xanax question...

magnums1234 · Post by **magnums1234** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:32 am

my doctor gave me a trial bottle of xanax to take whenever i need it, but i am very scared to take it...

they said "do you have any allergies to medicine?" and i was like , "i sure hope not", i've never had an allergic reaction to any meds but taking that first pill is nerve-racking because you never know...

is anyone else taking xanax? i wanna pop the first pill today cause i'm doing somthing that will cause anxiety but i am very hesitant... can anyone give me info on side effects, how it feels, ect... i also heard if you get hooked on it and go off you get seizures as a withdrawal symptom... how can i space it out so i don't get hooked its only a trial prescription (20 tablets) so i will be possibly goin off it and i don't wanna have a seizure, please help...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:01 am

I take Xanax. Not real often. And, when I do I take only half. They make me feel more relaxed but also spacey. That's my only side effect. And I go months without taking them. Then, I take them when I have extreem anxiety. I don't know about them causing seizures, I've never heard anything like that. Myself, I don't believe they would!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:10 am

If you are high anxiety then I wouldn't worry about becoming addicted to it. Only people that have been on it long periods of time that don't need it anymore become addicted.

You can take this med "as needed" when you are going to challange yourself.

It has almost no side effects. Your body makes natural tranquilers similar to Xanax. So it's not like you are taking anything that doesn't belong there. The doc is trying to help you raise your natural anti-anxiety chemicals in your brain by giving you meds. You can do this with our without meds. If anything, you may feel tired.

To be safe, why not take half a tablet and test it out. This may make you feel less anxious about trying it.

I took Ativan for a very short time in the beginning of my anxiety/panic cycle. I only took it as needed and I never finished the prescription. But I had it with me and it made me feel better until I learned the skills of this program.

Once I learned I had to overcome my symptoms by facing them ( as the StressCenter.com teaches) I realized that I needed to do this without medication. Problem was that I feared my symptoms and because I feared my symptoms, I needed to face them and realize they were not dangerous and what I thought wasn't the truth.

If you don't have the StressCenter.com program then I highly suggest that you get it or work with your therapist ( cognitive behavioral therapy). Medication can only do so much for you....the rest you have to do for yourself !!

Wishing you the best !

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 10:25 am

a "spacey" feeling is one of the symptoms i hate about anxiety, i will try half a tablet today but i hope i don't get too spacey won't that cause more anxiety?

i do have the program... its good info but its hard to apply ... i am really struggling with my "practice opportunities" get real tense when i go out...

can i take stuff like a dose of asprin while on xanax? because asprin calms me from my fear of stroke and heart attack and i take it when i get a panic attack...

also... how long does the effect of xanax last?

thanx so much for the replies
-mark

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 11:03 am

a "spacey" feeling is one of the symptoms i hate about anxiety, i will try half a tablet today but i hope i don't get too spacey won't that cause more anxiety?

i do have the program... its good info but its hard to apply ... i am really struggling with my "practice opportunities" get real tense when i go out...

can i take stuff like a dose of asprin while on xanax? because asprin calms me from my fear of stroke and heart attack and i take it when i get a panic attack...

also... how long does the effect of xanax last?

thanx so much for the replies
-mark

Mark,
I completely understand your dislike for the "spacey" feeling. You may still feel this feeling when on this medication but you probably won't be so afraid of it. This medication is anti-anxiety which means it will make you less likely to be anxious over it.

Many people have a hard time applying the skills when symptoms are at their worst. If a person finds it almost impossible, then it's a good sign that a med like this would be most beneficial.

Asprin does nothing for panic and anxiety. It may help you feel as if you are doing something to protect yourself from having a heart attack or stroke. People with anxiety have this common fear ( heart attacks and strokes). The biggest part of staying healthy to avoid heart attacks and strokes is by eating right, exercising and keeping your stress at a healthy level. Meds like Xanax help lower your stress level by balancing out your brain chemicals to a more normal balance.

I don't believe there is any danger in taking asprin with xanax but you can call your pharmacist to recheck this. Problem is....if you take asprin and xanax everytime you panic, how will you know ( mentally) which one is helping you ? I know for sure that it will be the xanax but you need to prove this to yourself.

It's not healthy to take an asprin everytime you get a panic attack. By doing this, you are making yourself believe that the asprin is helping you with the anxiety somehow and this is false.

Just give your medication a try. Even just a half. Take it at home where you can feel safe while you experiment. You probably won't feel anything but more relaxed. You've got nothing to lose !!

Let us know how you do.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 11:08 am

BTW...

I thought you should know that the "spacey" feeling a person with anxiety feels is the brains natural protection mechanism and nothing more. This feeling is a sign that your mind is taking a break from all the stress and anxiety.
It's a normal brain response when things become too overwhelming. I know the feeling is scary especially when you are in the midst of anxiety/panic and you are already analyzing yourself and every symptom you feel but trust me and trust this program; these feelings are not harmful. They are simply distressing NOT dangerous.

Next time you feel this "unreality" "spacey" feeling just remind yourself that your brain is doing a fine job protecting itself.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 11:21 am

thank you so much... i will let you guys know how it goes when i take it today... one last question... how long does the effect last on half a pill?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 2:34 pm

magnum, just wanted you to know that i have been taking xanax on a regular basis for the past 4 years and have never had any side effects. i know it will be hard to get up the courage to take something new but it does help. I wish I was one of the lucky ones that only had to take it as needed but I'm not so I would much rather take this than some of the others I have been given, which did cause me horrible side effects. Just give it a try and if it isn't for you let your doctor know.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:58 am

I have taken Xanex for alot of years now and have never had any side effects or the spacy feelings I take it when I feel I need it. It takes a month of constant consumption of large doses 2mg. or more to become addicted acording to my Dr. This medication can be a life saver for some people like it is for me. But on the other hand it is so easily abused by alot of people also. Just take a dose when it is needed or when your Dr. says too and try other ways to help you though the rough times and you will have to take the Xanex less and less. But DO take it if you need it. It takes me at least 2 mg. to help me get through a full blown panic attack. Especially if you have not learned any other relaxation techniques. Good Luck
Lesley

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 12:06 pm

Hello everyone,
It has been several months since I have been here on the fourm, I have worked this program more than once,and the skills that you will learn are life saving. Any way in regards to your xanax question, I don't recomend any benzos at all to help with anxiety. I have been taking ativain for almost 5 years and have become very addicited to it. Matter of fact these kinds of drugs just mask the problem they don't fix it.Esp benzos like xanax, ativain,klotiopn*(sp)They have a very short half life. That means if you do become addictited (which can happen very easy, with out you even knowing it.) You will suffer tolorance withdral from it. The symptoms of w/d from these kind of drugs are much more worse than any underlying anxiety I ever had.I am currently crossing over to valium ( longer half life to elemimate withdraw symptoms between doses) so I can taper off this poison. 1mg of xanax is = to 10 mg of valium. Really i'm not trying to sell anything here folks, i'm just trying to stress a point the these drugs are very dangerous. You can find more info at <A HREF="http://www.benzo.org.uk" TARGET=_blank>www.benzo.org.uk</A>

Dewey