They drug test me to make sure that i'm taking them. Well my grandmother passed away a few weeks ago, and I took a few more than I usually do. How long do they stay in your system? I'm worried they may drug test me when I go in next week.
I ran out of my xanax a week before I go back to the dr. How long do they stay in your system?
Question posted by jamieleighg on 5 Feb 2010
Last updated on 2 October 2016 by CannaLover
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5 Answers
CannaLover
3 Oct 2016
You should have called your Doctor and explained the situation. I'm sure the doctor would have understood and gave you the "okay" to increase your dosage for little bit of time. Benzodiazepines in general are odd, it's mostly 3-7 days depending on your metabolism and how often you take them. But you should never completely run out, you can have a benzodiazepines withdrawal seizure. Best of luck and just remember the more honest you are with your doctor and the more communication is always the best way to go.
xo
Rohwen
14 May 2013
Iv been taking 1mg.Xanax since 08 and recently i stopped taking them b/c they were stolen.iv always had anxiety n panic attacks but after about 3 weeks of not taking them i noticed i didnt have any panic attacks and only a few very minor anxiety attacks but it was nothing like if i was on Xanax n had anxiety.i had a urine test 25 days after my last dose n it didnt show up n my UA.on the other hand my father will take it about 3weeks b4 his UA n it shows up.i think it varies on the persons system n how it reacts to benzos
ThanksKarma
3 Aug 2011
Sorry about your loss. Xanax can stay in your system anywhere from three to eight days depending on how long you have been using that medicine. If you were prescribed Xanax or any other benzo you don't have anything to worry about because it just comes up as a benzo in the test.
andi1632
2 Aug 2012
Actually each different type of benzos will show up as what they really are if the test is being evaluated at a lab. I've been told before that xanax was in my system and another time valium was in my system and that was accurate. Also I have taken more than the recomended dose over the course of 2-4 days and then not taken them for 11-16 days and benzos have shown up on my urinalysis'. Also when I've taken them on those 2-4 day occasions in excess I had not taken any prior to those days by anywhere between 3 weeks to 20 weeks. The state of health your body is in does affect the half-life, and some of these health issues are weight, metabolism, intestinal problems (constipation) and basicly any function your body performs to naturally cleanse itself, if not at par may cause them to stay in your system longer or leave your system sooner (depending on which end of the [problem] spectrum you're on, dictates as to which way it applies).
Hope this helps some, and understand the best policy is to never take more than you're prescribed for any reason instead make an appointment with your physician and request/discuss a temporary increase, and he will give the best option/advice on handleing the above normal stresses in life.
mitjason
7 Feb 2010
According to the manufacture Xanax can have a half life of up to 26.9 hours so the drug would stay in your system for a maximum of 53.8 hours. Remember that's the maximum. The average amount of time it stays in your system is 22.4 hours. I have personally done my own study to see how long Xanax stayed in my system. I have been taking it for years and I take 2mg four times a day. I was working at a Urinalysis lab at the time and I found out that it was out of my system within 19.8 hours. I have never heard of Xanax staying in your system for more than 3 days. The second thing I would like to mention is that you should NEVER take more medication without your doctor knowing especially if you take more because of a death in your family. If someone dies that you are close to you naturally have anxiety and you should go through the grieving stages like everyone else does.
I often see people take Benzodiazepines to prevent themselves from feeling the pain which God made for a reason during a death of a close one. Go through the grieving process and don't medicate to prevent yourself from feeling it because in the end when you stop taking the medication you still have that pain and depression you first experienced when the one you loved died because you never went through the natural grieving process. Since you were already on the drug it's not that much of a problem but still you should never take more medication to compensate for a natural event in your life. You should deal with those naturally, don't block your feelings with drugs. Remember to always talk to your doctor before changing the amount of medication you are taking because you could easily become addicted if not taken as directed. I hope this helps. I'm sorry for you loss. If you still experience problems to do your loss see a Psychologist and talk to someone about it. That's much better than taking more medication. Hope this helps! Good luck to you! Please let me know how it goes and if the Xanax stayed in your system that long because I've personally never seem it in the 2 years of working for a Urinalysis lab.
Cravin
9 March 2012
No disrespect intented but even if you take your meds as perscribed you can still become addicted. If you are on an addictive medication like xanax, or opiates like oxyicontin, morphine, methadone you will become addicted if you are on them for any length of time like a maintence drug. Most doctors will taper you off by lowering your dose if they are taking you off of the drug. If you are prescribed them for say about a month then you are usually ok but I've known people who get very sick if they miss a day even when they take it as perscribed.
Cravin
9 March 2012
No disrespect intented but even if you take your meds as perscribed you can still become addicted. If you are on an addictive medication like xanax, or opiates like oxyicontin, morphine, methadone you will become addicted if you are on them for any length of time like a maintence drug. Most doctors will taper you off by lowering your dose if they are taking you off of the drug. If you are prescribed them for say about a month then you are usually ok but I've known people who get very sick if they miss a day even when they take it as perscribed.
Cravin
9 March 2012
So sorry I posted twice by mistake. I had an opiate addiction for 20 years so I've seen and been thru alot but am very happy to be clean. I went thru withdrawl cold turkey. I still have days when I crave the drug. It takes will power but gets easier as time goes by. I wish everyone who has this problem the best of luck. My best advice is that I thought that I would never feel like a normal person without my pain pills but have been perfectly fine without them and I've never been happier. Even though the pills took away my pain I was so depressed and unhappy because I knew that my addiction was wrong in so many ways. So just know this, you will be so much happier when you get clean!! Just keep pushing thru the withdrawl symptoms and know you will get there.
teal
5 Feb 2010
how many did you take,what's the dosage? alot depends on that too. however,it will show up dont worry. I know this for sure because my son (who is now in jail)was an addict,and he had to go in for drug testing ever two weeks and he thought if he stopped taking pills for a week they wouldnt find it,well they did and guess what? probation violation,off to jail,so i do know that they will still be in your system,so dont worry:)
teal
5 Feb 2010
I forgot to mention,it's dangerous taking alot at once,also,if your prescribed these,how long have you been on them,i mean,i've been on them forever,went off once and right back on,I'd really like to know how in the world you get by without them for a week? I feel my body withdrawling,when i forget a dose,per say,i went to town,forgot my meds,so basically im going on missing two doses and i get these zap feelings(hard to explain,sounds stupid i know)they dont hurt,and very shaky,nervous,et cetera,omg,its horrible,so tell me,how do you get by for a whole week?
Inactive
3 Aug 2011
There is no way I could go w/o mine for a wk. I would be in a mental hospital. Thats how bad my anxiety, panic and social disorder is! I don't take more than I'm suppose to, but I do take them as it says.
boy frm virginia
7 April 2013
I am on 2mg bars 4 times a day from goin to Iraq for 2 years and seen a lot of stuff and I really freak if I don't have them in my pocket. Probley be like that for life, hope I can take a lower dose one of these years.
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Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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