Author: Charles Frank

Alprazolam Oral Route Side Effects

can benzos cause constipation

Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss…from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. It’s frustrating when you feel the urge to move your bowels but can’t seem to go. Before blaming your diet, consider whether medication side effects are causing your constipation.

Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. Together, these four drugs make up 99% of benzodiazepine prescriptions. Tell your doctor if you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed before starting Xanax. They can talk with you about the benefits and risks, and help you determine the best way to feed your baby. If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Xanax, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Why This Might Explain Benzo Belly

For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Xanax belongs to a group of drugs called benzodiazepines, which have a boxed warning for the risk of misuse and addiction. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before your doctor prescribes a benzodiazepine such as Xanax, they’ll assess your risk of misuse and addiction.

They can guide you on what you can do to take your medications as prescribed and stay safe at the same time. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you don’t work or drive right after you start taking benzodiazepines. You may be able to work or drive after you start taking them, depending on how these drugs affect you, the dose you take, how long the drugs last and other factors. One benzodiazepine that’s noteworthy — even though it’s not approved (and illegal) in the United States — is flunitrazepam. This drug is best known as Rohypnol (or by the slang term “roofies”), and it’s infamous for its use as a “date rape” drug.

can benzos cause constipation

And since Xanax is recommended as a short-term treatment, changes in weight may be resolved after you stop taking the drug. Not only do you benefit from constant supervision from clinical staff, you’re ensured a safe, comfortable place to undergo withdrawal from a variety of addictive substances. If you develop any unusual and strange thoughts or behavior while you are taking alprazolam, be sure to discuss it with your doctor.

Xanax may not be safe to take during pregnancy, depending on how far along the pregnancy is. Babies born to people who took benzodiazepines such as Xanax in the later stages of pregnancy have experienced withdrawal symptoms and extreme drowsiness. This is called neonatal sedation and withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).

Risk of withdrawal and dependence

Your doctor will prescribe Xanax at the lowest dose and for the shortest amount of time that’s effective for treating your condition. Once you stop taking Xanax, any side effects you may have had from the drug should go away. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. Before your doctor prescribes Xanax for you, they’ll evaluate your risk for misuse and addiction.

  1. It’s illegal to have or obtain them (depending on the laws where you are) if you don’t have a prescription.
  2. Misusing Xanax can cause addiction, overdose, and possibly death.
  3. Babies born to people who took benzodiazepines such as Xanax in the later stages of pregnancy have experienced withdrawal symptoms and extreme drowsiness.
  4. This drug is best known as Rohypnol (or by the slang term “roofies”), and it’s infamous for its use as a “date rape” drug.
  5. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy, or are not alert or able to see well.

These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care. Overdoses can occur when taking Xanax alone, but they commonly occur when people combine Xanax with alcohol. Combining Xanax with other medications and illegal substances can also increase the risk of overdose.

Possible Scientific Explanations for Benzo Belly Pain

“That can be caused by natural aging, or by a defect you might have been able to compensate for when you were younger, but can’t now that you’re older,” says Dr. Kuo. If you or a loved one is currently struggling with prescription benzo abuse, it’s never a bad time to ask for help. To learn about all your options for recovery services, contact FHE Health today. A theory that’s becoming more prominent in the scientific community explores the connection between the stomach, the GI tract and the brain. It can be demonstrated through the concept of having a “gut feeling.” This is the sensation you sometimes get in your stomach about what’s right or wrong.

How Can You Get Rid of Benzo Belly?

Withdrawal from benzodiazepines will feel physically and psychologically uncomfortable, but it’s rarely lethal. When you’re being weaned off benzos, your health care provider will monitor your symptoms and provide you with a general timeline for recovery. The first few days, known as the acute withdrawal phase, will be the toughest. Anxiety, abdominal distress and insomnia tend to present at the same time, and you’ll want external support from friends and loved ones to make it through. Benzodiazepines are a class of medications that slow down activity in your brain and nervous system.

Keep in mind, these may alleviate the symptoms of bloating but likely won’t completely treat the source of the condition. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

More Questions about Treatment?

With misuse, a drug is taken in a way other than how it’s been prescribed. This may include taking tablets more often or taking a higher dose than prescribed. In the case of Xanax, combining it with other substances such as alcohol is another way it can be misused. Doctors report an increase in deaths among people with severe breathing problems who were taking Xanax. If you have severe breathing problems and take Xanax, your doctor will need to monitor you closely for worsening of this condition.

(This is known as a drug-condition interaction.) Other factors may also affect whether Xanax is a good treatment option for you. During your Xanax treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. This is especially helpful when you first start taking a new drug or using a combination of treatments. Some people report an increased sex drive, but others report a decrease. The kinds of side effects you can have may vary depending on the condition you’re using Xanax to treat.

These symptoms are more acute, meaning that benzo belly symptoms can last much longer than these initial side effects, so it doesn’t seem like there’s a strong link between these factors. Over time, abuse of benzos can change your personality and emotional responses to situations. Long-term users can become aggressive and paranoid and suffer from depression. Physical functioning can also be affected, with side effects such as slurred speech and cognitive impairment.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Xanax, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Xanax may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Xanax unless your doctor recommends it. While usually prescribed short term, your doctor will determine how long you’ll need to take Xanax.