Is there anything better I could ask for beside xanax

[jdpaul88]

Thanks for the help! I thought it funny after talking to one of the pharmacists about the xanax causing insomnia, he thought it is rare I am experiencing that. Funny because many other sources show that xanax can cause insomnia. Since I am chemically sensitive I think there might be some chemical imbalance that may be interacting with the xanax in such a way. Here we see the occurrence of insomnia on abrupt xanax discontinuation. http://www.benzo.org.uk/alprazolam.htm

I was given the script for 0.25mg daily for 14 days. The reason that I may be experiencing the withdrawal symptoms only after a few days of taking it could be that I spiked my first dose to about 0.50 and then the next dose to about 0.75 mg. after that I went as low as 0.25 or even less and now I am haven't taken any in 24 hrs or so. The 14 pills were suppose to last me until the 26th or so but I am down to about 3 pills

 

[LeLouche]

I think you should look into getting some counselling, or therapy instead of the drug route. It sounds like you have a lot of external issues going on. There is a lot more to the story than you smoked weed, and got anxious.

There seems to be a long pattern of this with you. Unfortunately I think that it's something you'll get helped more by with trained professionals than the advice on here of what drugs to take to help.

Seems like you might be looking for a simple solution to a complicated problem

 

[toned]

I think you should look into getting some counselling, or therapy instead of the drug route. It sounds like you have a lot of external issues going on. There is a lot more to the story than you smoked weed, and got anxious.

There seems to be a long pattern of this with you. Unfortunately I think that it's something you'll get helped more by with trained professionals than the advice on here of what drugs to take to help.

Seems like you might be looking for a simple solution to a complicated problem

Having read everything, including what you have in your profile, i have to agree with LeLouche on this one ^^^^....Jdpaul88, the pills are hiding the cause just for a while, and obviously not for long, from what you are telling us^; i would seriously look into some counselling\theraphy, as soon as possible.... its obvious there is something wrong with you bro, but that's more then anxiety... im telling you this, because i can see myself in everything you are saying, and let me tell you If you dont get help it will get worst... started being afraid of even going outside, because i got anxiety if i seen to many people, the last draw for my wife, and she had to get me help, was because at one point, i would get anxiety by taking a showers, so stopped taking showers....everything i did or did not do give me anxiety, it took me 2.5 years of therapy to get better, but im better....as i told you before, i still take Alprazolan ,but now i only take when i really need it.

 

[effie]

^ I have to say I agree. While benzos can work well, they only mask the symptoms and tolerance/dependence/psychological addiction are all things to consider, and it sounds like benzos may not be working amazingly well for you either in terms of effects and side-effects.. I would definitely consider some form of therapy. Have you thought about sleep hygiene too? This refers to ways in which we can optimise our chances of sleeping well - having a routine, relaxing for an hour before bed, no screens for an hour before bed, no caffeine after midday, reduce nicotine, try a warm bath or hot drink, use your bed for sleeping in only (and maybe sex haha) and if you like in bed awake for more than an hour, get up for 10 or 15 mins and do something else. It takes a while but it can really help! Exercise is excellent too, both for anxiety and insomnia.

I would definitely recommend you check out The Dark Side forum as I mentioned in my earlier post

Good luck!

 

[Alex000]

I must politely disagree with this new popular opinion on benzos being "just a fix/mask/instant cure etc." I think that benzos help not only assuage the symptoms of anxiety/panic, but also, by doing so, allow one to realize anxiety/panic does not have to be a part of their life. That in itself can be very helpful in working toward a cure for an anxiety/panic disorder. But, I never knock on therapy. The OP has reported a number of symptoms, and I think psychotherapy would be a good idea, too. Benzos + therapy could be better than the sum of both in the OP's case, however, I must say it is a bit potentially concerning how you have gone up and up with your Xanax dose. This could either indicate that more benzodiazepine is needed to control your anxiety properly, or that you have an "addictive personality", or either. The doses of Xanax were not that high, so it is not very concerning, and I think Klonipin might be much better for you (no peaks and valleys with great anxiety control). Just, be careful. Always, be careful, and know what you are doing.

 

[phatass]

well xanax (alprazolam) is a very short acting benzo, so its good if you have short periods of time when you're anxious, allthough 0.25mg is a very low dose, maybe something like clonazepam (klonopin in the US, Rivotril in europe) would be bettter, it lasts for like 12 hours, so you an take one in the morning and one in the evening ad have anxiety relief all day and night... you will probably need a slightly higher dosage, but remember benzos are addictive and you wil create a tolerance, so start as low as possible, but so that you are nnot incapacitated by your anxiety... i would suggest 1mg morning and 1mg evening and see how that goes

 

[effie]

^^ Yes, I see your point Alex.. however, going by what I have seen, they usually end up being a crutch. Once you've been given a taste of life without anxiety via drugs it seems to make it harder for people to motivate themselves to push ahead with therapy, which can take time and can be difficult initially. It depends on the person, I guess. Using PRN benzos alongside therapy, until it starts having an impact, and then reducing down (and ideally coming off them entirely) is an approach I could imagine working well, so I think I agree with you there but again for some people they may struggle to control their benzo use and run into trouble.

Good post

I think clonazepam may well be a better option too, but I would encourage you to discuss this further with your doctor, jdpaul

 

[voodooBE]

I have to agree with Alex because that's how I did it. I used to rely more on benzo's until I went to (various forms of) therapy. They also encouraged me to go out and do stuff while taking my meds because it's better than to do absolutely nothing and being anxious 24/7 not even daring to cross the street. But nobody can do this alone so don't be afraid to tell your psychiatrist or therapist, I'm pretty sure they'll be supportive in what you feel is the best way to handle it initially.

 

[toned]

^^ Yes, I see your point Alex.. however, going by what I have seen, they usually end up being a crutch. Once you've been given a taste of life without anxiety via drugs it seems to make it harder for people to motivate themselves to push ahead with therapy, which can take time and can be difficult initially. It depends on the person, I guess. Using PRN benzos alongside therapy, until it starts having an impact, and then reducing down (and ideally coming off them entirely) is an approach I could imagine working well, so I think I agree with you there but again for some people they may struggle to control their benzo use and run into trouble.

Good post

I think clonazepam may well be a better option too, but I would encourage you to discuss this further with your doctor, jdpaul

^^^^^^ Thats exactly what happen to me..... i depended on the pills all the time ; while i was on them, i was fine and never got help ; then if one pill did not work, what the hell take 2, then 3, then 4, at one point i was taking 6 day, and in " my mind" it was doing nothing... it came to the point that i would take a pill , then go out for a walk or car ride, BUT once i was out, and i checked my pockets, and i forgot my pill, i would get anxiety again ( EVEN WHEN I TOOK A PILL HALF HOUR BEFORE)... i also took beta blockers and that helped, but once i started reading on how it works, i quickly decided to stop taking them.... best thing for me, was to get professional help ; yes, it was costly, but it helped, i now take aprozolan only when i need it or cant sleep, i might go 3 weeks without taking one pill, then take 1 pill a day for 3 or 4 days to get my sleep under control, then go another 2 to 3 weeks without taking anything again

 

[joepep]

I have found that the best roa for me, that gets me off the best. for any benzo, zannies,v's,k pins is i crush them up, mix them with a flavored coffee creamer,(hazelnut is my favorite). I warm the creamer, just a little. next i draw the creamer solution with a 3cc needle less syringe and up the poop shoot it goes. The effects feel almost twice as strong than when eaten or taken sublingualy.. I am new here but this really works !

 

[Swain]

Xanax is a better choice for panic attacks as clonzepam is a longer-acting benzo meaning it also takes longer for ti to hit you. Xanax(alprazolam) is shorter acting and you will peak much quicker.., which is important if you are having a panic attack type thing.

 

[jdpaul88]

Sorry for the misfortunate but the insomnia caused me to admit myself to an in-patient clinic. I was there for a few days and they currently have me on risperidone, clonazepam, and sertraline. Therapy is my next plan of action as soon as possible. I need to start it quickly and continue it for a long while because I do agree there is a lot of 'mud under the cover' so to speak - a lot of issues that need to be dealt with and brought out into the open.