?there's good stuff above so i'll just say one thing. .125 and .25 once a day is a really, really low dose. so there's nothin' to worry about thus far. you've caught the "craving" soon enough!
Question about Xanax
-
Guest
-
Guest
Chris... I am wondering how long you have been on the program? I was experiencing some of the same fear you are about medications. I read some of your previous posts and I definitely can relate to you. It seems as though you are spending a lot of time thinking about the meds... it really helps if you can put it all aside. Just one half of a Xanax is probably not doing much and I'll bet you could do without it. Try to focus on the skills you learned in the program, listen to the tapes and write in your journal. I would like to tell you to stay off the Xanax and you will gain control by believing you have the skills within you nd you don't need to be dependent on anything in a bottle. You mentioned in one of your posts that you have a stong fear of any medications (I do too), I think you will feel so much better not taking anything or even thinking about it, as it seems like that is creating your fear. I hope I don't sound like I am telling you what to do... I only say this because that has been my experience and since I stoppped thinking about it and stopped carrying my Ativan with me, I feel so much better. I think it's because I have changed my belief in thinking that I needed it. I hope this helps you.
PS~ I have also found that yoga helps tremendously. I sleep SO well on the nights I go to yoga class. I wish you well.
PS~ I have also found that yoga helps tremendously. I sleep SO well on the nights I go to yoga class. I wish you well.
-
Guest
Yeah and I don't even know if it's a craving. . .more like my anxiety builds through the day and I just want it to go away. But, tonight I decided to take one around 6pm and it made me so groggy and drugged feeling I didn't like it at all. I'm starting to think I was better off without the Xanax. Just like Kldrn says above, it seems to be causing me more anxiety than it is solving. I just can't seem to settle down and take it. I think I need to reinforce my coping skills and get back on track that way. The Xanax makes me feel like I'm out of control and I don't like that at all.Originally posted by MC Grace:
hi Chris (like Barb, I like calling you Faith, too), but what does that matter
there's good stuff above so i'll just say one thing. .125 and .25 once a day is a really, really low dose. so there's nothin' to worry about thus far. you've caught the "craving" soon enough!
I am not feeling very well right now at all. I haven't been eating or sleeping well all week. I just need to get it together. . . and maybe without the medication I'll think more clearly.
-
Guest
Chris... I am glad my post made sense to you. I hope you can find the strenth to get back on track. Remember you bought this program for a reason, and you visit these forums... obviously it must give you some relief... because it works! Turn away from what causes you more anxiety. I read something in one of thse posts that I thought was great... (I wish I could find it again)I think the poster was talking about alcohol and said rather than saying he "quit drinking" he said "I choose not to drink today". Maybe you could use that thinking with your Xanax. You don't have to quit taking it, just choose not to do it today, and then tomorrow. I think that is what I did with my Ativan. I just took small steps. I know that I still have it in my medicine cabinet, but I don't carry it with me and I choose not to take it. I'd rather breathe deeply and turn my negatives into positives and lower my expectations. NO GROGGY SIDE EFFECTS TO THAT!
I hope you have a great day!
~Kerry
I hope you have a great day!
~Kerry
-
Guest
Chris,
I understand your issues completely with Xanax. In November I was prescribed .50 to help me sleep at night. At first I would take .25 because I was so afraid of becoming addicted. I actually would get anxious over just having to take it to sleep. However, since then my insecurities with it having improved. My md and my counselor both agree that such a small amount will not become addicting. (especially for those who don't have addictive personalities) They convinced me to take the whole .50 before bed to help me get a good nights sleep. It does help me sleep better.
I am 50 years old a believe that so much of my issues are from perimenopause or menopause. They aren't quite convinced of that though. Hormone imbalances can do some strange things to women.
I understand your issues completely with Xanax. In November I was prescribed .50 to help me sleep at night. At first I would take .25 because I was so afraid of becoming addicted. I actually would get anxious over just having to take it to sleep. However, since then my insecurities with it having improved. My md and my counselor both agree that such a small amount will not become addicting. (especially for those who don't have addictive personalities) They convinced me to take the whole .50 before bed to help me get a good nights sleep. It does help me sleep better.
I am 50 years old a believe that so much of my issues are from perimenopause or menopause. They aren't quite convinced of that though. Hormone imbalances can do some strange things to women.
-
Guest
Chris,
I have been on Xanax since the end of Nov. I was prescribed .50 and cutit half and used it only when needed which at that time was 2 to 3 times a week. I then cut it in quarters which worked better in that it didn't make me so sleepy. I was petrified of becoming addicted so thought I was using it sparingly. Well now I wake up every morning around 4:30 am with extreme shakes so now I'm taking it to fall back asleep and wake up at 7:30 taking it again for more shaking and functioning during the day. I now believe I am addicted. I don't have an addictive personality and have struggled not to take this stuff. The thing I was scared would happen has. My doctor is talking about putting me in the hospital to get off of it. So even though I take no more than .50 mg a day total I am really in trouble. Everyone said that little dosage wouldn't hurt me. Not true. I recommend getting off of it before you can't. If someone knows of a way to get help to get off this stuff please let me know. I don't know which way to turn. My doctor wants me to go on Zoloft but am scared to put another drug in my body.
Deb
I have been on Xanax since the end of Nov. I was prescribed .50 and cutit half and used it only when needed which at that time was 2 to 3 times a week. I then cut it in quarters which worked better in that it didn't make me so sleepy. I was petrified of becoming addicted so thought I was using it sparingly. Well now I wake up every morning around 4:30 am with extreme shakes so now I'm taking it to fall back asleep and wake up at 7:30 taking it again for more shaking and functioning during the day. I now believe I am addicted. I don't have an addictive personality and have struggled not to take this stuff. The thing I was scared would happen has. My doctor is talking about putting me in the hospital to get off of it. So even though I take no more than .50 mg a day total I am really in trouble. Everyone said that little dosage wouldn't hurt me. Not true. I recommend getting off of it before you can't. If someone knows of a way to get help to get off this stuff please let me know. I don't know which way to turn. My doctor wants me to go on Zoloft but am scared to put another drug in my body.
Deb
-
Guest
I was lucky. I had only been taking it for about 10 days. I didn't take it last night and I slept for about 12 hours! I did wake up a few times but I was able to get back to sleep. I know also that what helped was I stayed physically active all day yesterday to burn the excess adrenalin and get the good endorphins. (sp?)
I have an appointment today with a new counselor and she focuses on diet, exercise, and vitamins to overcome panic attacks. I think for me that will be a better plan because I have such a fear of meds.
I was only taking half of a .25 but then three nights ago I woke up at 3am and feeling really freaked out so I took another half of a .25. I think I was going the same path as you. Then that afternoon I started worrying about making it to bedtime so I took a half of a .25 at around 6pm. It made me feel really drunk. I didn't like it. I'm guessing that was because I had hardly slept or eaten in three days.
Years ago I used it along with Tofranil and I didn't have that reaction to it. I guess somehow the Tofranil counteracted it. I took it every day for a short time and then as needed for a couple years.
I guess I'm just way more sensitive to meds now.
I have heard that you just have to taper is VERY slowly to get off it if you've been taking it for awhile. One book I read even talked about using a razor blade to shave just a tiny bit of it off at a time.
I hope you're able to get off it soon. Only .5 a day is a small dose but when our bodies get sensitive it can make it hard.
I have to tell you though. . . that night I took it at 6pm and decided not to take it at bedtime. . . I had a horrible night. But, yesterday all day I stayed busy and worked through the anxiety and slept awesome last night. Don't stop on your own without help but I think it gets out of your system pretty quickly.
Let us know what happens.
I have an appointment today with a new counselor and she focuses on diet, exercise, and vitamins to overcome panic attacks. I think for me that will be a better plan because I have such a fear of meds.
I was only taking half of a .25 but then three nights ago I woke up at 3am and feeling really freaked out so I took another half of a .25. I think I was going the same path as you. Then that afternoon I started worrying about making it to bedtime so I took a half of a .25 at around 6pm. It made me feel really drunk. I didn't like it. I'm guessing that was because I had hardly slept or eaten in three days.
Years ago I used it along with Tofranil and I didn't have that reaction to it. I guess somehow the Tofranil counteracted it. I took it every day for a short time and then as needed for a couple years.
I guess I'm just way more sensitive to meds now.
I have heard that you just have to taper is VERY slowly to get off it if you've been taking it for awhile. One book I read even talked about using a razor blade to shave just a tiny bit of it off at a time.
I hope you're able to get off it soon. Only .5 a day is a small dose but when our bodies get sensitive it can make it hard.
I have to tell you though. . . that night I took it at 6pm and decided not to take it at bedtime. . . I had a horrible night. But, yesterday all day I stayed busy and worked through the anxiety and slept awesome last night. Don't stop on your own without help but I think it gets out of your system pretty quickly.
Let us know what happens.
-
Guest
Faith_TX:
We registered about the same time too, and I am also going through a major "growth spurt" to put it nicely, "recurrence" to put it negatively, after doing great for over a year. Be careful with the Xanax. Because it is so short acting, it can lead to rebound anxiety where the anxiety returns stronger than it was to begin with. This is something family doctors don't really tell you (maybe they don't know). Back in August 2006 when I was having MAJOR problems, I luckily found a psychiatrist to manage my medications. He did a MUCH better job than my general practitioner. I did end up taking Paxil, but am now having trouble coming completely off, though my dose is 1/2 of where it was. Also, benzodiazapenes are known to be addictive, in that it takes an increasingly higher dose to see the same effect, but I can't imagine that would occur in only 10 days. Are you doing the program? I started is again from the very beginning last week.
We registered about the same time too, and I am also going through a major "growth spurt" to put it nicely, "recurrence" to put it negatively, after doing great for over a year. Be careful with the Xanax. Because it is so short acting, it can lead to rebound anxiety where the anxiety returns stronger than it was to begin with. This is something family doctors don't really tell you (maybe they don't know). Back in August 2006 when I was having MAJOR problems, I luckily found a psychiatrist to manage my medications. He did a MUCH better job than my general practitioner. I did end up taking Paxil, but am now having trouble coming completely off, though my dose is 1/2 of where it was. Also, benzodiazapenes are known to be addictive, in that it takes an increasingly higher dose to see the same effect, but I can't imagine that would occur in only 10 days. Are you doing the program? I started is again from the very beginning last week.
-
Guest