Xanax Questions

[DaftPunkFan]

Hey, I just have a few questions regarding Xanax, as I have recently been prescribed it for general anxiety/panic disorder. I put it off for a while because everyone told me I'm going to get addicted to it, but I find that it really helps, so I've recently started taking .25-.5 mg a day when needed. A few questions are:

1. At what dose does tolerance start to build, if I were to start taking it everyday? I guess I'm wondering, if I'm taking .25-.5 mg everyday for a while, would I be able to suddenly quit and not experience symptoms like rebound anxiety, etc.

2. Does Xanax cause damage to the brain if taken for extended periods of time, perhaps in high doses daily? Is there really any harm being done if someone takes a relatively average dose as prescribed for anxiety on a daily basis?

Thanks for any input

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Any dose builds tolerance. If I take 0.5mg of alprazolam one night, the other night I'll not feel the same effects from just 0.5mg, or I'll need more to achieve the same effects again.

However, if you dose once per day, it is possible you won't have any WD/addiction problems, and it's also possible you can avoid dose increases past 0.5mg / dose.

I would take days off and go as long in between doses as possible.

When the brain becomes effected from benzos is typically at the point where you're taking 5-20 times as much as you first did to get the same effect you did in the beginning. At this point, you're pretty much using benzos all the time, every day (until they run out).

It's hard to say how long it takes for your brain to become vulnerable to the application of benzos every day, but what I will say is that you should avoid taking benzos daily (even just one low dose per day) for a prolonged period of time.

If you need to use a benzo once a day for 3 weeks, that's OK. 3 months is pushing it. A year or two is when you will have dependence problems (possibly).

If you need to use benzos 5-6 times per day, and you will inevitably need more per dose as you keep re-dosing, I would avoid using them longer than a day or two.

I hope this made sense, does anyone have any questions?

OD -> BDD

 

[theantiadult]

if it helps usuing it daily iz fine.

 

[jspun]

get xanax 2 mg bars prn anxiety/ panic BID. My panic returned with new jobs, stressors. I days off I usually use 1.5 mg at night to sleep and maybe an occasional 0.5 mg during day. On work days I take 1 mg at a time to abort panic attacks and end up taking like 4-6 mg at work and sometimes another 2-3 mg if I had a hard day. I work 12 hour shifts so my schedule varies giving me 4 days off a week. For people with panic disorder, how much do you need? How about Klonopin, ativan, or other benzos (high potency probably drug of choice). Bottom line is what reimen works for you?

Background/ History of present illness: (can skip- probably booring reading incase intrusted in history of illness.)

I have been clean from illegal drugs, nicotine, and EtOH for 16 months. In the middle of the summer I almost replaced (on meth specifically). I had been on wellbutrin for a year, made me alittle jumpy in the morning, helped me focus, lifted my mood, didn't need to sleep so much, and even became paradoxically calmer. But results were modest and degreased with time (diminishing returns).

Opiates have been my main drug of choice. In early July fucked up my back surfing bad. Had been slidding into a depression, quit wellbutrin 2 months before to see how I would do on my own. Surfing helped but back injury kept getting worse then it was excruciating. Primary hooked me up with 40 vicodins. Anyway, I used it more or less as Rxed ( I have a long Hx with opiates-used slightly more, but it takes more (3-4 instead of 2). Point is, my anxiety and depression resolved considerably over 3 days maybe 4.

Then back into a pit of depression- out of water- back to painful to surf. Almost used meth July 24- documented in dark side meth problem link. Deep depressed- couldn't sleep, anxious, and that type of depression that saps your energy, gives you aches, makes your stay on the couch restless but can't fall asleep at night and sleep until 1300-1400 on some days, or all day. Have a 2 year old so tried self medicating with wifes suboxone. This worked tremendously- energy, depression reolved within a week, less anxious. Got script. Added wellbutrin- actually was trying to see if I could get dexadrine or similar commpound although it sounds stupid though. This was 0ct this year. In sep my primary put me on restoril because I had all this ebergy but couldn't sleep.

Current illness: Had started developing panic attacks in oct. Got xanax script. What is an ideal therapeutic dose for those on it+?

 

[K'd-OUT-in-AZ]

I've been on all benzodiazepines possible, switched from one to the other for 10+ years for the same problems that you suffer and to answer your questions...

1.) Regardless the dose that you are taking, if taken daily you will eventually become tolerant to the effects and the possibility of addiction becomes greater. If taken daily for just a month, some people even less, experience withdrawal symptoms and the longer your on it, the worse they become. My suggestion, take it only as needed and try to avoid daily use.

2.) The longer that you've been on them and the higher the dose, benzodiazepines eventually will cause brain dysfunctions like long term memory loss, cognitive functioning, prevents the ability for higher learning and emotional dullness that you aren't aware of. These problems are reversible though but how long it takes to regain them has to do with how long you've been taking them. I was able to stay off them only once and it took about 8 months before I noticed a change with my memory capability, cognitive functioning and so forth. I relapsed a month later though. I had been on them for like 7 years at the time though so it was rougher than most.

If you begin taking them daily for an extended period DO NOT EVER GO OFF THEM WITHOUT TAPERING FIRST! COLD TURKEY CAN CAUSE SEIZURES AND DT SYMPTOMS THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH!

 

[fresh basil]

I've been on Xanax for ~5-6 years now for GAD. My dose is 1mg 3x/day. When my father died in '07, my psych allowed me to take 4mg/day, which I did for only 2 weeks or so, then tapered back to 3mg/day.

My psychiatrist increased my dose initially very slowly until we found a therapeutic dose that worked for me. That ended up being 3mg/day, and that's what I've been taking since.

I read and understand that many people become tolerant and need increased dosages to get the same relief from anxiety, (I'm not talking about recreational users here). However, I just wanted to share my experience that increase in dose has never been an issue for me.

I do sometimes experience breakthrough anxiety when it's nearing time for my next dose (and I take the XR), but I've never felt a need to ask for an increase, except during my father's death. I also don't take the next pill early because I'm having breakthrough anxiety. I just deal with it, and wait until it's time, which is usually no more than 1 hour.

I'm painfully aware that after this many years, and the relatively high dose I'm on, that my body is completely dependent on it. This bothers me greatly. I don't like the idea of my body being addicted to anything, and especially a potent benzo. I wish I could live my life without it, but my doctor and I worked together for a couple of years trying every other possible anti-anxiety drug available, including 9 months on Buspar, (all that time spent adjusting the dose) which did absolutely nothing for me. It was probably about two years of suffering not only severe anxiety, but also the side effects of sooo many meds I couldn't tolerate. Finally, my doctor brought up the option of going on a benzo, and I needed relief so badly, I just said "Okay".

My doctor was/is extremely responsible with trying many other options before deciding I needed a benzo, (that didn't make me sleepy), and Xanax ended up being the one that worked immediately. I've never once felt any sensation from it other than it lowering my physical anxiety. No sedation, no "mellow" feeling, and certainly no "high". I've always been curious about people who use it recreationally, because from the first dose, it never did anything for me except what it was being prescribed for. I dunno, I guess everybody's bodies respond differently.

Anyway, I'd really like to get off of it, but I can't imagine living with untreated GAD again. That idea is much scarier to me than the withdrawal from Xanax. Okay, so that was my long-winded way of just putting it out there that not everyone experiences a tolerance to Xanax that requires increasing the dose, either repeatedly or at all.

YMMV.

 

[drminaq]

mine 2 salts

Essentially in their actions Benzos and alcohol are almost identical. For some drinking that syrupy sludge that society has chosen as its official lubricant (second to oil)is a chore Swallowing a pill is societies idea of therapy. As stated above there is no safe dose they will all lead to addiction and a necessary tapering off. The good news is that despite the absolute horrific symptoms physically (paranoia, insomnia, nightmares, panic rebound, tremors, seizures, bizarre behavior to name a few many people... many report a calm clarity when they stop taking benzos for a period of time.

My advice is to try every other means, yoga, therapy, a new pair of shoes anything before you commit to pills. They work well. Too well. I completely agree that some individuals are in need of them with out a doubt. They can be absolute life savers. Unless you want to go through the ups and downs of a benzo life style. Something not inevitable but not uncommon for it is The path of least resistance.

 

[fresh basil]

My advice is to try every other means, yoga, therapy, a new pair of shoes anything before you commit to pills. They work well. Too well. I completely agree that some individuals are in need of them with out a doubt. They can be absolute life savers. Unless you want to go through the ups and downs of a benzo life style. Something not inevitable but not uncommon for it is The path of least resistance.

Not sure if you're referring to me or just making a general statement, but I just want to clarify something again. My physician and I worked for about 2 years to find a medication that would effectively treat my GAD without intolerable side effects, that was also *not* a benzo. In those two years, I would estimate we tried 8-10 different meds, including ~9 months on Buspar at varying dosages. My doctor did not want to put me on a benzo, but after that much time had passed and I was getting no relief and the anxiety was negatively impacting my daily functioning, he felt that Xanax would probably work. He always felt that way, but wanted to try everything else first.

So for me, starting Xanax was far, far, far from the path of "least resistance". For me, it was the path of "last resort". I wonder if you suffer from any type of severe, primary anxiety disorder, because I can assure you that buying a new pair of shoes is not a viable treatment modality.

As well, benzos and alcohol are two different animals for me. If I drink alcohol I'm going to get a buzz. If I take 1mg. prescribed Xanax, I'm going to get a decrease in my anxiety. And because I'm not interested in increasing the effects of the Xanax, nor do I want to die, I very rarely drink anymore.

 

[StayinAwake]

Xanax question. I was recently told that someone gave their 2 year old a half of a .25 xanax to make her go to sleep. yes i think this is wrong but do you think it will hurt her? I can't get it off my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!