I'm tired of re dosing Xanax. Is it too little or just not for me?

[crdjsph]

Hi all. I've got some circumstances, you know things that make it hard to smile very much..Even hard for me to be nice and little things set me off...

I was prescribed 1mg Klonopin 2x Daily and I only refilled 4 times throughout the year..

1 year later

The Klonopin began to keep me up at night I decided to tell my doctor.

He was impressed that I had not developed bad benzo-habits so he said he wanted to try a shorter acting Benzo, Xanax.
0.5mg 3x Daily.

I feel like I need to re-dose all the time to get relief..and as stress rises(family problems, legal problems)so does my need for another pill. Its more annoying than addicting. I refuse to form an addiction to this stuff. I went through about 3mg daily for 1 week and went another week without a sript. Not the worst withdrawal anyways I just smoked a bowl or two if I felt weird. It Was not fun running out quickly because I knew my anxiety would come back. It did.

I think my dosage is too low or this medication is not right for me. I just took them as needed without other substances.

Its generic. I usually dont like generic meds. can that be a problem? Do you think XR might be a solution?

Family says I am amazing with the medicine, and that I am happier without the Klonopin but when the Xanax wears off I get stressed out sooner. I'm on a first time trial dose of Xanax

 

[PotatoMan]

Xanax Is shorter acting. Maybe xr is the solution. You sound like you're gonna live your life on Benzos yo. You don't wanna live life dependent on anything but O2. Regardless if it's a doctor prescribing you

 

[crdjsph]

Xanax Is shorter acting. Maybe xr is the solution. You sound like you're gonna live your life on Benzos yo. You don't wanna live life dependent on anything but O2. Regardless if it's a doctor prescribing you

I dont want to live like this forever, unfortunately right now the benefits outweigh the risks. I believe its about being able to see medicine as a tool, to help you during hard times. Thats why I dont like to redose all the time. Its a hard decision because my family feels that it "helps" me. Its true, to a certain extent. XR sounds interesting..Any ideas about the generic stuff? Sometimes I find generic is not the best.

 

[crdjsph]

bump

 

[edgewise1]

You could ask about the XR version as that does sound like a good idea. You might want to ask about Ativan. It is also a shorter acting benzo. Many years ago I was prescribed 0.5 mg Xanax to be taken 3 times a day. I found it to sedating so my doctor prescribed me Ativan, same strength and the same dosing. Though it was also sedating at first, within 4-5 days the sedation wore off and it just started to work.

Good luck, and I hope you find something to work!

 

[Selfless]

If you end up not having success with xanax; perhaps consider Valium, which is the longer lasting than Klonopin. If not that, then maybe even Ativan, which lasts longer than xanax but shorter than Klonopin.

 

[AdmiralPharmaGhost]

I agree with Selfless Ativan and Valium have a rapid onset of course Valium might get stored in fatty tissue the other suggestion:
Xanax XR as mentioned
Take a fourth does of .5 as needed
A higher does of Xanax like .75mg-1mg
I'd go with the Valium personally but good luck

 

[crdjsph]

Thanks for the great info. I ran out of my meds yesterday, and I'm doing "fine". I'm not in withdrawal, but I am bummed out that's for sure. My lifestyle improves greatly when Xanax is on-board. I make people smile and laugh. Friends are coming by my house, and having a good time. It works amazingly well, for a very very very short time. Long Acting Benzo's like Klonopin work differently for me. I tend to zone out, and my social life comes to a hault. I dont seem to mind either which is why I don't like it. Oh well, better to not think than to destroy myself with my thoughts.

I'm going to torture myself (no meds or refills) for 2 weeks until I see my doctor. I have learned that desperation=addictive traits.
I'm going to tell him that I went through the stuff because it wore off much too quickly, and all the above.
If I show him that I can go a good period of time without benzos so he will feel more comfortable prescribing me something higher or an XR version.

Thanks a million guys.

 

[Parabolan]

I would give diazepam a try..

 

[crdjsph]

Thanks this is very helpful! I'm interested about Diazepam, and I'll be coming back on to let you all know what happens!

 

[chillnerd]

0.5mg is a really low dose. If you would get 1mg or the bars you wouldnt have to re dose so much but i thought that as well. The fact is xanax is a bitch. I started at 1mg than to 2mg than to 3mg for 4yrs and let me tell you xanax is one of the hardest drugs for me to get off. Meth was easier. But xanax is the devil.

 

[crdjsph]

0.5mg is a really low dose. If you would get 1mg or the bars you wouldnt have to re dose so much but i thought that as well. The fact is xanax is a bitch. I started at 1mg than to 2mg than to 3mg for 4yrs and let me tell you xanax is one of the hardest drugs for me to get off. Meth was easier. But xanax is the devil.

I've been diagnosed as ADHD so I do take 20mg Adderall in the morning...Helps me remain very very calm, but when it wears off my mind starts to wonder around and I cannot sleep.

Xanax is a bitch! LOL i've been able to recognize that..I need to get to sleep somehow..Benzo's tend to flat line me which is good, during the day. At night it means I better pop a pill and lay down, or else It will stimulate me. I think my bad sleep patterns affect me more than I realize. . .

I've tried Ambien for sleep and It was great however I noticed If it wasn't very effective if I didnt lay down immediately. I guess you can only use it short term? What do you guys think about a long-term sleep solution? Again, ADHD here. I have been mistaken for bi-polar. The more stimulants I take the more calm I become. Thanks for the good advice guys!

Doc apt this week, will update.