Driving under the influence of certain prescription substances such as Xanax can lead to charges. Even if the prescription was lawfully given you could still face expensive fines and even time in jail. If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI, then call Meltzer & Bell, P.A..

Xanax will present itself in a blood test; it will not come up in a breathe exam. Thus, if Xanax appears as a positive result on your blood sample results, you can be properly charged with a Xanax DUI.

How Do Police Detect Xanax? The only way to objectively detect the presence of a drug is by a blood or urine test. If the officer who stops and detains you has probable cause to believe you were impaired by a drug, then you may be asked to perform certain FST or field sobriety tests.

Benzodiazepines can cause drowsiness, confusion, and slowed reaction times. It is dangerous, as well as illegal, to drive while affected by benzodiazepines. If you have been prescribed benzodiazepines, you should not drive if your doctor has advised you not to, or if you experience symptoms of drowsiness or confusion.

It is legal for a person to drive in California, while on Xanax, provided that the motorist has a legal prescription for the drug and is not under the influence.

While many people depend upon them, these medications can also be abused in some circumstances. The drugs can also impact the medication user’s ability to drive a vehicle. Although taking benzos is not unlawful if you have a doctor’s prescription, arrests for driving under the influence of benzodiazepines are common.

AdultsAt first, 0.5 to 1 milligram (mg) taken in the morning once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 10 mg per day.

The half-life of Xanax is 816 hours in a healthy person, with a mean half-life of 11 hours. This is shorter than that of many other benzodiazepines.

Xanax, a brand name for alprazolam, is a powerful benzodiazepine that is only recommended for use for up to six weeks. Despite that, American physicians continue to refill prescriptions at often alarming rates.

Tips. Xanax may be taken with or without food. Avoid operating machinery, driving, or performing tasks that require mental alertness while taking Xanax. Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine.

Medicines That Might Affect Driving Some drugs that could make it dangerous to drive include: opioid pain relievers. prescription drugs for anxiety (for example, benzodiazepines) anti-seizure drugs (antiepileptic drugs)

Xanax increases levels of a brain chemical called GABA that helps calm people down. Unfortunately, Xanax use can lead to other side effects like feeling sleepy, dizzy and even cause memory loss. Long-term effects of Xanax use may include problems involving learning or focusing and permanent memory problems.

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.

When benzodiazepines are used over a short period of time as directed by a doctor, they are relatively safe. People who abuse these medications and take huge doses for long periods can experience a variety of physical health issues, including the risk of overdose.

At times, a longer-acting benzodiazepine, like Valium (diazepam), may be substituted for Xanax during detox. By keeping a small amount of a benzo in the bloodstream, drug cravings and withdrawal may be controlled for a period of time until the drug is weaned out of the system completely.

Alprazolam is an orally available benzodiazepine used predominantly for therapy of anxiety. As with most benzodiazepines, alprazolam therapy has not been associated with serum aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase elevations, and clinically apparent liver injury from alprazolam has been reported, but is very rare.

Weight Fluctuations Consistent Xanax abuse can cause both weight gain and weight loss. Sometimes, people who abuse Xanax reduce their energy output and sleep more, which can cause weight gain. Conversely, some people lose their appetite entirely. This can cause drastic weight loss instead.

Protracted Withdrawal In effect, the longer you take benzos the more your brain and body come to depend on them. When you stop taking the drug, it takes longer for your body to return to normal. For these reasons, protracted withdrawal symptoms can last up to 12 months or longer.

This drug acts on specific receptors in the brain to slow down excessive brain activity and reduce feelings of stress and panic. Xanax is effective for many people but can be dangerous if used outside of the prescribed dosage.

Get medical help right away if these rare but very serious side effects occur: yellowing eyes or skin, seizures. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.

October 28, 2019 — One lot of alprazolam, brand name Xanax, is being recalled by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. due to potential contamination that poses a risk of infection.

An SSRI works by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain, helping improve symptoms. Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine drug, which works in the central nervous system (CNS). Benzodiazepines work by increasing activity at receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter.