Xanax is a powerful benzodiazepine drug that can cause an overdose when abused or used in combination with other substances. How much Xanax is too much? The signs of a Xanax overdose include extreme drowsiness, muscle weakness, slurred speech, balance issues, lightheadedness, slowed breathing and heartbeat, and coma.
Evidence Based
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Key Facts
Xanax (or alprazolam, which is its generic name) is a benzodiazepine – a class of drugs that slows down your central nervous system. It’s a rather common prescription medication for anxiety, but unfortunately, it’s also often misused.
Key Facts
Alprazolam is the most frequently prescribed benzodiazepine. In one study of prescribing rates, close to 40% of benzo prescriptions were for alprazolam.
Key Facts
Even if your doctor prescribes it, Xanax has its risks and that includes overdose. The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that nearly 11,000 Americans died from an overdose involving benzos in 2022. Xanax overdose is more likely when the drug is combined with alcohol or another substance of abuse. In fact, opioids are involved in 75% of fatal benzo overdoses.
Key Facts
While the fatality data is alarming, Xanax also contributes to hundreds of thousands of medical emergencies that aren’t fatal, and this is a concerning statistic too. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, There were over 192,000 emergency room visits related to benzodiazepines in 2023. In 71% of these cases, there were other substances involved too.
Yes, Xanax can result in overdose if you take more than prescribed (or without a prescription) or if you take it with other drugs or alcohol. Higher and more frequent doses are more likely to cause overdose.
Use of illicit benzodiazepines (particularly Xanax) is on the rise, and this carries a higher possibility of overdose. Xanax is now sold in a counterfeit form on the streets. Experts say legal pills often have sharp edges and clearly defined logos, while illicit drugs are often rough-edged and blurry. However, it can be tough to identify whether the pills you’re taking are truly safe.
This is important because your risk of overdose is much higher with counterfeit Xanax. With these pills, there’s no way to know exactly what you’re taking and in what amounts. Street pills are often cut with other substances, such as fentanyl, and they can also have irregular dosages of Xanax.
Fentanyl is an opioid that’s up to 50 times stronger than heroin. It’s nearly impossible to identify drugs that have been contaminated with fentanyl, as it looks like other drugs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than 150 people die every day from fentanyl overdoses, and many had no idea their drugs were contaminated.
Xanax is often prescribed in 250 microgram doses (0.25 mg) to 500 microgram doses (0.5 mg), which is taken three times daily. For most people, taking more than 3 mg of Xanax in a day can result in an overdose.
Keep in mind, though, that everyone’s body is different. Depending on factors like your body’s metabolism, your health and medical history, how long you’ve been taking Xanax, and more, the amount that causes an overdose could be higher or lower for you. Mixing Xanax with other drugs and alcohol can cause an overdose as well, even if you’re taking Xanax within prescription guidelines.
A person who has overdosed on Xanax or another benzodiazepine may experience symptoms like:
Dry mouth
Difficulty concentrating
Headaches
Irritability
Joint pain
Intense drowsiness
There are more severe signs of Xanax overdose to look out for as well, which include the following alprazolam toxicity signs:
Difficulty speaking or slurred speech
Respiratory issues
Jaundice
Loss of balance or coordination
Suicidal ideation
Depression
Hallucinations
Seizures
Any of these symptoms indicates a medical emergency. If you believe you or someone you know has overdosed on Xanax, call 911 immediately.
Anyone can have a Xanax overdose, but certain biological factors, such as height, age and weight, can increase the risk of overdosing on Xanax. For instance, those who are more advanced in age and have a lower BMI can overdose on smaller amounts of Xanax.
People who have liver or kidney problems are more susceptible to Xanax overdose due to the fact that the body is unable to process the drug normally, which results in Xanax building up in the body.
Nutrition and hydration levels can also impact overdose probability. Those who are dehydrated and haven’t eaten can overdose on their normal dose of Xanax.
Again, mixing Xanax with illicit drugs and alcohol can increase the risk of experiencing an overdose as well. Using Xanax with other benzodiazepine drugs and opioids can exponentially increase the risk of overdosing.
Xanax is considered a CNS (central nervous system) depressant, which slows brain activity, causing the body to relax. When taking Xanax, an individual’s internal biological processes can be slowed or compromised, including their heartbeat and respiration.
As a result, when you take too much Xanax or if you mix it with other substances that slow your CNS like alcohol or opioids, those critical processes can slow down too much, to dangerous levels. Your breathing and heartbeat can become too slow to sustain your life and this can result in a variety of health emergencies, including coma or death.
People who take too much Xanax can experience life-threatening respiratory depression. During an episode like this, brain cell damage can occur and cause long-term problems.
When people breathe very slowly (or not at all), delicate cells inside the brain are damaged. While treatment can restore normal breathing rates, the brain damage left behind can linger.
Researchers also say that some people who overdose on benzos can experience a condition called rhabdomyolysis. Damaged muscle tissues release proteins and electrolytes into the blood, causing permanent damage to the heart and kidneys. This condition can be treated but it isn’t reversible.
Xanax overdoses can be life-threatening, especially if the dose someone took has been contaminated with another substance like fentanyl. If you think someone is experiencing an overdose, your quick action could save a life.
Here’s what to do if you think someone is overdosing:
Call 911 immediately and tell the operator what drugs you think the person took, the symptoms you’re seeing, and where you are.
Administer naloxone (if you have it). This life-saving drug will reverse overdose signs caused by painkillers and fentanyl. If the person isn’t taking these drugs, naloxone won’t cause harm.
Try to keep the person awake and breathing. If you can’t awaken them, turn them on their side to prevent choking.
Stay with the person until medical help arrives.
An overdose is a sign that substance use is out of control, and you need help. A comprehensive addiction treatment program can help you to safely detox off benzodiazepines and other substances. Then, you’ll address underlying issues that led to your substance abuse in therapy. As you build a new support system in recovery, you’ll have a solid foundation for a brighter future.
The amount of Xanax it takes to overdose will vary from person to person. An excessive dose is usually considered to be 3 mg in a day (doctors typically prescribe between 0.75 mg and 1.5 mg per day). But you can overdose on less if you’re mixing Xanax with other substances like alcohol, opioids, or other benzos, or if you have other risk factors like a low weight, advanced age, or certain health problems.
Yes. While an alprazolam overdose prompts some people with a Xanax addiction to get help, for others, realizing they need help comes too late. Any Xanax overdose can be fatal, including your first one, and you can overdose the first time you take Xanax.
A teenager who is overdosing on Xanax can have symptoms such as:
-Headache
-Severe drowsiness
-Trouble with concentrating
-Dry mouth
-Pain in the joints
-Irritability
Symptoms of a severe overdose include:
-Slow or difficult breathing
-Slurred speech or trouble with speaking
-Inability to balance
-Seizures
-Jaundice or yellowed skin
-Hallucinations
-Depression or suicidal ideation
For many with a benzodiazepine addiction, an overdose is a wake up call that they need to take control of their addiction. If this is the case, your recovery could consist of one or several of these types of treatment:
If you or a loved one has an addiction to Xanax, whether or not an overdose has occurred, Boca Recovery Center offers each level of care so we can guide you through your full recovery journey.
Dr. Alison Tarlow is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the States of Florida and Pennsylvania, and a Certified Addictions Professional (CAP). She has been a practicing psychologist for over 15 years. Sh... Read More
Evidence Based
14 sources cited
Evidence Based
14 sources cited
