How much Xanax is too much?

Too much Xanax can cause you to overdose on Xanax, but only very high doses of Xanax are too much for you. More on Xanax overdose and safe dosing here.

3
minute read

In general, it is difficult to take too much Xanax. In fact, minor toxicity occurs at 1000 times the normal dose. Plus, because the Xanax high does not occur for many people, Xanax abuse and accompanying dangers is relatively low. In this article, we’ll look at the safe amounts of Xanax and how much Xanax it takes to overdose. Your questions about Xanax use and too much Xanax are welcomed at the end.

Xanax strengths

Xanax is an anti-anxiety medication used to treat panic and mood disorders. Xanax is available as both an immediate release and extended release tablet. Xanax comes in 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 2 mg doses.

How much Xanax is safe?

The recommended daily dose of Xanax is 0.75 to 1.5 mg throughout the day. It’s hard to overdose on Xanax, but Xanax overdose is possible, usually in combination with other drugs. People have been reported taking doses of up to 2000 mg and experiencing only minor toxicity. That’s about 1333 times the typical recommended daily dose. So Xanax is incredibly safe and very difficult to overdose on if taken by itself.

Note here that you can develop a tolerance to Xanax and eventual dependence or addiction, but doctors usually don’t prescribe Xanax for more than a couple of months due to its habit-forming properties. Xanax use shouldn’t be a problem if it’s used only as-needed for panic attacks or at a low daily dose for a short periods of time.  Plus, snorting Xanax bars is not safe.  Furthermore,  mixing Xanax and alcohol is not safe and can cause alcohol poisoning.

How much Xanax can you take at once?

Only up to 2mg of Xanax should be taken at one time, and that’s only in someone with a tolerance for the medication. Taking Xanax in large quantities to “get high” can cause adverse side effects even if it’s not medically dangerous. Snorting Xanax or taking Xanax to get high can also impair your balance, judgment, and alertness, putting you at risk for accidents. Additionally, taking high doses of Xanax puts you at risk of withdrawal seizures as well.

How much Xanax to overdose?

Again, at over 1000 times the normal dose, Xanax usually only causes minor symptoms. It’s very difficult to overdose just by taking Xanax pills. However, when combined with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants, it becomes much easier to overdose on Xanax, and can even be fatal. In fact, it’s dangerous to mix Xanax and alcohol at all, even in small amounts.

Toxic levels of Xanax in the system

You can overdose on Xanax by taking Xanax bars orally. But it’s much easier to overdose on Xanax by taking it in ways other than prescribed. Crushing the Xanax and snorting it, or dissolving it in water and injecting it, significantly increases your risk of overdose.

How much Xanax is fatal?

How much Xanax is fatal depends on the situation. Again, relatively low doses of Xanax can be fatal if combined with alcohol, narcotics, or other CNS depressing medications. But Xanax very rarely causes death in otherwise health individuals when it’s taken alone, even at enormous doses. But the side effects of Xanax abuse can include terrible withdrawal symptoms and addiction, so it’s still a bad idea to take high doses of Xanax recreationally.

How much Xanax should I take?

You should take the amount of Xanax prescribed to you by your doctor. Never take more than recommended by a medical professional, and only take this oral medication as directed.

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Too much Xanax questions

You can also learn more about Xanax (alprazolam) addiction, available treatment options, and what you can do to help an addicted loved one in our alprazolam addiction treatment programs and help GUIDE and be better prepared when it’s time to take matters into hands.

Do you have questions about taking too much Xanax? Please leave your questions, comments, or experiences here. We try to respond to all comments with a personal and prompt reply. And if we can’t answer your Xanax questions, we will refer you to someone who can.

Reference Sources: Medline Plus: Alprazolam
PubChem: Alprazolam

ToxNet: Alprazolam
About the author
Lee Weber is a published author, medical writer, and woman in long-term recovery from addiction. Her latest book, The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions is set to reach university bookstores in early 2019.
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