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How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System? (Timeline)

  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Modified:
  • Reading Time: 12 minutes
  • Reviewed by: Dr. Carl Williams, Ph.D., LCADC
  • Last Update:
  • Reading Time: 12 minutes

How long does Xanax stay in your system? Understanding this is important for safe usage and effective management of its effects.

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Discontinuing the use of prescriptions, such as Xanax, could prove challenging at times. Prolonged use of a drug leads to the development of a physiological dependence on it.

Your body responds to stopping it by causing feelings of discomfort, known as withdrawal symptoms, to alert you to the fact that it needs the drug. Learning about Xanax itself is necessary to comprehend the drug’s effects and how long they might last in your body.

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Medical Uses & Schedule IV Classification

What is Xanax?

Xanax is a trademarked name for Alprazolam, a drug approved by the Drug and Food Administration for the treatment of illnesses characterized by panic and anxiety.

The medication is a moderate sedative and belongs to the benzodiazepine family of chemical compounds. Although Xanax may provide relaxing effects and alleviate anxiety, overuse of the drug can lead to dependency. It is a Schedule IV controlled substance.

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Mechanism of Action & Potential for Abuse

How Does Xanax Work?

Xanax works by increasing the brain’s levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid). It induces a state of calmness and serenity.

Such effects help those grappling with panic disorders and anxiety in attaining a sense of tranquillity, particularly when they encounter a stressful environment.

Despite the fact that the medication is typically safe when taken in accordance with a doctor’s instructions and in the recommended dosage, abuse of it is fairly common.

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Medical Uses & Indications for Xanax

What are the Uses of Xanax?

Doctors primarily prescribe Xanax for the management of panic and anxiety-related disorders. Mental health experts have found this substance to produce quick and significant effects on patients, making it one of the most commonly prescribed substances for anxiety and insomnia-related issues.

Anxiety Disorders

Xanax was made to help ease the distressing effects of various anxiety disorders. It enhances GABA’s calming properties to help induce relaxation in anxiety patients.

Panic Disorders

Xanax not only relieves various anxiety disorders but also aids in the management of panic disorders, whether or not agoraphobia—the nerves of situations or places that might make you feel powerless or embarrassed—is present.

Insomnia

While not often used as a primary treatment for insomnia, this medication may be particularly beneficial when sleeplessness combines with panic disorder or anxiety. Its calming properties may be the covert tool you need to sink into a state of sleep more quickly and maintain a period of uninterrupted sleep throughout the night.

Alcohol Withdrawal

Xanax has shown excellent efficacy in addressing symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, and irritability, particularly in the context of alcohol use disorders and the associated withdrawal syndromes. It can serve as a trustworthy aid in the effort to quit alcohol and alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal.

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Types of Drug Tests That Detect Xanax

How Can Xanax Show Up on a Drug Test?

Various drug testing procedures may be used to identify the presence of Xanax in your system. If you encounter situations requiring random drug testing, getting more knowledge about the potential places of this chemical on your test results would be advisable.

Xanax can show up in:

  • Urine tests.
  • Blood tests.
  • Salva tests.
  • Hair tests.
  • Sweat tests.

How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System?

Do not buy Xanax outside the US or on the Internet. The distribution of this substance outside the US may not fully comply with the strict regulations of the FDA, which can be dangerous. The medication you purchase online or elsewhere outside of this country might have extra ingredients that could be harmful.

The average half-life of Xanax is about 11 hours. It means it takes your body about 11 hours to eliminate at least 50% of the dose. However, this time can range between six and 27 hours. It can even be higher for someone with obesity. Below are some of these factors.

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Factors Affecting Xanax Detection Time

Many variables will affect the time it takes your body to get rid of Xanax from your system. They include your:

  • Liver function.
  • Metabolism.
  • Age.
  • Weight.
  • Dosage.
  • Level of addiction.
  • Other drugs.

Liver Function

If you are suffering from an alcoholic liver disease, your average half-life will be about 20 hours, compared to the normal 11 hours in healthy people.

Metabolism

Xanax tends to stay in the system for longer if the user has a high basal metabolic rate. Your rate of removal of the drug will be relatively higher if you have an active lifestyle and exercise regularly compared to someone with a sedentary lifestyle.

Age

An older person who is perfectly healthy has a Xanax half-life of about 16.3 hours. Thus, older people have a higher half-life compared to young people.

Weight

When you are overweight, your body will find it hard to break down Xanax. Your half-life is likely to range between 10 hours and 40. 4 hours. However, on average, obese people have a Xanax half-life of about 21.8 hours.

Dosage

The higher the dosage that your doctor prescribes, the longer it will take for the body to get rid of it.

Addiction Level

If you have been taking the drug for a long time, then its concentration in your system will also be high. In such cases, it will take longer for your body to get rid of it all.

Other Drugs

When Xanax is taken with some drugs that change how it is broken down in the body, like antibiotics or antifungal drugs (especially drugs that block CP3Z4), it may stay in the body longer. Common culprits include medications like oral contraceptives, ketoconazole, erythromycin, and nefazodone. On the flip side, substances such as carbamazepine or St. John’s wort may expedite the elimination of Xanax from your system.

However, it is different for someone who smokes. Xanax may not last in your body as long if you smoke as it would for someone who does not smoke. While smoking can expedite the elimination process, it does not mean you have to start smoking if you want to detox this drug from your system quickly.

Smoking by itself comes with its own health challenges that you wouldn’t wish to risk having. Always do what your doctor tells you, not what you blindly believe is good for you. Nonetheless, you may need to adjust how you take your Xanax prescription if you also smoke.

Exercise extreme caution with alcohol consumption. It can boost the potency and duration of Xanax, hence elevating the risk of severe adverse effects. Concurrent use of Xanax with alcohol poses significant risks; thus, it is advisable to refrain from using alcohol while on this drug.

If you have inquiries or apprehensions regarding the potential impact of these factors on you, we may discuss them to ensure your safety and comfort with your treatment plan.

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How Long Does Xanax Stay in Urine?

The urine test is the most common method of testing for Xanax in the human body. Expect Xanax to still appear in your urine test up to 96 hours (4 days) after your last use.

How Long Does Xanax Stay in Blood?

While blood tests are ordinarily only used during emergencies, they are still a viable route to determining if Xanax is present in someone’s system. Blood samples will have Xanax up to 24 hours after the most recent use.

How Long Does Xanax Stay in Saliva?

Saliva tests can pick up Xanax in your system for up to 2.5 days after your last dose. The advancement in technology is slowly shifting medics to saliva tests for drugs, as the process is more straightforward. The downside is saliva tests have low accuracy levels.

How Long Does Xanax Stay in Hair?

Hair samples are rarely used in routine screenings. However, in situations where it becomes necessary to test for Xanax in hair follicles, the test can detect the drug for up to at least three months (90 days).

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Side Effects & Treatment Options

What Are the Side Effects of Xanax?

Xanax makes it to the list of the 200 most prescribed drugs in the United States. The popularity of this drug makes it essential to understand its side effects.

The common ones are:
  • Lightheadedness.
  • Impaired balance or coordination.
  • Difficulty speaking clearly.
  • Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
  • Difficulty focusing.
  • Forgetfulness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Agitation.
  • Migraine.
  • Queasiness.
  • Throwing up.
  • Stomach discomfort.
  • Loose stools.
  • Bowel irregularity.
  • Excessive perspiration.
  • Changes in appetite or weight.
  • Swelling in the hands or feet.
  • Vision distortion.
  •  

How to Stop Taking Xanax

Treatment for Xanax use disorder can include behavioral therapies like CBT and pharmacological interventions. 

Drug Detox

A Xanax detoxification is often the first process that gives you a fighting chance for severe addictions. It occurs in a supervised environment where medical staff, mental health experts, and other staff provide medication, comfort, and moral support to help you ease the effects of withdrawal syndrome as you get rid of Xanax from your system.

A detoxification process commonly lasts between 7 and 10 days, but it largely depends on the severity of intoxication that a victim is grappling with.

Outpatient Programs (OPs)

OPs are flexible options for someone who has a mild addiction or someone who has already been through other forms of intensive care and is transitioning to a less supervised, flexible plan. You can expect to attend sessions ranging from 3 to 4 per week, each session lasting for about 4 to 6 hours.

The main advantage of this kind of care is that you get a chance to practice what you learn in the real world. The downside is that if you are not ready yet to handle triggers, the chances of relapse are also high.

Psychotherapy

Individual counseling or therapy sessions can be your gateway to internalizing the real causes of your Xanax addiction. An individual psychotherapy session will likely last for 50 minutes. Such sessions are great if you are not ready to share your struggles with Xanax in the presence of others.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

If you are grappling with both Xanax addiction and mental illnesses like depression, panic disorder, and anxiety, the dual diagnosis care may be what you need. Since substance use disorder and mental health illnesses often tend to intensify one another, treating both of them concurrently can be incredibly necessary.

Inpatient Programs

An inpatient Xanax treatment program will require you to reside at the treatment facility for the entire period of therapy. You will be under the supervision of rehab officials 24/7.

Intensive Outpatient Care

Both inpatient rehab facilities and intensive outpatient care offer high levels of support and treatment. The primary distinction is in the organization of care. In intense outpatient care, you will spend a whole day at the treatment facility participating in therapy and activities, but you will return home in the evenings. You will come back the following day for your subsequent session. 

Health Risks & Complications

What are the Risks of Misusing Xanax?

While Xanax is highly effective for managing anxiety disorders, when you do not use it as prescribed, it can pose severe health risks, including:

Addiction and Dependence

Regular misuse of this drug can result in both psychological and physical dependence. At this stage, withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that you find it very difficult to stop using the drug. The risk is that you can overdose on it, and the consequences can be fatal.

Cognitive Impairment

Cases of poor brain coordination, attention, and memory are well-documented for those who have used Xanax for a long time. There are many risks, including heightened drowsiness and lethargy, which can lead to motor coordination issues and reduced reflex responses, all of which can make you susceptible to accidents.

Respiratory Depression

Xanax can cause slow breathing, which can be life-threatening if you fail to address it promptly.

Other risks include:
  • Cardiovascular effects (abnormal heart rhythm).
  • Seizures.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, like diarrhea, which can result in profound dehydration.
  • Severe allergic reactions.
  • Anomalous neurological manifestations, including tremors, headaches, vertigo, and diplopia.
  • Psychopathological disorders, such as phobia, suicidal thoughts, and depressive disorders.
  • Liver damage.

The moment has arrived to start the initial phase of your path toward recovery from Xanax addiction. At Rolling Hills Recovery Center, our exceptional staff is here around the clock, prepared to support you or your family members during the whole therapeutic process! Don’t wait any longer—take that first step towards an amazing transformation in your life today.

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Written By:

Geoffrey Andaria

Geoffrey Andaria mental health writer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Mental Health Writer

About Author:

Geoffrey Andaria is an experienced mental health content writer and editor. With a B.A. in English and Journalism, Geoffrey is highly educated in freelance articles and research. Having taken courses on social work, Geoffrey is adamant about providing valuable and educational information to individuals affected by mental health and the disease of addiction.

Medically Reviewed By:

Dr. Carl Williams Ph.D., LCADC

Carl Williams, medical content reviewer at rolling hills recovery center
Rolling Hills Recovery Center

Expert Contributor

About Reviewer:

Dr. Williams presently serves on the board of Directors for two non-profit service organizations. He holds a Master’s degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, Philadelphia, Pa, and a Ph.D. with a concentration in Clinical Psychology from Union Institute and University. In Cincinnati, Ohio. He is licensed to practice addictions counseling in both New Jersey and Connecticut and has a pending application as a practicing Psychologist in New Jersey.

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