Hey fear not,
I certainly know how nerve-wrenching it can be to "depend" on a med. I never took xanax er, but from the other posts I've read it is longer acting, thus safer (less likely for your body to become habituated).
To answer your question, YES, I do believe that there is a safe and COMFORTABLE way to taper off anti-anxiety Rx. I've found a program at <A HREF="http://www.theroadback.org" TARGET=_blank>www.theroadback.org</A> that I will start as soon as I can get rid of my acid reflux. Many mainstream physicians use a three day reduction, and this is UNSAFE! I've experienced it (pretty much had a nervous breakdown), and Mayo clinic agrees. So, when you're ready, find a taper program and take it to your dr. You've already been on the meds for two (?) years (I've been on for 8+), what's a few months to taper off comfortably so you can STAY off them?!
Oh, another reason I'm waiting is because I truly feel this program is helping to teach me skills to deal with stress. I really want these skils to come second nature before I begin to taper.
Best wishes and blessings,
fischee
opps, guess I was a bit redundant- sorry everyone!
Question about Xanax
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I was on paxil from 2000 up until a couple months ago. I started at 10mg per day. Then my anxiety decided to take a turn for the worst, so they had to up my dose. At one point I was taking 60mg of paxil, 3mg of kolonopin and 2mg of xanax. I was a walking zombie (if i was awake) I was constantly sleeping. And being on all of that medication made me lose my appetite. So I wasn't eating. Here I was a whole 98 pounds and I was taking enough medication for 3 people. I switched psychiatrists because I swore that this one was out to kill me lol. And as soon as I switched, my new doctor IMMEDIATELY took me from 60mg of paxil down to 40mg. From 3mg of kolonopin, down to 1.5. And kept the xanax as needed. I felt 100 times better. Just recently, I decided to talk to my doctor about switching me from paxil to zoloft. After being on paxil for 8 years, my body buitl up a tolerance for it. So now...after all this time, I'm on 50mg of zoloft. And .5mg of kolonopin twice a day!
lisa,
i do see a big benefit from it...also less stress since we moved from virginia in oct 2004, got married in 2005 and then in 2006 the panic and anxiety and agrophobia that i was diagnosed with went away. not all of it like others said..but i can do things that wasnot possible before..
us with a chemical imbalance needs something and i found that meds along with my FAITH IN GOD .gets me through all things..i have a request if i may ask of all of you..the middle of next month we my wife and i are going on a mission trip to orland flordia for 10 days..this will be to fix things that needs to be fixed and also to SPREAD GODS WORD..
on the 21st of july -1 aug i will be going to brazil for 12 days with our church group. there will be 12 of us..please pray that GOD WILL PROTECT US AND REACH OUT TO OTHERS THAT DO NOT KNOW HIM..for those of you who need more info please email me at doninva23605@yahoo.com
if you would like to plant a seed and watch it grow let me know as well..i have to get the funds to go and i know that HE WILL PROVIDE. i hope that this was ok to put in here.
ON a good note...I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.had i not gone through the program in 2003..thanks for lucindas and carolyn and all of them and with GODS help as well..know that you can get through anything..take care and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and GOD BLESS..
DON
i do see a big benefit from it...also less stress since we moved from virginia in oct 2004, got married in 2005 and then in 2006 the panic and anxiety and agrophobia that i was diagnosed with went away. not all of it like others said..but i can do things that wasnot possible before..
us with a chemical imbalance needs something and i found that meds along with my FAITH IN GOD .gets me through all things..i have a request if i may ask of all of you..the middle of next month we my wife and i are going on a mission trip to orland flordia for 10 days..this will be to fix things that needs to be fixed and also to SPREAD GODS WORD..
on the 21st of july -1 aug i will be going to brazil for 12 days with our church group. there will be 12 of us..please pray that GOD WILL PROTECT US AND REACH OUT TO OTHERS THAT DO NOT KNOW HIM..for those of you who need more info please email me at doninva23605@yahoo.com
if you would like to plant a seed and watch it grow let me know as well..i have to get the funds to go and i know that HE WILL PROVIDE. i hope that this was ok to put in here.
ON a good note...I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.had i not gone through the program in 2003..thanks for lucindas and carolyn and all of them and with GODS help as well..know that you can get through anything..take care and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers and GOD BLESS..
DON
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Re: Xanax
I took Xanax for over twenty years! It saved me and enabled me to have a wonderful career in the aviation industry. However - I took a nose dive after early retiring from work. Without all the interesting things I was working on, I started having chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, feeling of doom, etc.
I started seeing a psychologist which helped, and he sent me to a psychiatrist who also helped. They both told me I should get off of Xanax because it was habit forming. As you can imagine it seemed to be the one thing that helped me before and I was afraid of not taking it. The psychiatrist weaned me off xanax by replacing it with Wellbutrin XR and Effexor SR and Clonasapam. I had a few days which were bad, and many many nights when I couldn't sleep.
I am still on the same meds 3 years later, and my psychiatrist is keeping me stable on the dosage now. I am comfortable most of the time, although I perspire like crazy, breathe fast, and have negative thoughts still. I have learned to say STOP!!! Think about my negative thinking and breathe properly. I have kept it under control now for 5 weeks with the help of the Program!
Because my anxiety and depression started when I was very little (I realized this doing my homework assignment in Lesson 4) I will probably have to remain on a small dose of some med for the rest of my life according to my psychiatrist.
IMPORTANT: My psychiatrist told me yesterday that Xanax is like a bandaid or an aspirin for a headache. It helps anxiety and panic extremely well BUT it will not "cure" it or make it go away. It will make you more comfortable while you work on Lucinda's program, go to therapy or otherwise work on your problems, but ultimately YOU will have to do the work to overcome anxiety, panic and depression.
I wish there was a "magic" pill that would take all this away, but there isn't. Xanax is probably the closest we'll get, and really what it does is numb you so it won't hurt so much!
Good Luck To All
I took Xanax for over twenty years! It saved me and enabled me to have a wonderful career in the aviation industry. However - I took a nose dive after early retiring from work. Without all the interesting things I was working on, I started having chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, feeling of doom, etc.
I started seeing a psychologist which helped, and he sent me to a psychiatrist who also helped. They both told me I should get off of Xanax because it was habit forming. As you can imagine it seemed to be the one thing that helped me before and I was afraid of not taking it. The psychiatrist weaned me off xanax by replacing it with Wellbutrin XR and Effexor SR and Clonasapam. I had a few days which were bad, and many many nights when I couldn't sleep.
I am still on the same meds 3 years later, and my psychiatrist is keeping me stable on the dosage now. I am comfortable most of the time, although I perspire like crazy, breathe fast, and have negative thoughts still. I have learned to say STOP!!! Think about my negative thinking and breathe properly. I have kept it under control now for 5 weeks with the help of the Program!
Because my anxiety and depression started when I was very little (I realized this doing my homework assignment in Lesson 4) I will probably have to remain on a small dose of some med for the rest of my life according to my psychiatrist.
IMPORTANT: My psychiatrist told me yesterday that Xanax is like a bandaid or an aspirin for a headache. It helps anxiety and panic extremely well BUT it will not "cure" it or make it go away. It will make you more comfortable while you work on Lucinda's program, go to therapy or otherwise work on your problems, but ultimately YOU will have to do the work to overcome anxiety, panic and depression.
I wish there was a "magic" pill that would take all this away, but there isn't. Xanax is probably the closest we'll get, and really what it does is numb you so it won't hurt so much!
Good Luck To All
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I am taking Xanax XR 0.5 mg for 3 months now and also have 0.25 mg regular xanax tablets available to me for panic attacks. I had a huge panic attack last week at work, so I think the anxiety does break through the xanax for sure. However, it helps and has probably saved me for reverting to my old self-injury habitws to take the edge off. Life was so much worse without the xanax- I forgot to take it last Saturday, and had the shaking, trembling, heart pounding, unable to breathe feeling. It's different for everyone.
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Hi again Don. Thanks for the input on the wb. I absolutely will pray for Gods will be done in your travels/ missions. My s-i-l & her 2 kids are headed to guatamala end of this month with our church. So pray for all missionaries young & younger 
Have you ever read Reese Howells - Intercessor by Norman Grubb? It's is probably the most spritual book that has blessed me & My Upmost for His Higest of course. Reese put all his trust in God to go on the mission trips he felt the Lord led him to getting as far as the train station w/o $ or a toothbrush even, but knew if the Lord meant for him to go He would provide. HE Did Everytime! It's awesome!
Blessed travels for you & yours.
Yes, you can pray for me as well. My husband, son & self have lived in ID for a year now & the company that brought us here has decided to outsource all their IT to India. So we are headed back to TX where our older kids & grandson are. Please pray for my husband Tom to find work in Houston area & a safe sane move for us all, my heart pounds at the mere thought of another move. 5 in the last 6 years trying to stay employeed in the IT business, it's so hard & such a sad perdiciment for a man who is so educated to have to fight for a job against people that don't live in the US. Seems we have been vagabonds since Enron. Probably will have to walk away from the house we bought & put so much work into. House was built in 70's & had asbestos in ceilings & me having had 1 very large tumor removed in 97 & 2 small ones in 2007 dg'd Mesothelioma/asbestos related had all the ceilings scraped & redone. The foreclosure that looms doesn't bother me as much as thinking that we will have great trouble finding a home afterwards in Houston naturally. At least whoever ends up in this home will be asbestos free. Amen!
Take Care
Have you ever read Reese Howells - Intercessor by Norman Grubb? It's is probably the most spritual book that has blessed me & My Upmost for His Higest of course. Reese put all his trust in God to go on the mission trips he felt the Lord led him to getting as far as the train station w/o $ or a toothbrush even, but knew if the Lord meant for him to go He would provide. HE Did Everytime! It's awesome!Blessed travels for you & yours.
Yes, you can pray for me as well. My husband, son & self have lived in ID for a year now & the company that brought us here has decided to outsource all their IT to India. So we are headed back to TX where our older kids & grandson are. Please pray for my husband Tom to find work in Houston area & a safe sane move for us all, my heart pounds at the mere thought of another move. 5 in the last 6 years trying to stay employeed in the IT business, it's so hard & such a sad perdiciment for a man who is so educated to have to fight for a job against people that don't live in the US. Seems we have been vagabonds since Enron. Probably will have to walk away from the house we bought & put so much work into. House was built in 70's & had asbestos in ceilings & me having had 1 very large tumor removed in 97 & 2 small ones in 2007 dg'd Mesothelioma/asbestos related had all the ceilings scraped & redone. The foreclosure that looms doesn't bother me as much as thinking that we will have great trouble finding a home afterwards in Houston naturally. At least whoever ends up in this home will be asbestos free. Amen!
Take Care
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Wow, it's nice to see that everyone has found something that helps them with their anxiety. I personally do not like taking Xanax. My doctor put me on .25mgs to help me calm down when I would start freaking out, and I couldn't stand to take it. Mostly out of fear, but it also made me feel weird - kind of disconnected and groggy.
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Hi everyone, I too am on Xanex. Have been on it for along time. I take 0.25 mg. 4 times a day. 2 in the morning, then one 6 hrs. after my morning dose, then one another 6 hrs. for the evening. My Dr. is trying to get me down to 3 a day, but right now there is too much going on in my life. I ordered the tapes yesterday online. Can't wait to get them. Hope they help me, like they have for so many other's. I suffer from panic attacks, and at times depression. Have a good day everyone.