Xanax Bars Addiction and Dependency

About Xanax Bars

What are Xanax Bars? It’s a question you may be asking yourself, but the answer is not always so simple. The name Xanax bars refer to the 2 mg pills which are 2-4 times the average dose that’s needed to treat anxiety. They are long rectangular pills that are stored inside a prescription bottle or blister pack. These pills can be called alprazolam or generic Xanax, depending on who manufactures them. 

More importantly, Xanax and the class of drugs they belong to can cause you to rapidly build a tolerance to them —and are dangerous when they are not taken as directed. That said, it’s important to understand what they are and how you can find help if needed. The following guide will help you to learn more about Xanax, including its side effects, how long the drug stays in your system, and more. 

What is Xanax (Alprazolam)?

XANAX is the brand name given to the drug Alprazolam, a drug belonging to the class of medications called benzodiazepines or “benzos.” Typically prescribed as an anti-anxiety medication, Xanax is the most widely prescribed of all benzodiazepines, and the drug is used as a method to alleviate anxiety and treat panic disorders. Unfortunately, it has also become one of the most misused prescription drugs on the market, infiltrating homes and communities with little regard to race, age, gender, creed, or color. 

Originally released by the Upjohn Company in 1981, Xanax was a viable alternative to another benzodiazepine Valium which, until Xanax hit the market, had been the most popular prescription drug in America. The Upjohn Company (which today is a part of Pfizer) had filed for the patent for Xanax in 1969 and it was granted in 1976. However, it wasn’t until the U.S. FDA approved alprazolam in 1981 that the drug cornered the market and gained traction as a Schedule IV narcotic.

What Does Xanax Look Like?

If you are unfamiliar with Xanax, when you hear the term “Xanax bars,” you might be tempted to think that it’s something that is rectangular-shaped like a chocolate bar or energy bar. However, that’s not always the case, and they can come in different shapes and color designations that are mainly dependent on the dosage. 

To explain, 2 mg Xanax pills are white, elongated, and marked with three lines on one side to indicate where to break them. On one side, the word “XANAX” is imprinted on it. The other side has “2” to stand for 2 mg on the other side. Street slang for this pill is known as “Xanax cookie.” 

And while the Xanax cookie IS bar-shaped, they can also be oblong, triangular, elliptical, etc, depending on dosages and on the manufacturer. 

Street Name Used for Xanax Bars & Alprazolam

As it has become more and more popular, nicknames for Xanax bars have also emerged. You’ve learned about the name Xanax cookie here, but street names for Xanax bars also include “zanie-bars,” “zanzibars,” “z-bars,” “bars”, “planks” and “bricks,” to name a few. 

What Are The Effects of Xanax

When taken as directed (which should always be done under the supervision of a qualified physician), alprazolam can cause drowsiness and relieve insomnia. In addition, Xanax is intended to treat anxiety and other mood disorders, so it will make you feel calmer. Patients who are taking prescribed Xanax have also reported feeling more comfortable and tired.

Unlike other drugs like cocaine or heroin that give you a “high” or euphoric feeling, individuals who use Xanax recreationally say it makes them feel relaxed. Feelings associated with Xanax are what lead to addiction, as people want to experience these “warm, fuzzy” feelings all of the time.

Knowing the Dangers of Xanax Bars

While there are individuals who take Xanax recreationally, addiction usually happens by accident. Many addictions begin as a result of doctors’ prescriptions. Nonetheless, whether misused for medical or non-medical purposes, one’s tolerance level will increase rapidly and the effects will become more powerful. 

When misused, Xanax is capable of producing strong sedation and can lead to a lethargic state. At higher levels, this causes a person to suddenly feel as if they are extremely sleep-deprived and need to fight to stay awake. 

This sleep deprivation increases proportionally to dosage and eventually becomes powerful enough to force the individual into a deep state of unconsciousness. This is usually preceded by loss of motor skills and coordination with the effect ranging from motor impairment and difficulty moving at lower doses to complete lethargy or inability to stand up or move at high doses. 

When mixed with alcohol, Alprazolam (as with other benzos) usually leads to memory loss or dangerous “blackouts”.

How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your System?

Since Xanax has a half-life of around 12 hours, most people 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.

The Many Colors of Xanax 

Xanax, which is the name brand of alprazolam manufactured by Pfizer, comes in several different strengths. The term “Xanax bars” usually refers to the 2-milligram-strength tablets of the drug; these are white and rectangular tablets imprinted with the word “XANAX” on one side and the number “2” on the other side. These pills are scored (indented) in three places so that one pill can be broken into four 0.25-mg pieces.

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) and can be broken into three equal 0.66 doses.

A Yellow version of the drug is manufactured by Actavis Pharma. These particular 2-mg tablets are often referred to as “school buses” on the street.

As is apparent, different manufacturers use different colors for their formulations. The lowest dose of alprazolam is 0.25 mg, and it usually comes as an oblong white pill that is scored down the middle. The highest-strength dose of Xanax, however, is a 3-mg extended-release tablet. Unlike others, this pill is triangular (not bar-shaped) and green. Manufacturers often give their medications different shapes and colors in an attempt to make them seem separate or unique.

Familiarizing yourself with the various colors and strengths can be useful in identifying suspected alprazolam addiction in a loved one.

By prescription, alprazolam (Xanax) is available as a: