When I first had anxiety problems the ER gave me some Xanax. But my Psych suggested changing to lorazapam as it has a lower addictive potential. I'm very sensitive and take a .5 mg and cut it into quarters. I put a piece under my tongue when I have a bad time. If it doesn't help in 10 minutes, I take another piece. But I'd never take it on a regular basis.
Dave
Xanax Alone?
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I take 1/2 of a .25 Xanax once a day. Probably after another week or two I'll stop. But, my psychiatrist said she doesn't feel that I am at risk for addiction because I've taken it for short periods for about the past 15 years. Everyone is different. I've never had a problem with it.
My doctor told me that she's careful who she prescribes it to, but I've shown that it doesn't effect me that way.
I guess I'm just lucky! All I know is that I'm not having panic attacks and I'm working on my thoughts again and in a couple weeks I'll probably stop taking it until my next crisis.
My last bottle of Xanax was filled in October of '06 and I just now ran out. I wish I'd remembered to refill it before the refill expired in April of '07 because then I wouldn't have had to pay 180 bucks to see my psych doctor. Most 'regular' doctors won't prescribe it any more.
My doctor told me that she's careful who she prescribes it to, but I've shown that it doesn't effect me that way.
I guess I'm just lucky! All I know is that I'm not having panic attacks and I'm working on my thoughts again and in a couple weeks I'll probably stop taking it until my next crisis.
My last bottle of Xanax was filled in October of '06 and I just now ran out. I wish I'd remembered to refill it before the refill expired in April of '07 because then I wouldn't have had to pay 180 bucks to see my psych doctor. Most 'regular' doctors won't prescribe it any more.
As a Mental Health Case Manager, I have psychiatrist at my agency who will prescribe Klonopin on a as needed basis and Xanax, Valium or Ativan if the person has been on it before, then, try to wean them off or may keep them on if not addicted to it. If someone has a substance abuse history, then they won't prescribe "benzodiapines".
There are better and less addicting drugs than the benzodiapines or anti-anxiety. Buspar is one of them but don't drink grapefruit juice. I read this on WebMD.
AmandaJ
There are better and less addicting drugs than the benzodiapines or anti-anxiety. Buspar is one of them but don't drink grapefruit juice. I read this on WebMD.
AmandaJ
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My counselor talked about there being better meds too and it may just be my comfort level. . . I have not ever been able to push past the first few days of any antidepressant except for Tofranil. And, I'm told that's not prescribed any more either much because of the side effects. However, in my system, I have found it had fewer side effects than the new SSRI's do. I do recognize though that I have an extreme fear of meds, and knowing that Xanax is out of my system in just a few hours gives me a lot of comfort.
I told my psych today that maybe I was going about it wrong. I tried to take the Lexapro and then got chicken and took a Xanax that night to calm down (hadn't had one in a year).
I said maybe if she felt that an antidepressant would work for me I should take Xanax for a few days FIRST to calm down before proceeding with the antidepressant.
At this point though I'm hoping that this is a short term speed bump and I'll be fine soon (as soon as my husband gets a job that will help!)
If it keeps going on and on, then I may try something else again; we'll see!
I told my psych today that maybe I was going about it wrong. I tried to take the Lexapro and then got chicken and took a Xanax that night to calm down (hadn't had one in a year).
I said maybe if she felt that an antidepressant would work for me I should take Xanax for a few days FIRST to calm down before proceeding with the antidepressant.
At this point though I'm hoping that this is a short term speed bump and I'll be fine soon (as soon as my husband gets a job that will help!)
If it keeps going on and on, then I may try something else again; we'll see!
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I have a question... Back in December I started having an extremely high heart rate (120s-145s) only when I am standing up and moving (not moving fast - just slowly walking) I still have this high heart rate everyday all day except when i am sitting down (then it is normal). All of my tests have come back normal except for the holter monitor that showed sinus tachycardia. My question is... has anyone else experienced this from taking xanax??? I am trying to figure out why this started and the only thing that I can think of is that I had alot of bad things happening between September and November and I increased my xanax from taking only 0.25mg at night to 0.5mg three times a day. I have been taking xanax for years but at a low dose. Just wondering if maybe there might be some correlation.
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by luvpiggy:
I am not telling you not to take Xanax because obviously it
I'm not sure how to reply without a quote to a message in the middle of a thread but I'll just use the quote and strip off the rest.
Anyway I read your story and wanted to let you know that I had the hallucination/semi-sleep walking experiences too. I once thought there was a monster in my room and I ran out of my room in P.J.s I believe in the middle of the night 4:00 and knocked on a friends door. But anyway also you said it caused you high blood pressure. I have way high blood pressure and no one ever thought it could be the Xanax. Hmmm. I need the Xanax to get to sleep and to play pickleball. Otherwise I'll be to shaky not be able to control the delicate touch shots. Pickleball is like tennis only on a badminton sized court.
Anyway I thought It wouldn't hurt to reply.
Dave
I am not telling you not to take Xanax because obviously it
I'm not sure how to reply without a quote to a message in the middle of a thread but I'll just use the quote and strip off the rest.
Anyway I read your story and wanted to let you know that I had the hallucination/semi-sleep walking experiences too. I once thought there was a monster in my room and I ran out of my room in P.J.s I believe in the middle of the night 4:00 and knocked on a friends door. But anyway also you said it caused you high blood pressure. I have way high blood pressure and no one ever thought it could be the Xanax. Hmmm. I need the Xanax to get to sleep and to play pickleball. Otherwise I'll be to shaky not be able to control the delicate touch shots. Pickleball is like tennis only on a badminton sized court.
Anyway I thought It wouldn't hurt to reply.
Dave
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I had a real bad experience with Xanax, it made me feel like I was going out of my mind..I looked in the mirror and my face looked far away, the walls in my house looked distorted and the floor looked farther away than it should.. the only way I can describe it was as if I was wearing glasses that were too strong and everything looks distorted..It was a scary feeling for me..I've tried zoloft and the only way I can explain the way I felt like on it is that I didn't feel like myself..almost disassociated..I've tried lexapro and it burned my insides..starting from my stomache and then going into my arms and legs..I had to go to the hospital with xanax and lexapro..I've tried klonipin and it made my heart slow down so much that I felt like I couldn't almost make it to the bathroom and everything looked very distorted ..the same way as I felt with Xanax..thanks, but no thanks for medication with me..I am trying natural ways and I feel so much better..my mind feels sane and atleast if I have anxiety I can fight it off with a clear mind..I have found with me..using my breathing, eating foods that help with anxiety ..such as spinach and walnuts, exercising, watching comedies and uplifting shows, turning off the depressing news and depressing shows..drinking chamomile tea and warm milk have helped me far more than these medications with all these horrible side effects!!
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Folks, please be careful with Xanax. I took it for a few weeks until I discovered that I was starting to crave it. Then I did research about it and was alarmed by what I found. Google Xanax and scroll down, read about it yourself. I don't mean to scare anybody but all of us do need to know the facts about the medications we are taking. Don’t get me wrong, Xanax has it’s uses but
it should only be used occasionally for emergencies, like when you're first struggling with anxiety. Not daily, not long term and certainly not to help you sleep.
Just use it to put out occasional fires that you can't handle.
As you learn the coping skills taught in this course, you should be using them first to deal with your anxiety, then you will find that you can handle more and more situations without xanax. Eventually you'll use it less and less until finally not at all. That should be your goal.
If you have been on regular daily xanax doses, please be careful. You'll need to come off it very slowly. Do your homework and consult your doctor. God Bless you and peace be with you.
it should only be used occasionally for emergencies, like when you're first struggling with anxiety. Not daily, not long term and certainly not to help you sleep.
Just use it to put out occasional fires that you can't handle.
As you learn the coping skills taught in this course, you should be using them first to deal with your anxiety, then you will find that you can handle more and more situations without xanax. Eventually you'll use it less and less until finally not at all. That should be your goal.
If you have been on regular daily xanax doses, please be careful. You'll need to come off it very slowly. Do your homework and consult your doctor. God Bless you and peace be with you.