How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System?

Xanax is a majorly prescribed benzodiazepine for the management of anxiety and panic disorders. People taking Xanax regularly will have some traces of the medication in their bodies for about four days. The amount of time for which detection test screenings trace Xanax depends upon personal factors such as weight, age, and frequency of use.

Xanax stays in your body for about four days. Xanax half-life is about 11 hours, which signifies that after a time period of 11 hours, a half dose of the medicine will leave your system.

Doctors generally prescribe taking Xanax pills for treating anxiety and panic disorders. The benzodiazepine works by lowering the amount of unbalanced excitement in the brain. It slows down other functions of your body, including breathing.

It is difficult to predict the specific amount of time for which Xanax stays in your system. If the person has some medical or health issues or is over a specific age, the medication will take longer to eliminate from their body entirely.

Xanax Detection Time

People having a drug screening for the medication may be wondering how long Xanax stays in your system. The medication can be detected in your system within several hours after its last dose, and traces of it are detectable for up to four days.

Doctors usually prescribe to take Xanax every four to five hours. The medication works quickly, and its effects do not last long as other benzodiazepines. Sometimes, doctors also prescribe the extended-release form of Xanax, known as Xanax XR. These pills may take longer to clear from your system.

The medication is highly addictive, and people abusing Xanax or taking the medication in higher doses can have much longer detection windows.

How Does Xanax Affect Your Body?

Xanax effects include reduction of anxiety, calmness, and relaxation. It may also cause some mild side effects such as sleepiness, dizziness, fatigue, and headache. As the system processes the medication, Xanax’s side effects usually decrease or stop.

It is recommended to take Xanax as prescribed to reduce the severity and frequency of side effects. Benzodiazepines like Xanax can be habit-forming; mainly, this medicine is up to ten times more potent than the other members of its class.

People taking Xanax for a prolonged time period can become dependent on it as, over time, their body requires a higher dose to get the same effects. This leads to tolerance which can cause withdrawal symptoms when they stop using Xanax. Dependence can also lead to Xanax addiction. A person taking larger or frequent doses can have an increased detection time window.

Benzodiazepines like Xanax are dangerous when you take them with other central nervous system depressants, particularly opioids or alcohol. Some substances can also lengthen the detection time window of Xanax.

Tests That Detect How Long Xanax Stays In Your System

Xanax is one of the most notorious medications when it comes to substance abuse. It is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant that may lead to tolerance, dependence, overdose, and addiction. Many schools and offices require periodic screening tests to detect and prevent substance abuse. 

While most medical communities rely on urine screening, there are also other types of screening tests that can detect Xanax. Let the person conducting a drug screening test if a doctor prescribed you to take Xanax for anxiety or panic. 

Xanax is detectable in different drug screening tests that include:

• Urine screening: this test is most frequently helpful in detecting multiple substances because of its accuracy and simplicity. Urine screenings detect Xanax for one to three days after its last dose.
• Blood tests: Xanax is traceable in blood for some hours after its last use; however, these tests are expensive as well as invasive.
• Saliva swab: oral swab tests detect Xanax for up to 24-36 hours after the last dose. Many studies determine that oral testing or saliva swab may soon become the most popular way to test Xanax.
• Hair test: hair follicles can detect Xanax for up to 90 days after the last dose. These tests are more complex and are less frequently used.

Other Factors Influencing How Long Xanax Stays In Your System

When you take Xanax, your liver metabolizes the medicine to break it down into metabolites. Different people may have different effects of Xanax, depending upon their overall organ functioning and metabolism. This eventually affects how long the medicine is traceable in their system.

Personal factors affecting the detection windows of Xanax include body genetics and size. Additional factors that affect Xanax detection windows include:

• Age and Health
• Xanax Dose
• Height and Weight