Xanax Colors: A Guide to the Different Colors of Xanax Bars & Pills

Xanax is a brand name for the benzodiazepine medication alprazolam. Benzodiazepines are a class of medications used to treat anxiety, sleeplessness, and seizures.

Xanax is a short-acting benzodiazepine, so it has a relatively short half-life (the amount of time it takes for half of the medication to be removed from the body). As a result, Xanax is an excellent choice for treating anxiety disorders because it relieves symptoms quickly.

However, this same quality of Xanax also makes it addictive. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately one out of every ten people who take Xanax for anxiety will develop a drug addiction.

Xanax Colors: What Is Xanax?

Xanax bars – small, rectangular pills that can be broken up into quarters -- are the most form of Xanax. Xanax can be found in many colors, sizes, and shapes. Oval, circular, elliptical, pentagonal, and square are some of the most prevalent shapes.

In addition, you might come upon rectangular bars and pills that are long and similar in shape. Because any of these forms could include authentic or counterfeit Xanax, the best way to obtain this substance is through a valid prescription from a qualified medical source.

Rectangular, oval, and triangle pills are the three most prevalent shapes for genuine Xanax. However, the fact that pills can be purchased in various forms does not guarantee that they are genuine or can be safely consumed. In addition, the most typical color is white, and there are lines on the reverse side of the pill so that it can be broken up into smaller pieces if required.

Finally, even though it is possible to obtain prescriptions for generic versions of Xanax that are perfectly safe to use, the genuine article will typically have the name brand "Xanax" inscribed on it.

Here are some of the standard Xanax colors in the market;

Xanax Colors: White Xanax

Because they are so identical to actual Alprazolam, counterfeit white Xanax tablets can be hazardous. These pills are known as White Boys or Zannies on the streets, which are general slang terms for Xanax. White Xanax is commonly available in two forms: bars and oval pills.

Depending on the shape, the pills may or may not have the manufacturer's name and dosage printed on them.

Xanax Colors: Orange Xanax

Orange Xanax pills are often spherical or oblong in shape. The drug dosage and a stylized letter "R" are frequently imprinted on opposite sides. However, these tablets all have one thing in common: a small, linear depression along one side that allows them to be easily divided in half. When sold on the street, these tablets are called Orange Footballs or simply Footballs.

Xanax Colors: Peach Xanax

Peach Xanax, like orange Xanax, typically has an oval or oblong form. Depending on its maker, the "Y" may or may not be imprinted on the tablet beside the dosage. These tablets are commonly called Peaches or Peach Footballs on the streets.

Xanax Colors: Blue Xanax

Different sizes and styles of blue Xanax tablets are available. Not all blue Xanax pills have a score on them to make them easier to crush. The imprints of letters and numbers can be found on some, but not all, blue Xanax pills. You could hear people refer to these tablets by names like "Bars," "Totem Poles," or "Blue Footballs" on the streets.

Xanax Colors: Purple Xanax

Although purple Xanax pills do exist, oval-shaped pills are more common. The standard features are standard features of the brand name, quantity, and a cut in the pill's center. Purple Footballs or Grape Candy are common street names for these pills among drug traffickers.

Xanax Colors: Green Xanax

Generic Xanax comes in green bars and is widely available. The bars may incorporate imprints of letters or numbers in addition to the standard 3 or 4 markings used for dosage. On the streets, these Xanax might be called anything from Hulk to Monster to Green Monster to Green Planks.

Xanax Colors: Yellow Xanax

Yellow Xanax, sometimes called "Yellow Bus Xanax," is commonly sold illegally. These, like green Xanax, are always shaped like bars with several divots. You can hear the names "Yellow Boys," "Yellow Bus,"  or "Yellow Ladders" if you decide to buy these tablets on the street.

Xanax Colors: Pink Xanax

While pink Xanax pills aren't as widely available, they can still be obtained legally or illegally. Common shapes for pills like these include ovals, rounds, and rectangles. There are some with imprinted numbers and letters, but not all. Pink football is a slang term used by some drug dealers.

Xanax Colors: How to Spot Fake Xanax

Unfortunately, drug dealers have started manufacturing fake Xanax due to the drug's high demand. Fake Xanax tablets may contain dangerous ingredients; thus, it's crucial to be capable of telling them apart. 

Here are several ways to spot counterfeit Xanax:

• The tablet is blank on both sides

• The "Xanax" logo is two-dimensional and not three-dimensional at all

• The coating on the tablet is dark or powdery gray

• Fake tablets weigh more than prescribed (0.5 grams for Xanax)

• The "X" of the Xanax logo is the same size as the other letters.

• The pill will not break up easily

• Misprinted labels

• Fragmentation upon crushing (genuine Xanax is tough to crush)

Xanax Colors: How Dangerous Are Fake Xanax Pills?

The possibility of fentanyl being included in fake Xanax is the most complicated thing about it. One of the medicines most commonly adulterated with fentanyl is Xanax.

This is particularly risky since, for people without a tolerance, even a tiny dose of fentanyl can be lethal. In addition, a person should not take a Xanax bar if they suspect it is fraudulent. Because of this, getting a Xanax prescription is crucial. 

Keep an eye out for these symptoms of fentanyl overdose if you suspect someone has taken a bogus Xanax bar:

• Drowsiness

• Severe vertigo

• Reduced heart rate and hypotension

• Constricted airway

• Intense nausea and puking.

• Having a weak or feeble body

• Sharp focus.

• Dry, cold skin.

• Cyanosis causes blue nail beds and lips

• Consciousness lapse

• Coma

Xanax Colors: Symptoms Of Xanax Overdose

This drug has a maximum daily dosage of 4 mg. An overdose of Alprazolam can occur if over two bars are consumed at once. On rare occasions, a deadly Xanax overdose has been reported.

Overdosing on Xanax typically causes the drug's negative effects to become more pronounced, including lethargy, slow reflexes, vision blurring, disorientation, and twitching of the muscles. Chest discomfort, convulsions, respiratory depression, and coma are among the most dangerous outcomes of an overdose.

Physical parameters, such as body mass index and metabolic problems, will determine an individual's Xanax-safe dose. Always consult a doctor before taking Xanax bars, and remember to take them exactly as prescribed to avoid overdosing. Do not share your Xanax bars with anyone. Do not combine Xanax with other medicines, especially those that slow down your central nervous system.

Seek emergency medical attention if you or someone you know exhibits symptoms of alprazolam abuse.

Xanax Colors: Why Is Fake Xanax so Dangerous?

Counterfeit Xanax should be avoided at all costs because of the high degree of difficulty in identifying it. Many fake Alprazolam products may not even contain the real thing. There is a risk that they are laced with deadly amounts of fentanyl or another addictive narcotic. The best way to avoid buying counterfeit Xanax is to get a prescription from a legitimate doctor.

The quality of Xanax purchased illegally is impossible to determine. There are blue, white, and fakes with several imprints or none at all. Therefore, buying Xanax from unofficial sources is exceedingly dangerous.

Red Devil Xanax

One way to spot fake Xanax is if it's colored red. The term "Red Devil Xanax" comes from the fact that it is manufactured without clinical testing or even FDA approval. In addition, rectangle bars with the word "Xanax" printed on them are sometimes much stronger than the prescription form of Alprazolam because of how the name is displayed. Red Devil Xanax is extremely dangerous alone, but when mixed with alcohol or other drugs, it can be fatal.

Xanax Colors: Can Xanax Be Used Safely?

Yes. Used correctly, Xanax is effective and helps many people live normal lives. Always follow a physician’s instructions when using Xanax.

Xanax can interact harmfully with other substances. Mixing Xanax and alcohol, or Xanax and opioids, can be lethal. When combined, these drugs can fatally slow a person’s breathing. Xanax should also never be mixed with cannabis, Z-drugs (like Lunesta), muscle relaxants, or antihistamines.

Xanax Colors: Dependence on Xanax Bars and Abuse

Those who abuse Xanax bars can consume significant amounts of Alprazolam simultaneously. Between 1999 and 2015, a span of nearly two decades, fatal Xanax overdoses increased dramatically. According to a recent survey, approximately twenty percent of those who have prescriptions for Xanax are abusing the medication.

Although people between 18 and 25 have the highest rates of Xanax abuse, older people are more likely to acquire prescriptions for the drug.

Abuse occurs when an individual consumes Xanax bars without a prescription or consumes an excessive number. Abuse of Xanax raises the possibility of becoming dependent on the drug and the possibility of accidentally overdosing on it. Users who take Xanax bars consistently gradually develop a tolerance to the tranquilizing properties of the medication.

At this point, they require increasingly large doses to experience the same effects. When used repeatedly and in higher doses, the normalizing effects of Xanax bars become less effective over time as tolerance to their effects develops. This is how the effects of dependence present themselves. In addition, they will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using Xanax all of a sudden.

Xanax withdrawal could result in symptoms such as the following:

• Cloudy perception

• Headaches

• Insomnia

• Intolerance to light or sensitivity to it

• Sore muscles

• The recurrence of worrying thoughts and bouts of panic attacks – these are rebound effects

• Sweating

• Tremors

Sudden discontinuation from Xanax could lead to a potentially fatal seizure. If you want to stop using Xanax bars, weaning yourself off them gradually instead of stopping cold turkey is best. Your physician may recommend lowering your dosage gradually, starting with a decrease of 0.5 milligrams every three days.

A treatment approach for Xanax addiction often includes detoxification from Xanax. This allows Xanax to leave a person’s body in a safe and controlled fashion.

Xanax Colors Have One Thing in Common: They’re All Addictive. The Forge Recovery Center Will Help You.

When abused, Xanax can be devastating. Addiction develops very quickly with Xanax, and detoxing from Xanax can be difficult.

However, you don’t have to go through any of it alone.

With The Forge Recovery Center, you’ll have a qualified team of addiction professionals with you during every step. We’ll make sure you’re safe and comfortable when you detox from Xanax. At our drug detox, you’ll recover in a welcoming, warm, and safe space where the roots of addiction can be explored safely. Guided by a trauma-informed philosophy, The Forge will give you the resources and tools you need to build a happy life free from Xanax addiction.

If you’d like to learn more about our successful, evidence-based Xanax addiction programs, please reach out to The Forge Recovery Center today.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

July 20, 2023