People nowadays lead a hectic life, juggling one responsibility after another and constantly racing to beat deadlines. With so many stressors surrounding us, the sad reality is that people are going through their day with anxious-driven mindsets, teetering on the line of an impending panic attack.
That’s where Xanax comes into play, a commonly prescribed drug to soothe anxiety throughout the United States. The medication comes in many forms, though people often see them as a “bar,” a long, thin pill shape containing a 2-mg dose of the drug.
Doctors highly recommend Xanax for easing anxiety and panic attacks, but despite the pivotal role it plays in relaxing patients, the drug also comes with a series of risky side effects when the person grows dependent due to frequent usage.
What Are Blue Xanax Bars, and How Do They Compare to Other Colored Xanax Bars?
Xanax is a brand name for the generic medication known as alprazolam, a type of Benzodiazepine that doctors often prescribe to patients suffering from extreme panic attacks and anxiety disorders. Seeing as it’s considered a Schedule IV controlled substance in the USA means finding any forms of Xanax beyond the pharmacy and out in the streets is illegal.
When looking at its legal forms, you can expect the brand-name Xanax bars to appear white, though generic alprazolam bars typically come in yellow, green, or blue. You can also find purple, pink, or orange Xanax pills, which usually appear round with only 1 mg of dosage for the purple pill and 0.5 mg for the pink and orange.
You can also expect most Xanax bars to have indents to make it easier for patients to break the pill apart for smaller doses, reaching up to four possible pieces when dividing the doses into 0.5 or 0.25 mg. As for the blue Xanax bars, it only contains 1 mg.
What Are the Side Effects of Xanax Bars?
Xanax is a powerful anxiolytic drug that eases panic attacks, so it’s no surprise the effects of the medication can come down in strong waves. Generally, patients prescribed with Xanax may experience the following common side effects:
- Drowsiness
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Sleep problems (insomnia)
- Memory problems
- Poor balance or coordination
- Slurred speech
- Trouble concentrating
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Increased sweating
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Upset stomach
- Blurred vision
- Appetite or weight changes
- Swelling in your hands or feet
- Muscle weakness
- Dry mouth
- Stuffy nose
- Loss of interest in sex
Seeing as Xanax bars can quickly calm anxiety, people tend to misuse the drug, resulting in a growing dependence among all age groups. People can easily abuse the medication by taking too much of the prescription drug, which can build their tolerance and require them to take higher quantities to achieve the same potency of effects.
What Happens When a Person Suddenly Stops Taking Xanax Bars?
When a patient decides to quit Xanax cold turkey, there are high chances of suffering from intense withdrawal symptoms such as the following:
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Hypersensitivity to light
- Muscle pain
- Rebound anxiety and panic attacks
- Sweating
- Tremors
Struggling with withdrawal symptoms from Xanax poses fatal risks, especially since it can also lead to a life-tng seizure for those who stop taking the drugs on the spot. With that in mind, people trying to taper off their dependence need to work with treatment programs from addiction centers to safely reduce the dosage with proper monitoring.
How to Spot Fake Blue Xanax Bars
Taking fake Xanax bars leads to greater threats since it often contains other synthetic substances mixed in with the drug, though others purely contain Xanax in lethal doses. Either way, taking fake Xanax bars can put your life at risk, so it’s important to learn how to spot the fake from the authentic medication.
With that in mind, you can tell the difference by looking at the shape. Authentic Xanax pills should appear rectangular, round, or oval-shaped, though it’s common to see rectangular versions that are either white, blue, green, or yellow. If you spot a rectangular-shaped Xanax with a different color, then it’s likely a fake.
It’s harder to identify fake Xanax bars that are either round or oval-shaped since it comes in various colors from white, peach, orange, purple, blue, and more, so it takes a keen eye to spot the counterfeit. Fortunately, tell-tale signs can help you indicate whether the Xanax bar is fake or not, such as the unevenness of its appearance, rough edges, or faded logo.
What Are the Risks of Taking Fake Xanax Bars?
Fake Xanax bars can be life-threatening in many ways, especially when you chance upon a counterfeit that is laced with a highly potent, synthetic opioid known as fentanyl. The drug is a hundred times stronger than morphine or heroin, so consuming the fake drug with uncontrolled doses can lead to dangerous side effects such as the following:
- Suppression of breathing
- Itching or hives
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Hallucinations
- Bad dreams
- Difficulty sleeping
When you suspect someone is abusing Xanax or taking fake pills, it’s best to seek immediate medical attention since both scenarios can lead to a litany of risks.
The Bottom Line
The brand-name Xanax is a handy medication that doctors often recommend for treating anxiety and panic attacks, but it’s an easy drug to abuse beyond your prescription. The dangers increase when it’s hard to tell an authentic pill from the counterfeit version often rife in the streets.
That’s why if you’re planning to buy Xanax to fill your prescription, it’s always best to purchase from reputable pharmacies. Consequently, it’s important to undergo a comprehensive addiction treatment with medical professionals to help someone taper off their dependence and avoid the detrimental effects of withdrawal.
The road to sobriety is challenging, but having the right treatment program to support your journey can make a world of difference in your progress. We can help guide you every step of the way by connecting you with the best rehab centers in multiple states in the USA.
Sources:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/018276s044,021434s006lbl.pdf
