4 Reasons Why Xanax Is More Potent Than You Think
If you’re taking Xanax for anxiety, you may be wondering: how much is too much?
You might be thinking: “Xanax? Potent? That’s a joke, right?” Well, not exactly. Yes, Xanax is a prescription drug and is used to treat anxiety disorders, but it is also one of the most potent medications available.
The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems. The effects of Xanax vary from person to person, and there are several factors that can affect how much of the drug actually reaches your bloodstream.
Xanax is a medication used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It’s also well-known for its ability to help people sleep, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as a “happy pill.” However, many people don’t know that there are three reasons why Xanax is more potent than you think.
It Has a High Potency Ratio
The potency ratio measures how strong a drug is relative to its dosage. For example, when you take a small dose of an opioid like heroin or OxyContin, it will have a greater effect on your body than if you took the same amount of another opioid—because it has a higher potency ratio.
The potency ratio can also be used to compare different drugs—like comparing different opioids or comparing an opioid with Xanax. The higher the potency ratio, the more potent the drug is—and therefore, more addictive! Xanax has an extremely high potency ratio and therefore has an extremely high potential for abuse and addiction compared with other medications with similar functions (such as Valium).
It’s Highly Addictive
Xanax is highly addictive because it affects the same brain receptors as other drugs of abuse, such as heroin and cocaine. When someone takes Xanax for the first time, their brain will release dopamine—the chemical responsible for feelings of pleasure—and they may experience euphoria. This feeling can make them want to take more Xanax in the future in order to experience those same feelings again.
It has a short half-life
The half-life of a drug refers to how long it takes for half of the amount of a drug in your body to be eliminated by your body’s natural processes (such as metabolism). The shorter the half-life, the more frequent you need to take it in order to maintain its effectiveness over time.
For example, if you took 100 mg of Adderall daily with an 18-hour half-life (which would mean that 50 mg would still be active after 18 hours), then you’d need to take 100 mg every 6 hours in order for it to continue being effective throughout each day (2 doses per day).
It Can Cause Physical Dependency
If you take Xanax regularly over an extended period of time, your body will become dependent on it in order to function normally. If you stop using Xanax suddenly after becoming physically dependent on it, withdrawal symptoms may occur such as nausea, vomiting and muscle aches because these symptoms mimic those of alcohol withdrawal syndrome or opiate withdrawal syndrome but without any physical dependence upon alcohol or other drugs.