Benzos How do extended-released pills work exactly?

[xburtonchic]

I usually get the 2mg Xanax IR. This month, my doc prescribed the ER, claiming they were the same as the bars.

However, they weren't. I called literally every pharmacy in the area, and was told by each one that because the ER pills are so rarely prescribed, most pharmacies don't carry them. About two hours of searching, I finally found a pharmacy all the way in BFE... only to find out they were the generic version. Greenstone, to be precise.

My problem is, they are NOT like the Xanax IR bars, like he claimed. It feels like I might as well be taking nothing. And no, I do not have a tolerance to alprazolam... I've been on 2mg diazepam for the past few weeks, so my tolerance to alprazolam disappeared. Or it should have, I assume. Seeing as how 2mg of diazepam is an absolute JOKE compared to 2mg of alprazolam.

So, two questions:

1. HOW, exactly, do extended release pills work? I could be wrong, but I'm assuming they add some sort of other chemical in there to release the alprazolam in controlled doses. So my next question is,
2. Does this render ER less effective than IR? Could it be that it's because it's not true Xanax, just the generic version?

Fuck is there any sort of way to get around around the extended release part? I have panic attacks sometimes, mixed with GAD, so yeah... I kind of need my meds to work, like, now. All I can say is... I am switching back to Valium next month FOR SURE. This stuff ain't cutting it!

 

[muvolution]

There are tons of different ER systems, from TimeRx (Opana ER) to OROS osmotic push-pull pump (Concerta, ER Hydromorphone) To simple coatings (original OC's) to intermixed gelling-agents (ER benzos, ER morphine) and even forms of the drug which take a long period of time to metabolize and get into the body (ER Hydrocodone).

My access is currently being restricted to Epocrates, because I have no money, so I don't know what kind of pills you have, exactly. If there is a coating, you may have some luck breaking it up and just taking it, if not, the gelling agent is probably in the pill itself and that wouldn't do much.

I would encourage you to voice your concerns to your doctor and to get a minimal amount of Instant-release Alprazolam or something for panic attacks, so that you feel comfortable enough to give the new medication a chance to be effective.

 

[rob007]

lets say you wake up and take an xr pill...you wont have to worry until you are in a panic mode to pop a pill, you will already be relaxed for it.

generic or not...same chemical.

sorry i cant answer your questions better.

 

[Pegasus]

Xanax XR is a badly contrived medicine IMO. If a drug with stable elimination half-life is desired, use one... don't try to adapt a fast-acting drug to absorb slowly. Alprazolam works by taking effect quickly, with the onset effecting the overall effects considerably. When the absorption is messed up, the drug does not work the same, and this is a fatal problem for Xanax XR in the eyes of many users, especially those who switch from alprazolam IR.

Look up experiences on Xanax XR and show them to your doctor. Your experience is not an exception... it's more like the rule.

 

[Thou]

Vyvanse seems to be the most intriguing of the bunch.

Completely unabusable. Doesn't turn into Dexamph until it meets the liver. Unbelievable.

 

[Pegasus]

Also, crushing them will defeat the XR mechanism to a degree, but not completely. Crushing is quite difficult as well. This XR mechanism is pretty hard to circumvent.

 

[xburtonchic]

lets say you wake up and take an xr pill...you wont have to worry until you are in a panic mode to pop a pill, you will already be relaxed for it.

generic or not...same chemical.

sorry i cant answer your questions better.

The problem with that is that I wake up with anxiety... it's actually what wakes me up in the morning. I have the sort of anxiety that's debilitating instead of makes me want to run around and punch walls. I get "stuck" so to speak, and it's hard for me to get out of bed when I wake up anxious... idk it's weird, but I DEFINITELY need instant relief in the mornings.

Muvo and Pegasus... about the crushing thing... IMPOSSIBLE. The Greenstone brand is as hard as a freaking ROCK. I have a pill cutter and I even have to slam it down just to get it to break in two. Forget about using my teeth... I almost broke a tooth trying to bite it in half once. Ugh maybe I should just pour the whole bottle into a blender. Lol but not really.

Honestly, the Valium was working just fine for me. I'd take before I went to bed, wake up just fine, and I wouldn't have any anxiety to speak of for the ENTIRE rest of that day. I'll definitely have to bring that up to my doctor next month when I see him again, looks like it's time for a switch. For now, I think I'm just going to set an alarm, maybe for 5 AM or so, and take it then. That way, by the time I wake up, I won't have to worry about anxiety for a while. That should do in the meantime I suppose, we'll see how it works out :D

ALL of your answers were really helpful, thanks you guys.

 

[Jabberwocky]

from my understanding of XR xanax formulations it's next to impossible to easily crush them and turn to an effective IR is because of the silica's in the make up of the pills; colloidial silicon dioxide is the specific used in the Greenstone - source and a good read

if the valium is working fine i'd maybe suggest to your doc you're happy on that. i agree with pegasus.

a few years ago these threads were as common as all the bupe threads we get now.

 

[Trigeminal]

OP you may also be experiencing interdose withdrawal. It happens a lot with Xanax. I wake up with anxiety as well, but it was all caused by Xanax wirthdrawal. :/