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I have been taking .50 mg. of Xanax at night to sleep, otherwise I can't seem to get myself to sleep, to many thoughts. I know that xanax is very addictive. I've been taking it this way for 6 weeks. Does anyone know if I could already be additive to it at this low dose. I want to try and sleep without it but I don't know if I'll go through withdrawals. About a month ago the dr. put me on Celexa, hated it. I took it for a week and had a bad reaction to it.

i take XANAX and it is a small dose as well.i would not go off something unless i checked with your dr. i have taken it over 2 years and have had no side effects.i hope that his helps you some. some can take some meds and others can't take and good luck.
don

I've had a Rx for Xanax for 2 years; I only take it if I am feeling anxious day or night. Sometimes I can calm myself down and don't need it, and I can go for a long time without it, so don't think I'm addicted. It's really been helpful when I'm ramping up the anxiety...I will even take a quarter of a tab, just enough to get through.

I won't go off without talking to the dr. I have an appt next week. I'm hoping that maybe I can just use a sleep aid instead of Xanax. I keep hearing how bad it is for you. Although I do feel very relaxed at night when I take it.

Hi,

I see it this way.If a person is having pain and needs to take pain med to help control it then they are not addicted the are controlling their pain.It's when your not having pain and you take the pain med,then that's addiction.Basically the same with anxiety med's.Although you may need to just take the med as prescribed to prevent an anxiety attack.With your doctor's instruction weaning off a med if he or she feels you need to is not a major problem in my opinion.

Xanax is highly addictive but productive when used correctly. At the dose you're on, .5mg, you shouldn't have a problem 'coming off' it. Talk to the dr, but if you don't have a problem with it, keep taking it, you must think you need it. But just be careful, xanax can have a rebound effect, it can actually cause aniexty. When you're at 3-5 mg a day, then we'll talk some more.

Also too sometimes it is in your head. I take ativan which is like xanax and i go several nights without taking one and then I will take one if I feel too anxious or something. I have been taking ativan for about 5 years off and on and have never had a problem with addiction. Just thought i would put in my two cents!

Barbiedoll-

Don't worry- you'll be okay. I was on Xanax for over a year when I was first diagnosed with anxiety at age 14 (I'm now 35). I was on a pretty high dose and had no idea it was addictive. I took myself off the med with no problems. Xanax can be good to help relax you and reduce anxiety...you'll get to the point where you won't need it anymore, but I would speak to your doctor about any med changes.

I agree with everyone on this forum, especially Mark. I have been taking daily Xanax XR .5mg for almost two years now. I am seeing a psychiatrist every 3 months and I have been in counseling for the last 3 years. I also take Cymbalta 20 mg daily. I have been doing really well. Take the drug as prescribed. Report to your doctor how you are feeling. Xanax should not be used long term (every night) for sleeping. There are other sleep aids out there. Ask your doctor. But in the end, you need to use what works for you. Try not to worry about addiction. I spent 6 months worrying about it and it only adds to your anxiety. Good luck.

I also had a bad reaction to Celexa. It gave me more panic. Cymbalta has helped me immensely.