Where Is Xanax Metabolized?
If you’ve ever taken Xanax or someone you know takes the prescription drug, you may wonder where is Xanax metabolized? Before going into the specifics of where Xanax is metabolized, the following is a brief overview of the drug.

When someone takes Xanax, there is a change in their brain function is a result, because these substances cross the blood-brain barrier and impact GABA, which is a neurotransmitter that controls communication between neurons in the central nervous system. If you experience anxiety or panic, there is likely a lot of activity firing between neurons, and Xanax calms this and creates a sedative impact while reducing symptoms of clinically-defined anxiety.
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Speak with an Intake Coordination Specialist now.352.771.2700For example, if you are a bigger person with a high percentage of body fat and you take Xanax regularly, you are likely to have some of the drug stored in your fat cells, and it could show up on a drug test such as a urinalysis for an extended period of time.
The fat solubility of Xanax is one of the many reasons physicians will usually prescribe only small, limited doses. If you take smaller doses, it’s less likely to accumulate in your fat cells.
There is something that can happen when Xanax accumulates in fat called over-sedation. This can lead to symptoms like confusion and speech problems because of the buildup of the drug in their body. It can lead to an overdose as well as symptoms like shallow breathing and low blood pressure.
In this case, the typical half-life of Xanax is anywhere from 9 to 16 hours, with an average of 12. This means that within this time period, a person would likely have metabolized and eliminated 50% of the amount of Xanax they took. If the half-life of Xanax were 12 hours, it would take around four days for all of the drug to have been eliminated from the system of the user. Some will have faster elimination times, and some slower.
For people who have problems with liver functionality, it can take longer to eliminate Xanax fully. If you have liver disease Xanax is likely to stay in your system longer than someone with completely normal liver function.
There isn’t full evidence as to whether kidney function plays a role in the elimination of Xanax, but there is some belief in the medical community that impaired renal function could also slow down the clearance of Xanax from the system of the user.
Other factors that could potentially impact how quickly Xanax is metabolized include a person’s basal metabolic rate, their urinary pH, or their body mass and height.
If you take other drugs that impact the function of certain liver enzymes, you may also see a slower rate of elimination if you were to take Xanax.
Some of the drugs that have been shown to reduce clearance time for Xanax include Ritonavir, SSIRs, and Cimetidine. If you take these and other drugs with a similar impact, it could lead to too much Xanax accumulating in your body, which could be a serious issue. There has even been some research showing oral contraceptives may play a role in how quickly the body can process and metabolize Xanax.
These are some of the reasons it’s so important to take Xanax only under the supervision of a physician, and exactly as instructed.
Have more questions about Xanax abuse?
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Your call is confidential, and there's no pressure to commit to treatment until you're ready. As a voluntary facility, we're here to help you heal -- on your terms. Our sole focus is getting you back to the healthy, sober life you deserve, and we are ready and waiting to answer your questions or concerns 24/7.
Speak with an Intake Coordination Specialist now.352.771.2700