How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System? Factors and Drug Detection Time

What Is Xanax?

Xanax is the brand name for alprazolam, a central nervous system depressant. It’s in the benzodiazepine class, which works to calm an overexcited nervous system. Xanax is used to treat generalized anxiety disorders, panic disorders, sleep disorders, muscle spasms, and seizures.

Though Xanax is widely prescribed, it’s federally classified as a Schedule IV drug under the Controlled Substances Act, which means it has medical uses but a recognized risk of misuse and dependence.

Effects of Xanax

Xanax is a depressant that boosts the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, resulting in a calm, relaxed mood. This can help with anxiety and sleep, but it also has the effect of making you feel lightheaded and less alert.

Other side effects of Xanax may include:[2]

• Irritability
• Dry mouth
• Impaired memory
• Changes in sex drive
• Constipation

Xanax also has the risk of addiction and overdose. Xanax is typically prescribed for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms, but it’s not intended for long-term use as this increases the risks of addiction and serious side effects.

Xanax Half-Life and How Long It Stays in Your System

The half-life of Xanax, or the amount of time it takes for the drug to be reduced by half, is about 11 hours, but it can range from 6-27 hours. It takes an average of four of five half-lives for the body to eliminate the drug, which means Xanax takes about 2 days to be eliminated from the body.[3]

This can vary by several factors, however, including your body mass, drug use history, organ function, age, gender, and more.

Xanax Drug Detection Timeframe

Xanax is often misused or abused recreationally for its relaxing effects. It’s included in several types of drug tests to detect illegal abuse, such as pre-employment drug screenings and drug tests used by law enforcement.

Generally, Xanax shows up in urine tests for up to 5 days with occasional use and up to a week for heavy use.[4] Saliva tests can detect Xanax use shortly after it’s taken, but it’s only detectable for about 2.5 days after the last dose.[5] Blood tests can only detect Xanax for up to 4-5 days.[6] Hair tests have much longer detection windows and may detect Xanax for up to 90 days.[7]

Do Drug Tests Look for Xanax?

You may need to take a drug test for different reasons, including pre-employment screening for a job, as part of a legal investigation, or as part of addiction treatment. Some jobs require testing for drugs that have sedative effects and may impact your ability to operate a vehicle or machinery, and these tests often include benzodiazepines like Xanax.

It’s unlikely for Xanax to be part of a drug test used for an addiction treatment program, however. Typically, people addicted to Xanax are weaned off the drug rather than expected to quit suddenly.

Drug Interactions with Xanax

Some medications affect how Xanax is processed and eliminated from the body. Xanax requires CYP3A, a liver enzyme, to process Xanax, so CYP3A inhibitor drugs can affect the body’s ability to process the drug.[8] Xanax can build up in the blood, leading to serious side effects. Some common CYP3A inhibitors include birth control pills, azole antifungal agents, cimetidine, and antidepressants. Xanax has other possible drug interactions, including isoniazid, diltiazem, and macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin and erythromycin.
There are risks to combining other substances with Xanax as well, including opioids like fentanyl, morphine, codeine, and oxycodone. Opioids are central nervous system depressants like Xanax, so combining the two can lead to severely depressed breathing and a fatal overdose.[9]

Xanax Withdrawal

Regular Xanax use can cause dependence, which is when the body becomes used to the presence of a substance. If you stop using it suddenly, withdrawal can occur. Some of the symptoms of Xanax withdrawal include:[10]

• Increased sensory perception
• Loss of the sense of smell
• Tingling
• Muscle cramps
• Brain fog
• Poor concentration
• Muscle cramps
• Muscle twitches
• Blurred vision
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Anxiety
• Insomnia

In rare cases, Xanax withdrawal can have potentially life-threatening complications like seizures, so you should never try to stop taking Xanax on your own or dramatically reduce your dose without talking to your doctor. A taper schedule is often recommended to minimize withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of complications.

Treating Xanax Addiction

Xanax is a widely prescribed benzodiazepine, but it has a risk of addiction. The best way to prevent a Xanax addiction is by taking your medication exactly as prescribed, never in higher or more frequent doses. Misusing Xanax greatly increases the risk of developing a Xanax addiction.

If you are struggling with a Xanax addiction and are concerned about a drug test or possible drug interactions, you shouldn’t quit taking it on your own. Stopping Xanax suddenly can cause serious withdrawal symptoms, especially if you’ve been taking it in high doses or for long periods.

Because of the severity of Xanax withdrawal symptoms, medical detox is often recommended to manage withdrawal and prevent potentially dangerous complications like seizures. Detox involves a medical team to monitor your health and provide medications to treat withdrawal symptoms as needed.

If you’re addicted to Xanax, you should enter an addiction treatment program once detox is complete. This is important for addressing the underlying causes of addiction and learning healthier habits and behaviors for long-term recovery. While treatment plans vary, your treatment may include behavioral therapies, individual and group counseling, and other modalities.

Take Precautions with Xanax

Xanax stays in the body for about 2 days after the last dose, but several factors can affect how long Xanax takes to be eliminated. It can show up on drug tests for longer periods and may interact with other drugs, so it’s important to take precautions until the drug has cleared your system.

If you’ve been taking Xanax for a long period or in high doses, you shouldn’t stop taking it on your own. Quitting Xanax suddenly can cause serious withdrawal symptoms, especially if you’ve developed an addiction. It’s best to seek help for Xanax addiction with a substance use disorder treatment program.