A urine drug test, also known as a urine drug screen or a UDS, is a painless test. It analyzes your urine for the presence of certain illegal drugs and prescription medications.
A urine drug screen, or urine drug test, can detect the presence of drugs in a person’s system. Urine screens are the most common method of drug testing. They are easy, quick, and cost-effective. They can also check for both illegal and prescription drugs.
The person provides a urine sample, and a doctor or technician analyzes it. The analysis can determine whether a person has used specific drugs in the past few days or weeks, even after the effects of the drugs have worn off.
What is Xanax?
Xanax is a brand of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine that works by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Generic Xanax is also available as the brand-name medications Xanax and Xanax XR. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Generic blue, green, and yellow Xanax are considered to be just as safe and effective as the original drug but tend to cost less.
Xanax is prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders and anxiety caused by depression. Xanax is also used to treat panic disorders with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia).
Xanax is a federally controlled substance (C-IV) because it can be abused or lead to dependence. Xanax should be kept in a safe place to prevent misuse and abuse. Selling or giving away Xanax may harm others, and is against the law. Tell your healthcare provider if you have abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.
Xanax Metabolism
Alprazolam, the active ingredient in Xanax is extensively metabolized in humans, primarily by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), to two major metabolites in the plasma:
- 4-hydroxyalprazolam
- α hydroxyalprazolam.
A benzophenone derived from alprazolam is also found in humans. Liver problems are not an expected side effect of Xanax. If you have existing liver problems, however, your body may have problems breaking down Xanax. This can lead to increased side effects, so people with liver problems may need to take a different benzodiazepine or a smaller dose of Xanax.
How Long Does Xanax Stay In Your Urine?
Alprazolam (Xanax) and its metabolites are excreted primarily in the urine. Changes in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of benzodiazepines have been reported in a variety of disease states including alcoholism, impaired hepatic function, and impaired renal function.
Xanax has a half-life of around 12 hours and urine tests can detect Xanax for up to 4-5 days after the last use for occasional users. However, if you abuse Xanax, urine tests are capable of detecting the drug for up to a week (7 days).
Using or abusing Xanax with other drugs can result in a false-positive urine test result. Studies on screenings have shown that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), sertraline (Zoloft, others), and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) oxaprozin (Daypro, others) are associated with, or possible causes of, false-positive results.
