How Long Does Xanax Last: Withdrawal, In Your System, And More

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How Long Can Xanax Last?

Medically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH — Written by Jacquelyn Cafasso — Updated on June 17, 2025

Timeline
Half-life
Duration factors
Withdrawal symptoms

This drug has boxed warnings. These are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Boxed warnings alert doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Taking benzodiazepines with opioid drugs increases your risk for severe sleepiness, respiratory depression, coma, and even death. Xanax shouldn’t be taken with an opioid unless there are no other available treatment options.
Using benzodiazepines, even as prescribed, can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal if you stop taking the drug suddenly. Withdrawal can be life threatening.
Taking this drug can also lead to misuse and addiction. Misuse of Xanax increases your risk of overdose and death.
Only take this drug as your doctor prescribes. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about safely taking this drug.

The amount of time it takes to feel the effects of Xanax can depend on whether or not you have a tolerance. You typically stop feeling the effects of Xanax before it fully leaves your system.

Alprazolam, more commonly known by its brand name, Xanax, is a medication indicated to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Xanax is in a class of medications known as benzodiazepines. It’s considered a mild tranquilizer.

Xanax helps to calm the nerves and induces a feeling of relaxation. In high doses, however, it has the potential to be abused and can lead to dependence. For this reason, it’s classified as a federally controlled substance (C-IV).

If you’re new to taking Xanax, you may be wondering how long the effects will last in your body, factors that might influence how long Xanax stays in your system, and what to do if you decide to stop taking it.

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How long does it take to feel the effects of Xanax?

Xanax is taken by mouth and is readily absorbed into the bloodstream. You should start feeling the effects of Xanax in under an hour. The medication reaches peak concentrations in the bloodstream in one to two hours following ingestion.

People who take Xanax will often build up a tolerance. For these people, it may take longer to feel the sedative effects of Xanax or the sedation may not feel as strong.

How long does it take for the effects of Xanax to wear off?

One way to find out how long a drug will last in the body is to measure its half-life. The half-life is the time it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body.

Xanax has an average half-life of roughly 11 hours in healthy adults. In other words, it takes 11 hours for the average healthy person to eliminate half of the dose of Xanax.

However, it’s important to note that everyone metabolizes medications differently, so the half-life will vary from person to person. Research suggests that the half-life of Xanax ranges from 6.3 to 26.9 hours, depending on the person.

It takes several half-lives to fully eliminate a drug. For most people, Xanax will fully clear their body within two to four days.

But you will stop “feeling” the sedative effects of Xanax before the drug has actually fully cleared your body. This is why you may be prescribed Xanax up to three times per day.

Factors that influence how long the effects of Xanax last

A number of factors can influence the time it takes for Xanax to clear the body. These include:

age
weight
race
metabolism
liver function
how long you’ve been taking Xanax
dosage
other medications

There’s no difference in the average half-life between men and women.

Age

The half-life of Xanax is higher in elderly people. Research suggests that the average half-life is 16.3 hours in healthy elderly people, compared to an average half-life of roughly 11 hours in younger, healthy adults.

Weight

For individuals with obesity, it may be more difficult for their bodies to break down Xanax. The half-life of Xanax in people experiencing obesity is higher than average. It ranged between 9.9 and 40.4 hours, with an average of 21.8 hours.

Ethnicity

Studies have found that the half-life of Xanax is increased by 25 percent in Asians compared to Caucasians.

Metabolism

A higher basal metabolic rate may decrease the time it takes for Xanax to leave the body. People who exercise regularly or have faster metabolisms may be able to excrete Xanax faster than people who are sedentary.

Liver function

It takes longer for people with alcoholic liver disease to break down, or metabolize, Xanax. On average, the half-life of Xanax in people with this liver problem is 19.7 hours.

Dosage

Each tablet of Xanax contains 0.25, 0.5, 1, or 2 milligrams (mg) of alprazolam. In general, higher doses will take longer for your body to fully metabolize.

The total length of time you’ve been taking Xanax will also affect how long the effects last in your body. People who have been taking Xanax on a regular basis will consistently maintain a higher concentration in their bloodstream.

It will take longer to fully eliminate all of the Xanax from your body, though you may not necessarily “feel” the sedative effects for longer because you’ve built up a tolerance to the medication.

Other medications

Xanax is cleared by your body through a pathway known as cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A). Drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 make it more difficult for your body to break down Xanax. This means that the effects of Xanax will last longer.

Medications that increase the time it takes for Xanax to leave the body include:

azole antifungal agents, including ketoconazoleand itraconazole
nefazodone (Serzone), an antidepressant
fluvoxamine,a drug used to treat obsessive-compulsivedisorder (OCD)
macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin
cimetidine (Tagamet), for heartburn
propoxyphene, an opioid pain medication
oral contraceptives (birth controlpills)

On the other hand, certain medications help to induce, or speed up the process, of CYP3A. These medications will make your body break down Xanax even faster. An example is the seizure medication carbamazepine (Tegretol) and an herbal remedy known as St. John’s wort.

Alcohol use

Alcohol and Xanax taken in combination have a synergistic effect on one another. This means that the effects of Xanax are increased if you consume alcohol.

It will take longer to clear Xanax from your body. Combining alcohol with Xanax can lead to dangerous side effects, including the possibility of a fatal overdose.

Withdrawal symptoms

You shouldn’t stop taking Xanax abruptly without consulting your doctor because you can have serious withdrawal symptoms. These may include:

mild dysphoria (feeling uneasy and restless)
an inability to sleep
muscle cramps
vomiting
sweating
tremors
convulsions
hallucinations

Instead, the dosage should be reduced gradually over time to prevent withdrawal. This is called tapering. It’s suggested that the daily dosage be decreased by no more than 0.5 mg every three days.

For panic disorders, the maximum dosage of Xanax is 10 mg per day. This can lead to severe physical and emotional dependence and make it much more difficult to taper treatment. Your doctor will help you discontinue Xanax in a careful and safe way.

Takeaway

Xanax should fully clear the body in less than four days for most healthy individuals. However, there are a number of factors that could alter the time it takes for Xanax to clear the body, including age, race, weight, and dose.

If you’ve been prescribed Xanax, make sure your doctor knows what other medications and supplements you’re taking. Only take your prescribed dose of Xanax, even if you think the medication isn’t working anymore.

High doses can cause dangerous side effects. It’s also possible to overdose on Xanax, especially if it’s taken with alcohol or in conjunction with opioid pain medications.

Although they’re prescription drugs, benzodiazepines such as Xanax have been associated with serious health issues, especially when it’s taken long term. It’s important to only stop taking Xanax under your doctor’s supervision. The withdrawal process can be dangerous without medical help.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Benzodiazepines and opioids. (2022).https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/benzodiazepines-opioids
Xanax. (2021).https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/018276s055lbl.pdf

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Medically reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH — Written by Jacquelyn Cafasso — Updated on June 17, 2025

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How long does it take to feel the effects of Xanax?

How long does it take for the effects of Xanax to wear off?

Factors that influence how long the effects of Xanax last

Age

Weight

Ethnicity

Metabolism

Liver function

Dosage

Other medications

Alcohol use

Withdrawal symptoms

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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