Xanax is approved by The Food and Drug Administration to treat certain kinds of anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It can treat various symptoms of GAD, including high levels of anxiety, restlessness, and muscle tension. Xanax is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. It is in the benzodiazepine class of medications, which comprises drugs that slow down the CNS.
Xanax works by increasing the effects of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which promotes calmness and produces a relaxed feeling. The drug decreases the level of excitement in the brain to treat anxiety and panic disorders. The United States government has classified benzodiazepines, including alprazolam, as Schedule IV controlled substances in the Controlled Substances Act because of their abuse potential. This classification makes it easier for the government to track the prescription and distribution of Xanax.
People may experience the following effects from Xanax, as well as from other depressant drugs:
- anxiety relief
- easing of muscle tension
- relief from insomnia
People may notice that Xanax affects the mind. It can cause a temporary loss of memory, feelings of hostility and irritability, and disturbing or vivid dreams.
If someone takes too much Xanax, they may experience:
- shallow breathing
- clammy skin
- dilated pupils
- a weak and rapid heartbeat
- coma or death, in cases of overdose
White Xanax vs Green Xanax
Green Xanax: Green pills are similar in strength to White and Yellow Xanax bars and typically contain 2 mg of the drug. The effects of the green pills are therefore the same as those seen with yellow and white Xanax bars. Green pills are available in rectangular, oval, triangular, and round shapes, usually in doses of 2 mg to 3 mg. In the oval shape, they are known as green football Xanax with a strength of 1 mg. Other street names include green oval Xanax and green monster Xanax. Hulk Xanax is a slow-release form with lower sedation effects. The triangular green pills have a strength of 3 mg and this is the strongest dose available. In general, the green pills are considered stronger than the white ones. The price of green Xanax bars on the street varies according to demand and supply, but typically one bar costs about $6. The company called Par Pharmaceuticals distributes pale green Xanax bars. These 2-mg rectangular pills are different in that they have the imprint “S 90 3” and have two scores (instead of three).
White Xanax: these are Rectangular Bars that contain 2 mg of active alprazolam. It is important to note that the maximum dose of alprazolam is 4 mg per day, so a white Xanax bar of 2 mg is a very high dose of the drug. This form of the drug produces strong sedation within minutes of being consumed. The bar is typically marked with scores or grooves to make it easy for the user to split into smaller portions. The bar shape of alprazolam in any color (white, yellow, or green) usually contains a 2-mg dose. Because white Xanax bars have such a high strength, it is not advisable to quit them cold turkey because this can produce severe and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Each manufacturer puts its own unique imprint on the bars (for example, G 372 2 or X ANA X 2). White pills are also available in round, rectangular, oval, and triangular shapes with strength varying from 0.25 mg to 2 mg.
Do White Xanax and Green Xanax feel the same for everyone?
White Xanax and Green Xanax or other generic versions of alprazolam, do not affect everyone in the same way. How Xanax will affect you depends on several factors, including your:
- mental state at the time you take the drug
- age
- weight
- metabolism
- dosage
If you’re taking this anti-anxiety medication for the first time, it’s important to understand its side effects and potential interactions before use. Read on to learn what it should and shouldn’t feel like, and answer other commonly asked questions.
What do White Xanax and Green Xanax feel like if you’re using them recreationally?
Many people who take Xanax recreationally, or without a prescription, describe the feeling as sedating or calming. Unlike some drugs, such as cocaine, that produce a “high” or euphoric feeling, Xanax users describe feeling more relaxed, quiet, and tired. These feelings may lead to falling asleep or passing out for a few hours. Some people have also reported memory loss or blacking out and not remembering what happened for several hours. Higher doses will have stronger effects.
What if you are using White Xanax and Green Xanax to treat an anxiety or panic disorder?
If you take this medication as it’s intended, it’s commonly prescribed to treat anxiety or panic disorders, you may feel “normal” after your first dose. The sedating effect can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and calm your body’s response to the anxiety or stress.
What if you drink alcohol after taking White Xanax or Green Xanax?
Alcohol increases the effects of both White Xanax and Green Xanax and slows down how quickly your body can clear the drug from your system. If you take the medicine and then drink alcohol, you may experience extreme lethargy and prolonged memory loss. It’s advised that you avoid combining the two substances. It’s possible that the combination will lead to dangerous, even deadly side effects. These include:
- difficulty breathing
- extreme drowsiness
- confusion
- seizures
What if you combine White Xanax or Green Xanax with another drug or medication?
You should avoid combining Xanax with several other drugs due to their interactions. Xanax can interact with many medications, including some:
- oral contraceptives
- antifungals
- antidepressants
- antibiotics
- heartburn drugs
- opioids
These drugs can prevent the pathway that’s responsible for eliminating Xanax from your body from removing it as quickly as should happen. Over time, this may lead to a toxic buildup of the drug and eventually an overdose. Speak with your doctor or a pharmacist about all the medications you’re currently taking to ensure that they won’t have interaction. They can assess the risks and discuss them with you.
You should also avoid combining any type of Xanax with drugs — even over-the-counter ones that can make you sleepy, slow your breathing, or cause extreme lethargy. The compounded effects of combining these drugs may be dangerous and put you at risk for health issues or death.
What shouldn’t you feel when taking White Xanax or Green Xanax?
The effects of both Xanax should be mild, but detectable. If the drug appears to be having a significant impact on you, you should seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms to watch for include:
- extreme drowsiness
- muscle weakness
- confusion
- fainting
- loss of balance
- feeling lightheaded
You should also seek emergency medical attention if you experience signs of an allergic reaction. Signs may include swelling of the face, lips, throat, and tongue and difficulty breathing. Likewise, if you experience signs of withdrawal, you should contact your doctor immediately. Xanax is a potentially habit-forming drug, so some people may develop a dependency or addiction without realizing it.
Does the dosage change the way it affects you?
Xanax’s doses are available in milligrams (mg). They include:
0.25 mg
0.5 mg
1 mg
2 mg
The effects of Xanax become more significant as the dose increases.
Doctors generally recommend that first-time Xanax users start with the lowest possible dose. Until you know how the drug will affect you, it’s better to take less and build up to a higher dose. High doses can be fatal. This goes for everyone — from first-time users all the way up to people who’ve used Xanax for many months or years as prescribed by their doctor. You shouldn’t take a higher dose than what’s prescribed by your doctor.
High doses are also associated with a puzzling complication known as the “Rambo effect.” This unusual side effect occurs when a Xanax user begins displaying behaviors that are very unlike them. This might include aggression, promiscuity, or theft. It’s not clear why some people react this way or how to predict if it will happen to you.
How long do White Xanax and Green Xanax take to kick in?
Xanax is taken by mouth and absorbed quickly by the bloodstream. Some people may first begin experiencing the effects of Xanax within 5 to 10 minutes of taking the pill. Almost everyone will feel the effects of the drug within an hour. One of the reasons why Xanax is so effective for treating panic is that the peak impact from the dose comes quickly. Most people will experience it between one and two hours after taking their dose.
How long will the effects of White and green Xanax last?
The effects of Xanax are brief. Most people will feel the strongest impacts from the drug for two to four hours. Lingering effects or “fuzzy feelings” may stretch out beyond that for several more hours. How long it takes for the drug to impact you will depend on several factors. They include:
- your weight and metabolism
- your age
- other medications you may be taking
It’s possible to build up a tolerance to Xanax quickly. If that happens, you may begin to notice it takes longer for you to feel the sedative effects of the drug, and the feelings may wear off more quickly.
Both green and White Xanax have a half-life of around 12 hours, most users will have the drug out of their systems after 4 days. A half-life is defined as the amount of time it takes for the concentration of the drug to be reduced by 50% (in other words, after one half-life, the concentration of the drug in the body will be half of the starting dose). Urine tests can detect Xanax for up to 5-7 days after the last use. Saliva tests can detect Xanax for up to 2.5 days after the last use. Blood tests can detect Xanax for up to 1-6 days after the last use.
What does it feel like when green and White Xanax wear off?
Xanax has a half-life of about 11 hours. By that point, your body will eliminate half of the dose from your bloodstream. Everyone metabolizes medications differently, so the half-life is different from person to person. As Xanax wears off, most people will stop feeling the calm, relaxed, lethargic sensations that the drug is associated with.
If you take this medication to relieve symptoms of anxiety, like a racing heart, those symptoms may begin to return as the drug is eliminated from your system. If you don’t have these symptoms, you’ll begin to return to a “normal feeling.”
Is a Xanax comedown the same thing as withdrawal?
A Xanax comedown isn’t the same thing as withdrawal. A comedown is the letdown of high emotions following peak drug effects. Many people who take Xanax don’t report a “comedown” because Xanax doesn’t cause a “high”. However, some people may experience feelings of depression or anxiety, even if they’ve never had an issue with these conditions, as the chemicals in their brain adjust to the lack of the drug. This rebound anxiety or depression is usually temporary.
What does withdrawal feel like?
Both green and White Xanax have a high potential to be a habit-forming drug. Symptoms of withdrawal typically begin two to seven days after your last dose. They can last two to eight weeks. If you take Xanax, don’t stop it without talking to your doctor first. Some withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous. You need to follow a program with your doctor’s supervision to taper off the high doses and ultimately quit entirely.
Are Xanax bars popular with teens?
The 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that young adults were the most likely to have ever used alprazolam or the closely related drug lorazepam for non-medical purposes. The rate of abuse for those aged 18-25 (10.3%) was nearly double that for people aged 26 or over (5.7%). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Xanax is currently the tranquilizer drug most commonly used by 12th graders. Additionally, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that young adults were the most likely to have used for non-medical purposes. READ: Can I Take Xanax For Anger Management Issues
The bottom line
If you’re considering taking Green or White Xanax or are curious about its potential to help you feel less anxious, talk with your doctor.
Xanax Abuse Treatment
Upwards 47 million prescriptions for Xanax are written every year, making it the most popular psychiatric medication in the United States. These numbers contribute to the fact that up to 40% of people who take benzodiazepines like Xanax will develop an addiction to those pills. Treatment for this kind of debilitating addiction has to be two-pronged: physical and psychological. Medical detox is necessary to circumvent the hazards of benzo withdrawal and remain comfortable and safe as the body becomes accustomed to the absence of Xanax. Rehab, itself, however, is also vital for skill-building and relapse-prevention planning while learning to understand and defy core issues that may have led to addiction in the first place. SEE: Difference Between Blue and Green Xanax
