How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your System?

Xanax is the brand name for the generic medication alprazolam. It belongs to a group of prescription medications called benzodiazepines. It is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorders with or without fear of places or situations. Benzodiazepines work by increasing the activity of GABA. GABA is a neurotransmitter, a natural brain chemical that slows down nerve impulses in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to a sedating, calming effect.

Xanax is a Schedule IV (four) controlled substance, defined as a drug with a low potential for abuse and a low risk of dependence. Even though the risk for substance abuse and physical dependence is relatively low, abusing Xanax can still lead to serious adverse effects. In many cases, people are prescribed Xanax to treat a medical condition. Then they start to abuse Xanax due to its relaxing and euphoric sensation, which can eventually lead to Xanax addiction.

A large percentage of people who are recovering from addiction have a co-occurring disorder, a combination of substance abuse and a mental health disorder. In other words, if an individual has a mental health problem, they may self-treat with any type of medication, including narcotics. Meanwhile, substance abuse can affect the levels of brain chemicals in the brain, which can lead to mental health problems.

If you have been prescribed Xanax and are scheduled to undergo a drug test, you may be wondering how long Xanax stays in your system. Please continue reading to find out for yourself. However, as long as Xanax has been prescribed by a healthcare provider who maintains a legitimate doctor-patient relationship, there is nothing you have to be worried about.

What is a drug’s half-life?

To understand how long does Xanax stay in your system, you must first understand the term half-life. Simply put, it is the time required by the body to eliminate half the original amount of a drug. In other words, after one half-life has passed, only half of the original amount of the drug will remain in the body.

Different drugs have different half-lives. Most drugs are completely eliminated from the body after 4-5 half-lives have passed. However, drugs with a longer half-life stay in your system longer than drugs with a short half-life.

Keep in mind that different people metabolize medication differently. Age, sex, and concurrent medications are some of the major factors to be taken into consideration.

How long does Xanax stay in your system?

Xanax reaches peak blood concentration 1-2 hours after you take a dose. The effects of Xanax typically wear off in about four hours. In healthy adults, the average half-life of Xanax is 11.2 hours. The half-life of any drug is the amount of time it takes for the drug concentration to be reduced to 50 % in the body. Keep in mind that the half-life of Xanax, or any medication in general, would depend on many factors including a person’s age, weight, liver function, alcohol and smoking status, and the duration of taking Xanax.

Therefore, with an average half-life of 11.2 hours, most people eliminate a single dose of Xanax from their body in about 2 days. However, Xanax can still show up on a drug test because the test detects not only Xanax but also its metabolites (breakdown products).

Why is drug testing done?

Drug testing is done as a standard requirement for most types of employment. Drug test does not specifically detect Xanax, but also for most narcotics and stimulants. Healthcare workers are periodically required to undergo drug testing as part of the facility’s policy. Drug testing is also implemented in certain departments or areas of the facility where diversion is suspected.

Xanax is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Even if passing a drug test is a requirement for your employment, that doesn't mean you can never take this medication; as long as you are prescribed this medication by a healthcare provider.

Which drug test can detect Xanax?

A urine test can detect benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and clonazepam (Klonopin). In addition, blood tests, saliva tests, and hair tests can also detect Xanax. Here is a rough estimate of how long Xanax stays in your system and shows up on drug tests after the last dose:

Urine testing can detect Xanax for 5-7 days.
A blood test can detect Xanax for about 24 hours.
Saliva tests can detect Xanax for 2.5 days.
Hair testing can detect Xanax for 2-3 weeks. In some cases, Xanax can be found in a hair sample up to 90 days after the last dose.

Keep in mind that these are average timelines. Several factors, such as dosage, frequency of use, age, sex, weight, metabolism, liver function, potential interactions with other medications, and lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, can affect how long a drug stays in your system. For example, chronic drug use or taking higher doses of Xanax or other illicit drugs is more likely to result in a positive drug test for a longer period of time.

What is a normal benzodiazepine level in urine?

There is no normal benzodiazepine level in the urine. If a person has been prescribed Xanax, it should show up on a drug screen. If not, then the drug test should be negative for benzodiazepines.

Urine tests are most commonly used to detect benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, in a person’s system. Other drug tests such as blood tests, saliva swabs, and hair follicle analysis can also point towards drug use.

A urine drug test detects benzodiazepines and their breakdown products called metabolites. A positive test result means Xanax or its metabolites were found in the urine sample. A drug test may find that Xanax is present but not give the exact amount.

What over-the-counter drugs may test positive for benzodiazepines?

Some of the medications that can result in false positive test results on urine tests for benzodiazepines include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as tolmetin, naproxen, etodolac, fenoprofen, and oxaprozin
Antidepressants such as sertraline

Are there treatment centers for Xanax detox?

Do not attempt to stop taking Xanax suddenly without medical supervision after taking it for a long time or at high doses. Doing so can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, lethargy, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, fast heartbeat, and seizures.

If you have been taking Xanax by prescription, your doctor will tell you how to lower your Xanax dose gradually.

If you have Xanax use disorder (Xanax abuse or Xanax addiction), your medical professional can recommend a mental health treatment center for substance use disorders. These treatment-specialized facilities can supervise a safe detox process from Xanax use. Alcohol and drug detox at a treatment center is highly recommended because patients are supervised closely by a professional staff. In addition, there are different medication options used to reduce intense craving, which is a major contributing factor for relapse.

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