I thought I read somewhere it has a narcotic component in it.
Is Xanax is considered a narcotic?
Question posted by Cathleen186 on 31 Jan 2011
Last updated on 15 February 2018 by Jaydonone
8 Answers
Jaydonone
15 Feb 2018
Xanax is a Benzo.
Beepoo
30 Sep 2011
Absolutely... but it is a really good nerve pill if you have anxiety or panic attacks! They are the strongest nerve med on the market.•beepoo
arcanoidcyst16
6 Feb 2011
The term narcotic (pronounced /nɑrˈkɒtɨk/) originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with sleep-inducing properties. In the United States of America it has since become associated with opioids, commonly morphine and heroin.-Wikipedia definition.
christineATU
6 Feb 2011
So, "originally" would xanax fall in that category? It IS a psychoactive compound that can produce sleep. Very interesting. :-)
arcanoidcyst16
8 Feb 2011
yep sure would!!!
Cathleen186
8 Feb 2011
Very interesting. so this was my original question back awhile ago, and the consensus is...
arcanoidcyst16
9 Feb 2011
any drug that is or has psychoactive or sleep-inducing properties is considered an narcotic.I watch cops on tv all the time and everytime someone gets caught with huge xanax bars.They always say they are narcotics.So while some people may still disagree with me.Xanax is and always will be considered a narcotic in my book only because of it's fast-acting properties and it's SUPREMELY high potential for abuse but other benzos like valium or klonopin nahhh.They can still be addicting yes but not nowhere as near as much xanax or other short-acting benzos.That's a very confusing question like christine said.I think it all depends on the persons point of view.Some doctors i have met call them narcotics.While others i have met don't.
arcanoidcyst16
9 Feb 2011
very tricky might i add.
christineATU
9 Feb 2011
excellent research arc! It's all in the interpretation!
DzooBaby
7 Oct 2011
Narcotic is an antiquated word though. Medically most refer to either opioids, or CNS depressants, anxiolytics, to classify not narcotics. Narcotics is not used in medicine as much as it was although some Docs still use the term. Narcotics is more of a law enforcement term. I usually ask people when they ask "Is such and such med a narcotic?" what their definition of narcotic is-I didnt here though. I must have been asleep that day! lol Medically Xanax is referred to as a benzodiazepine, which is a CNS depressant, and is used as an anxiolytic.
caringsonbj
1 Feb 2011
it is a drug that is used to treat disorders such as panic attacks, anxiety and some other medical problems, It is not a narcotic instead it is a Benzodiazepine it is related to drugs like Valium, Ativan, Klonipan I hope this helps answer part of your questions
caringsonbj
1 Feb 2011
you may have heard that it is habit forming which is true, you have to use caution and follow the doctors instructions when using these medications, when use correctly they can be safe and effective when used above and beyond the dose it is something that will cause you a very difficult time because you can become addicted to medications such as these, I don't mean to seem like I am scareing you I just want you to be armed with the truth please take care, carigsonbj
tsrygley
1 Feb 2011
hey cathleen, be careful if your taking xanax it is very addictive and has nasty withdrawals that can even be dangerous if you have been on it for any length of time. but for panic attacks and anxiety it works great. so its a matter of how bad you need it and if its worth the risks. i had my doctor switch me to kolonipin its a longer lasting safer drug but very similar. its been a blessing in my life.
Cathleen186
1 Feb 2011
Thanks tsrygley. Actually I was on Klonopin for 10 years due to extreme anxiety issues. But I recently changed because as you can imagine, it was no longer effective at the dose he was prescribing and I didn't want to take more than prescribed. Then he changed me to Ativan and the Xanax is only for panic attacks, which I get rarely. Glad to hear the Klonopin is working, it was a great med for a long time.
Inactive
2 Feb 2011
My USP book lists klononipin as the same class of drug that xanax is, Systemic Benzodiazepines
Inactive
2 Feb 2011
Sorry about the spelling! klonopin, not as I said before. Arthritis is a (b)itch when trying to type!
tsrygley
5 Oct 2011
hey, ive been so busy i havent had the time i would like to lurk around the forum. just saying hello and hope your doing good.
DzooBaby
1 Feb 2011
Xanax is a benzodiazepine. It is considered a controlled substance due to its addiction potential. A schedule 3 or 4? It is not a derivative of poppies. Christine is right that many people consider any scheduled drugs narcotics. Narcotics are usually drugs made from poppies or are synthetically made to be like drugs derived from poppies. That may not be technically correct but it was the easiest way I could think of to explain. So, yes, benzo's are controlled but they are not derived from poppies or chemically related to poppies. They are a separate category of drugs.
christineATU
31 Jan 2011
Technically, opiates (or any substance derived from the poppy) are considered narcotics. But many think that any controlled substance that can cause a feeling of euphoria, are narcotics too. It really depends on the source. Sorry I couldn't help more.
Take care and keep in touch!
chri
christineATU
31 Jan 2011
Maso is right, they are classified benzodiazepines. According to the medical encyclopedia, opiates and any med containing any part of the poppy is a narcotic.
Inactive
31 Jan 2011
So you are saying or stating that benzos contain or are derived in one way or another from poppy?
christineATU
1 Feb 2011
No, not at all. It only said "a controlled substance that causes "euphoria" So I thought that since xanax is a controlled substance and CAN cause this feeling, it might fall under that definition of narcotic. But in the medical definition, only opiates fall in the narcotic class.
christineATU
1 Feb 2011
I misquoted the definition above. I will look it up again and repost. But why the thumbs down? I know it wasn't you Maso. Nor did I thumbs you down!
Inactive
1 Feb 2011
I know I did not give you a thumbs down, and do not worry I did plenty of research and everything is ok my dear friend, but the thumbs down it is too much, I would most certainly like to know out of curiosity who was the member who did it, but I believe he or she does not have the courage to come forward and explain why.
maso (and please, I know you do not worry... ok)
Inactive
1 Feb 2011
Sorry to jump in on your thread Maso and Christine, I'm the one giving the thumbs down. Only I'm not actualy doing it. My stats say I've given something like 150 thumbs down. So I started looking around the site and saw a bunch of them. As you know you can't actually see the thumbs down symbol unless you've done it. So it must be me. I contacted the site so hopefully it will be rectified soon. It all started a couple of weeks ago when my site started acting all wonky. Every time I logged on it showed more thumbs down in my stats. I couldn't find any actual thumbs down pics at first, but now I can. Like I said, I reported it. Hopefully they can take the thumbs down off or at the very least figure out why it's doing it and fix it.
Sorry. - Mel :-)
Inactive
1 Feb 2011
Thank you for you honesty and the time to explain why, do not worry everything is ok with me.
Your firend,
christineATU
1 Feb 2011
Not a problem Mel. Thanks for saying something. As to your question, I've never heard of the "blue light" so can't have any input there. Hope you get some replies from people who have tried it.
Inactive
31 Jan 2011
Xanax is not a narcotic, it is a bezodiazepine.
Please click on the link below to read more about this medication:
https://www.drugs.com/xanax.html
Take care---
Inactive
1 Feb 2011
maso, my friend,
I agree, a benzo, not a narcotic!!!
Lara
Inactive
2 Feb 2011
I agree with the others! I have a "The USP Guide to Medicines," & it confirms it is a benzodiazepines(ben-zoe-dye-AZ-e-peens) belonging to a group of meds called Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants. (that slow down the nervous system). Used to relieve nervousness, or tension, insomnia relax muscles etc.. there are about 17 different kinds listed for different things. DO READ about it if your are comtemplating taking it as a new prescribtion. I started in 1994 at 1 .5mg at bedtime to sleep for my fibromyalgia, & now have to take 3mg. to get to sleep at all!
Cathleen186
2 Feb 2011
Yes, I do have a prescription, but rarely take it. Why I thought it was a narcotic is because it makes me feel the same as when I take a narcotic. if that makes sense? I also have Ativan and Klonopin, but they don't make me feel the same as the Xanax. Thanks for your info, cathleen
Inactive
2 Feb 2011
Yeh it makes you feel calm(?); I would have to say. Too much will make you sleepy, which in my case is the answer. Relax the nerves & help shut down my ever going brain! Kind of an A type personality. Can't stop my brain from running all the time so it really helps at nite so I can sleep for 3 or 4 hours.
Cathleen186
2 Feb 2011
wow, that's not long. BTW thanks for friending me, I left you a msg. :)
Inactive
4 Feb 2011
Thanks for friending me too Got your message!
Larsy1966
6 Feb 2011
I have never tried xanax but really would like to especially after hearing you say it makes you feel better. I am on klonopin and have been for 15 years. I think if the doctor would just listen to me and stop telling me the klonopin is still working maybe I could stand the withdrawals from the suboxone better because the anxiety is what's really causing me to keep taking the 1 mg. of suboxone. I know that benzo withdrawal is also very hard but this suboxone withdrawal is the worst. I think if the xanax is helping you to stay off the opiates then you should take it and when you feel better you can slowly with the help of your doctor be weened off the xanax. Please let me know how your feeling my friend :) My hubby and I are going out for a hotdog and to ColdStone (ice cream) now. He's never been to Cold Stone so I hope he likes it because it's my favorite, lol TC Larsy1966 XX
Inactive
30 Sep 2011
Mary, do you take the full 3 mg at one time? And you take it at bed time ? Vonnie
tsrygley
30 Sep 2011
heck yes,and it gets you very quick in its hooks. this is great for panic attacks ,i use it for serious attacks maybe once a month maybe less. its not a daily drug. try koloninpin its works very,very closely as xanax does but it also is a narcotic,but time released and suited more for long term use.you can take it daily and it last for12 hours.a wonder drug for some with anxiety problems.although addictive, much safer. but make no mistake it is super powerful as well. hope i helped ,GOOD LUCK!
Inactive
30 Sep 2011
Yes, Von, I take 3mg at bedtime or I cannot fall asleep! Have worked upwards over the years from .5mg. Doc says it's ok otherwise I'd be up 24/7. Mary
Inactive
30 Sep 2011
Mary, you know how scared of meds I am. I take 2mg 1/2 at a time .5 over the day but 2 wks ago doc gave me an extra one 1mg to take if I needed it so taht would be 3mg a day I could take. so far I have not taken that extra one. He also said maybe I should take a full 1mg not just 1/2 of it. But I have not done it yet, Jay said I should try and see if it helped me. They don't make me sleepy it just makes me feel like me, but wears off fast, what do you suggest? I'm afraid of over dosing. Vonnie
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