You may have heard that xanax can help with weight loss. This is true, but there are some important considerations before taking the drug for this purpose. Xanax is an anti-anxiety medication most commonly used to treat panic attacks and general anxiety disorders. It functions by increasing the availability of the chemical neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.
People who take xanax lose weight because it has a slight appetite suppressing effect and also because people who take it tend not to eat as much because they are generally less anxious and stressed.
These benefits should be weighed against potential side effects, which include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, light sensitivity, and impaired concentration, memory, and decision-making abilities. Patients should discuss these pros and cons with their doctor before beginning a course of treatment with xanax for weight loss.
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How Xanax Helps With Weight Loss
Xanax is a benzodiazepine, a class of psychoactive drugs that includes diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), and other metabolism in the liver. The liver metabolizes benzodiazepines slowly, which means that the drug stays in the body for a long time.
These drugs are known to be helpful for weight loss. They can reduce appetite, increase the amount of energy you burn at rest, and cause a decrease in insulin levels, all of which can help with weight loss. However, they also have side effects, like drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired concentration, so it’s important to be cautious when taking them.
Managing Anxiety and Stress Eating
It’s not uncommon for people who experience anxiety or stress to also suffer from disordered eating, including binge eating and other unhealthy eating behaviours. Anxiety is often accompanied by a strong desire to eat, usually for comfort, which can quickly lead to overeating. The best way to prevent this from happening when you’re taking xanax, or when you’re taking any other type of anti-anxiety medication, is to practice stress-busting techniques that don’t involve eating.
Exercising, writing, meditating, spending time with loved ones, and engaging in other activities that don’t revolve around eating can help keep you from binging when you’re feeling anxious. If you notice that you’re struggling with stress eating while taking xanax, you should talk to your doctor, who can help you come up with strategies to prevent this.
Lightheadedness and Dizziness
Some people experience lightheadedness and dizziness when they first start taking xanax, while others only experience this symptom when they increase their dosage. If you experience dizziness or lightheadedness when you take xanax, you should talk to your doctor about this. These effects usually go away as your body gets used to the medication. If they don’t, or if you notice that the effects are getting worse, you should talk to your doctor. If you experience these effects when you start taking xanax, it’s important to let your doctor know. They may be able to prescribe a different medication that has less of these side effects. Some people will experience these side effects when they first start taking xanax, but then they go away as their body gets used to the medication.
Dry Mouth and Constipation
Xanax can cause dry mouth and constipation. Sometimes this side effect goes away as your body gets used to the medication, but sometimes it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, you can try drinking more water and eating more fiber-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables. If these things don’t help, you should talk to your doctor, who may be able to prescribe medication to help with the dry mouth and/or constipation.
Discontinuing Xanax And Rebound Weight Gain
Some people experience weight gain when they discontinue taking xanax. This is known as “rebound weight gain,” and it happens because your metabolism is slowed down by the drug. Your metabolism will return to normal once you’ve stopped taking the drug, but it may take a while. You should keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you should take xanax for weight loss. If you only need to take the drug for a short time, the weight gain may not be a big deal. If you plan on taking the drug for a long time, you should work out a plan for dealing with the rebound weight gain when you discontinue treatment.
Conclusion
Xanax can be helpful for people who want to lose weight. It has a slight appetite suppressing effect and also makes people less anxious and stressed, which can cause them to eat less.
There are some important considerations before taking the drug for this purpose. It’s important to talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of taking xanax for weight loss, and to come up with ways to manage any side effects you may experience.
When used responsibly, xanax can be a helpful part of a weight loss plan.
