How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your System For Drug Test? Factors That Affect Duration
People highly misuse Xanax for their own benefit, for which it is labelled as a controlled substance, and is closely monitored. Various sectors conduct drug tests as a part of their selection procedure for the job to see if the person is addicted to drugs like Xanax. If you are planning to give such tests, it’s better to know how long any drug lasts in the body so that you can prepare a plan accordingly. In this blog, we will discuss how long does Xanax stay in your system so that you can get a brief idea of the timeframe upto which this drug can be detected in various parts of the body.
Xanax
Xanax belongs to the group of Benzodiazepines and is primarily used for the treatment of anxiety disorders. This drug is the brand name for Alprazolam, which is a prescription medication and also a highly potent drug. It is a central nervous system depressant that provides calming effects to the brain. Doctors do not recommend Xanax to every individual with anxiety issues because certain factors make them ineligible for the drug. Those factors are:
- Respiratory issues
- Liver or kidney disease
- Pregnant women
- Glaucoma
- Taking certain drugs that can’t be mixed with Xanax.
Side Effects
You should always be careful while taking Xanax because this is known to cause dependency in individuals. There are also various other health risks associated with the drug that can be fatal. The risks of taking Xanax include:
- Poor memory
- Drowsiness
- Irritability
- Lightheadedness
- Chills
- Nausea
- runny nose
How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your System?
The average half-life of Xanax is considered to be 11 to 16 hours. After this time period, the drug is reduced by half in the body. In some individuals, Xanax might take longer than usual to get removed completely from the body due to various underlying factors. We will discuss all those factors and also the amount of time Xanax stays in each part of the body.
How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your Blood System?
The exact time for which Xanax stays is not fixed and differs from person to person. It takes several days for the body to be able to get rid of Xanax completely. On average, Xanax can be detected for around 4 to 5 days, even if you don’t feel the effects of this drug.
How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your Urine?
A normal urine test won’t detect the presence of Xanax in it. You have to specifically perform the test of Xanax if you want to detect its presence. It is found that Xnax can be found in the urine for around 5 days or even a week in some cases. The byproducts created in the body when Xanax breaks down are usually the ones that are detected in the urine test.
How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your System For a Saliva Test?
Xanax can be detected for up to 24 to 60 hours or 2.5 days in the saliva after last intake. This time period is not fixed and can vary from person to person. If an individual is taking a high dose of Xanax, then the drug can last even longer.
How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your System For a Hair Test?
In some cases, the hair follicles are also tested for the presence of Xanax because the particles of any drug can be found in the hair for a long time. Xanax can even be detected after 90 days of the last use. This drug gets absorbed in the hair after 5 to 10 days of use of Xanax and stays there for the longest period of time. If head hair is not available in certain cases, then Xanax can also be detected through body hair even after 12 months of last usage.
Factors Responsible For Holding Xanax Longer In The Body
Various factors contribute to making Xanax stay longer in the body. The factors like age, weight, and doses are not the same in every person, so the differences are noticed in the time period of every individual. Let’s discuss each of them in detail to understand how they contribute to delaying the process.
- Age: It is noticed that Xanax takes a much longer time to flush out of the body of older people compared to younger ones because the capacity for drug clearance gets reduced.
- Weight: The weight of an individual also matters because Xanax usually lasts longer in individuals who are obese.
- Metabolism: The drug is easily flushed out of the body of individuals with a higher metabolic rate.
- Dosage: If an individual is taking higher doses and frequently, then their body must have already become addicted to the drug, and removing the drug completely will take a lot of time.
- Formulation: The extended-release form of the drug is designed in a way to have a longer effect in the body.
Precautions
It is very important to follow certain precautions while taking a highly potent drug like Xanax to avoid any mishap that can cause harm to the body. Various steps that we must follow are:
- Keep the drug in a cool place away from direct sunlight.
- Ensure that the drug is out of reach of children and animals.
- Always check the expiry date to avoid taking expired products by mistake.
- Make sure to stick to the prescribed dose by the doctor so that you do not overdose.
- Dispose the medicine properly after use by properly wrapping it.
Alternatives
You can opt for various alternatives if you feel that xanax is not fulfilling your purpose. You can choose any one from the wide range of options available and start them after taking advice from healthcare providers.
Various alternative options for Xanax are:
Conclusion
We hope that all your queries regarding how long Xanax can be detected in different parts of the body have been solved. You can now plan your schedule accordingly before going for any procedure that requires a drug test, to be able to pass it easily. You can ask your doctor to lower the doses or submit proper proof that shows you are bound to take the drug for your condition. Do not use Xanax for any illegal purpose and never try to overdose on the drug.