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Xanax is a prescription medication that belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs. Doctors prescribe it to treat anxiety conditions, panic attacks, and seizure disorders. While it is effective in managing these conditions, taking it long-term or in high doses can result in addiction.
On the other hand, cocaine is a stimulant drug that causes increased energy, lessened need for sleep, fast heart rate, and more. While it does have medical uses in the United States, most people who use it are buying it off of the street to experience a high.
Xanax and cocaine cause opposite effects. That said, some people like to mix them to alter the high they experience. Unfortunately, mixing Xanax and cocaine can lead to a wide variety of dangers, including mental health problems, addiction, heart complications, and life-threatening overdoses.
In this article, you will learn:
- Why do people mix Xanax and cocaine?
- What does it feel like to combine cocaine and Xanax?
- What are the dangers of mixing Xanax and cocaine?
Why Do People Mix Cocaine and Xanax?
Medical professionals use Xanax to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It is a central nervous system depressant with relaxing and calming properties. That said, the effects of Xanax may include relaxation, feelings of euphoria, lessened anxiety, slowed heart rate, decreased breathing, and more.[1]
In contrast, cocaine is considered a central nervous system stimulant. It can cause effects like increased energy, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, and a lessened need for food or sleep.[2]
If cocaine and Xanax are so different, why would someone combine them? First, someone might take Xanax to counteract the anxiety caused by a cocaine high. The effects of cocaine can be intense, making a person want to consume Xanax to calm down.
Another reason someone would mix Xanax and cocaine is to experience a different type of high. Also known as speedballing, many individuals mix “downers” and “uppers” to feel the euphoria of a CNS depressant without the fatigue and drowsiness that comes with it.
What are the Effects of Mixing Xanax and Cocaine?
Despite what most people believe, mixing Xanax and cocaine does not cancel out the effects of either drug. Taking Xanax after you’ve been high on cocaine will not calm you down, and taking cocaine after being high on Xanax will not provide you with more energy. Instead, you will experience intensified effects of each drug and new dangerous symptoms.
The side effects of mixing cocaine and Xanax include:
- Changes in heart rate
- Irritability and mood swings
- Trouble focusing or thinking clearly
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Feelings of depression or suicidal ideation
- Paranoia and delusional thinking
- Heart attack or stroke
What are the Dangers of Mixing Cocaine and Xanax?
Mixing cocaine and Xanax increases the risk of developing a substance use disorder. You are also in danger of experiencing mental health problems, heart complications, and a life-threatening overdose.
Increased Mental Health Issues
Many people who struggle with substance abuse have an underlying mental health condition. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 21.5 million people suffer from co-occurring disorders.[3]
Abusing Xanax and cocaine can exacerbate underlying mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or mood swings.
Addiction
Xanax and cocaine are both addictive drugs. Abusing them together can increase your risk of developing a substance use disorder.
The signs of cocaine and Xanax addiction include:
- Being unable to control how much cocaine and Xanax you use
- Mixing cocaine and Xanax to experience a high
- Failing to meet responsibilities at home, school, or work because of cocaine and Xanax abuse
- Experiencing urges and cravings to abuse both drugs
- Having to increase the dose of cocaine and Xanax to experience the desired effect
- Continuing to use cocaine and Xanax despite facing social problems and physical or mental health effects
- Dealing with withdrawal symptoms when you stop using cocaine and Xanax
If you have the symptoms of Xanax and cocaine addiction, you should seek help from a medical detox center and an addiction treatment program.
Heart Complications
Cocaine increases heart rate and blood pressure while Xanax lowers it. Taking them together could lead to cardiovascular complications. Taking drugs with opposite effects on the heart can cause strains, which might lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Overdose
Lastly, mixing cocaine and Xanax puts you at risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose.
If you or a loved one experiences the following symptoms, contact 911 immediately:
- Confusion or dissociation
- Feeling too hot or too cold
- High blood pressure
- Irregular breathing
- Extreme tiredness or unresponsiveness
- Losing consciousness
- Seizures and strokes
Get Connected to a Xanax and Cocaine Rehab Center
If you or a loved one suffers from cocaine and Xanax addiction, it’s time to seek help. At the Mandala Healing Center, we can provide you with the tools and support you need to recover from polysubstance abuse. Our individualized and evidence-based approaches to addiction treatment make it easier for you to achieve long-term sobriety.
Why Choose The Mandala Healing Center? Clients are taken on a journey of healing through complete immersion into evidence-based clinical modalities, multifaceted alternative therapies, and expert medical management, allowing them to fully detox and recover from drug and alcohol addictions. Through a program of care designed to encourage change, a foundation is created that allows clients to find their higher purpose and reclaim their lives.
Contact us today for more information on our cocaine and Xanax rehab program.
References:
- Medline Plus: Alprazolam
- The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): Cocaine
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Co-Occurring Disorders and Other Health Conditions
