, inability to walk or stand, or slurred speech. Mood changes and altered perception of time are also likely during a blackout.
Alprazolam is a short-acting benzodiazepine, meaning it can take effect just 30 to 60 minutes after the tablet or pill is ingested. Short-acting benzodiazepines typically have a short half-life of approximately 12 hours, and their peak effects typically dissipate within four to six hours.
This means that someone who takes a normal dose of Xanax will likely feel the effects for just a matter of hours. However, if they’ve been taking this drug for an extended period of time or taken especially high dosages or combined it with another substance, they could be at risk of a multi-day blackout until the drugs metabolize entirely in the body.
What Are the Short- and Long-Term Risks of Xanax Overuse?
Overuse or misuse of benzodiazepines like Xanax can come with many risks, ranging from short-term problems to long-term risks and damage. Short-term risks include:
- Drowsiness
- Slowed reaction time
- Coordination difficulties
- Memory loss or blackouts
- Sedation
- Upset stomach, nausea, and diarrhea
- Confusion
- Appetite loss
Long-term misuse and overuse of benzodiazepines can lead to even more serious risks, such as:
- Hip Fractures: Some studies have pointed to a significantly increased risk of suffering a hip fracture in older people. One study, for example, examined more than 43,000 people and found a 2.55 times increase in those over the age of 65.
- Accidents: Being under the influence of benzodiazepines is comparable to being intoxicated by alcohol, meaning a driver is more likely to be involved in a crash.
- Cognitive Problems: While cognitive impairment, like drowsiness and slow reaction time, is a short-term effect of benzodiazepines, people who misuse the drug for a long period of time can be at a high risk of long-term problems. For example, analysis of several studies found that people who were going through withdrawal of Valium, another type of benzo, were still suffering from cognitive decline three months after they quit taking the drug.
Another risk for long-term users of benzodiazepines or people who regularly misuse the drug is withdrawal. So, what happens if you withdraw from drugs without rehab?
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Increased anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Confusion
- Delusions or hallucinations
- Paranoia
- Seizures
- Memory loss
What our customers are saying
How Can You Prevent Blackouts While Using Xanax?
The best advice to prevent a Xanax blackout is only to take this medication as prescribed—don’t take more than intended, and don’t use the drug if you aren’t prescribed it. Follow your doctor’s advice precisely, and don’t mix benzodiazepines with other drugs like alcohol or opioids. Blackouts are much more likely to happen at higher doses or if the drug is taken in a way different from intended.
By following the prescription instructions and avoiding other substances to prevent interactions, users can be much safer and less likely to suffer from serious side effects. If you or someone you love is regularly misusing a benzo or can’t quit this drug, it’s time to reach out for professional help from a program for Xanax medical detox for addiction and drug rehab.
Key Takeaways on Xanax Blackout
- Benzodiazepines affect brain activity in the user, leading to effects like sedation, reduced stress, and lowered anxiety.
- Xanax is a popular short-acting benzo that takes effect just 30 to 60 minutes after it’s taken.
- Xanax blackouts are a possible side effect due to how this drug affects areas of the brain that form new memories.
- Blackouts are much more likely if the drug is overused or misused, as well as if it’s taken with other substances.
- Comprehensive addiction treatment programs can help people overcome chronic misuse of benzodiazepines.
If you or a loved one is struggling with the effects of benzos on your life, it’s time to get help, and WhiteSands Alcohol and Drug Treatment can help. Call us at 877-855-3470 to learn how to get started today.
Resources
- Mayo Clinic – Alprazolam (Oral Route)
- WebMD – Benzodiazepine Abuse
- American Family Physician – Risks Associated with Long-Term Benzodiazepine Use
- Dr. Oracle – What Causes ‘Blacking Out’ Episodes in Patients Taking Drugs, Such as Benzodiazepines (e.g. Alprazolam) or Opioids
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
