Starting Xanax

[NoddaProbBob]

Hello all.

I was wondering if anyone had any input about Xanax.

I have been having some issues with anxiety. I have been trying to "white knuckle" it and get through it but it's not working. I went and saw my psychiatrist today and he suggested a low dose of Xanax, .25mg. So I went and filled the script, and now am waiting to try it out.

When I went and saw him back in October he had me on Cymbalta for both depression and anxiety. It made me sick and I gained 25 pounds, so I kicked it to the curb. I originally was taking Inderal for class presentations to counteract the physical symptoms. I ran out and I feel like my anxiety has gotten worse, so now we're trying the Xanax.

Does anyone have anything to share? I am a little bit concerned. It is a benzo, which is something I've never tried before.

I really hate the medication game so while I am hopeful that this will help, I am a little bit angry underneath it. Angry because I have to take it, and angry because of what caused the anxiety.

At any rate. Please share!
Thank you!

 

[Paul01]

I have used it occasionally in low doses for years. Taken this way, it has been really beneficial for me. Don't make it a daily thing. It is extremely addictive and once you develop a tolerance it is a nightmare to get off it.

My attitude is that I only use it as a last resort. And I continue to do all the other techniques I've used to combat anxiety before I ever use any xanax. Maintaining a pretty high fear of the drug has helped me a lot.

 

[Press On]

I am taking the same Xanax dosage as you. I take it as a supplement on an " as needed" basis because I am VERY careful. I don't like taking it but it will take the anxiety edge away.

My main med is Wellbutrin and I take 40 mg Cymbalta besides. This combination works for me.

I agree that Xanax shouldn't be heavily relied on due to its addictive nature. The most I have ever taken at one time is 5 .25 mg tabs. But I was really off the rails then and all they did was make me sleepy. Felt somewhat hung over and sluggish when I woke up.

 

[NoddaProbBob]

I have used it occasionally in low doses for years. Taken this way, it has been really beneficial for me. Don't make it a daily thing. It is extremely addictive and once you develop a tolerance it is a nightmare to get off it.

My attitude is that I only use it as a last resort. And I continue to do all the other techniques I've used to combat anxiety before I ever use any xanax. Maintaining a pretty high fear of the drug has helped me a lot.

Thanks for your input and for sharing your story.

I think the fear of it is what has me concerned. I know that Benzos are strong and this is new for me so I am unsure of what to expect. I didn't buck at it too much though because I figure I have two options: continue to feel anxious and miserable, or try the drug and feel better.

I too am taking it as needed. Unfortunately, right now that is going to probably be a daily need. I am fine in many situations, but really, it's school that I am freaking out.

I have four classes, M-TH and this is a Master's program, so I think I am petrified of not living up, failing, etc. The semester is just about over though so hopefully the need will decrease.

 

[NoddaProbBob]

I am taking the same Xanax dosage as you. I take it as a supplement on an " as needed" basis because I am VERY careful. I don't like taking it but it will take the anxiety edge away.

My main med is Wellbutrin and I take 40 mg Cymbalta besides. This combination works for me.

I agree that Xanax shouldn't be heavily relied on due to its addictive nature. The most I have ever taken at one time is 5 .25 mg tabs. But I was really off the rails then and all they did was make me sleepy. Felt somewhat hung over and sluggish when I woke up.

Hi, hearing you say that it will take the anxiety away gives me some hope. It would help me so much if I could just kill this anxiety. I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

I don't get so anxious to the point where I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. Once in a blue moon I feel like that, but generally, it's just for classes. I get red, and shaky, etc, when I have to speak to others. What comes out of my mouth is well put together cognitively, but it's the physical symptoms that are killing me. So I generally tend to avoid conversation or adding to class discussion because I get so anxious.

I love what I am in school for and I just want to stop feeling like I am wasting my Master's program away by living in the shadows.

I'm glad the mix of meds has worked well for you. I think aside from the Wellbutrin, the Cymbalta probably worked the best out of everything I've tried. I didn't realize until after it was too late that I gained a significant amount of weight which only made me feel worse, so I decided to stop it and go back to the Wellbutrin. Never again lol.

 

[pyramid33]

You'd be better off taking oxycodone.

 

[Press On]

Hi, hearing you say that it will take the anxiety away gives me some hope. It would help me so much if I could just kill this anxiety. I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet.

I don't get so anxious to the point where I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. Once in a blue moon I feel like that, but generally, it's just for classes. I get red, and shaky, etc, when I have to speak to others. What comes out of my mouth is well put together cognitively, but it's the physical symptoms that are killing me. So I generally tend to avoid conversation or adding to class discussion because I get so anxious.

I love what I am in school for and I just want to stop feeling like I am wasting my Master's program away by living in the shadows.

I'm glad the mix of meds has worked well for you. I think aside from the Wellbutrin, the Cymbalta probably worked the best out of everything I've tried. I didn't realize until after it was too late that I gained a significant amount of weight which only made me feel worse, so I decided to stop it and go back to the Wellbutrin. Never again lol.

Praying for you that you'll make it through the semester just fine. Let us know how the Xanax works for you. I am 5' 9" 160 lbs and I need to take 2 pills in order to get relief; one just doesn't do it.

It's a bit different in my case as I usually only take them an hour or so before bedtime. I'm uncomfortable in crowds of people so on those infrequent occasions such as attending a concert I'll take a couple Xanax. As a precaution I make sure my wife does the driving.

I don't know if taking a .25 tab or two will affect your reasoning, concentration ect. in a classroom setting but it still should take that nebulous nervousness away as it does for me. Best wishes.

 

[NoddaProbBob]

You'd be better off taking oxycodone.

Care to elaborate?

 

[NoddaProbBob]

Praying for you that you'll make it through the semester just fine. Let us know how the Xanax works for you. I am 5' 9" 160 lbs and I need to take 2 pills in order to get relief; one just doesn't do it.

It's a bit different in my case as I usually only take them an hour or so before bedtime. I'm uncomfortable in crowds of people so on those infrequent occasions such as attending a concert I'll take a couple Xanax. As a precaution I make sure my wife does the driving.

I don't know if taking a .25 tab or two will affect your reasoning, concentration ect. in a classroom setting but it still should take that nebulous nervousness away as it does for me. Best wishes.

Thanks for the prayers.

I tried one .25 tab earlier and didn't really feel too much. I will have to try two and see.

The cognitive piece is what I'm concerned about. I have to be "on" while I'm in class. So I am wondering what it might do. And if this doesn't work, then what?I'm obviously overthinking it already but I don't know. I just wish this was easier.

 

[Paul01]

Thanks for the prayers.

I tried one .25 tab earlier and didn't really feel too much. I will have to try two and see.

The cognitive piece is what I'm concerned about. I have to be "on" while I'm in class. So I am wondering what it might do. And if this doesn't work, then what?I'm obviously overthinking it already but I don't know. I just wish this was easier.

I would try cutting one of your 1/4 mg tablets, and take it with a whole 1/4 mg tablet (3/8 mg total). Try to find the right dose that you get some relief, but with the smallest possible dose. That should help minimize the groggy, tired side effects it can cause in the higher doses. Everyone metabolises differently so it will take a little experimentation to get the dosage right. As long as you aren't taking it too often that same dose should continue to work well.

 

[NoddaProbBob]

I would try cutting one of your 1/4 mg tablets, and take it with a whole 1/4 mg tablet (3/8 mg total). Try to find the right dose that you get some relief, but with the smallest possible dose. That should help minimize the groggy, tired side effects it can cause in the higher doses. Everyone metabolises differently so it will take a little experimentation to get the dosage right. As long as you aren't taking it too often that same dose should continue to work well.

I will have to give that a try. Thanks!

I had a therapy session today and was feeling really nervous and took one pill again before the session just to see if it would work and I think it did help a little. But when I go back to class on Monday I am going to give the one and a half pill a try.

Thank you for your kind words

One thing I am noticing so far though is that I have a headache. Not sure if this is something you've experienced or if it's just due to the weather change. Northern Illinois weather has gone from 80 to 40 to 60 and 50 within the course of less than a week so it could be that.

 

[OldHat]

I use Xanax myself, but only if I'm start to having terrible anxiety attack, usually Xanax is there just to calm the nerves down in the heat of the moment. I take Zoloft which will eventually in the long run help me stop my anxiety, (with other things as well).

 

[NoddaProbBob]

Hi Old Hat
Thanks for replying.

I was hopeful that Zoloft would help me but unfortunately it made me too tired to continue using. It also gave me vision issues. So now I'm trying out the Xanax. I think I might ask for something else. I want to give it a few more test runs but so far, it really seems to zap me after its out of my system. I was exhausted last night when I went to bed and today I feel super groggy. Tired like I stayed up late last night. It's kind of odd actually.
I'm going to give it a couple more tries and see. I feel like it's working well for calming me down but the tiredness isn't good.

 

[Paul01]

...One thing I am noticing so far though is that I have a headache. Not sure if this is something you've experienced or if it's just due to the weather change...

I haven't ever had a headache from it. Headache is listed as a rare side effect though, unless it was just a one time thing.

...I want to give it a few more test runs but so far, it really seems to zap me after its out of my system. I was exhausted last night when I went to bed and today I feel super groggy...

Yeah, make sure you use the least you possibly can to minimize that side effect. The morning groggy feeling I've only had when I take a higher dose.

 

[raylog54796157]

Hello all.

I was wondering if anyone had any input about Xanax.

I have been having some issues with anxiety. I have been trying to "white knuckle" it and get through it but it's not working. I went and saw my psychiatrist today and he suggested a low dose of Xanax, .25mg. So I went and filled the script, and now am waiting to try it out.

When I went and saw him back in October he had me on Cymbalta for both depression and anxiety. It made me sick and I gained 25 pounds, so I kicked it to the curb. I originally was taking Inderal for class presentations to counteract the physical symptoms. I ran out and I feel like my anxiety has gotten worse, so now we're trying the Xanax.

Does anyone have anything to share? I am a little bit concerned. It is a benzo, which is something I've never tried before.

I really hate the medication game so while I am hopeful that this will help, I am a little bit angry underneath it. Angry because I have to take it, and angry because of what caused the anxiety.

At any rate. Please share!
Thank you!

I have been on xanax for a few years now and other benzo's for 40+ years. I must tell you from my experiience with these drugs is that there very addicting. I was also on methadone for a couple of years and it was easier to withdrawl from narcotics than xanax. Personally, i would not take benzo's if at all possible. The Lord Jesus Christ delivered me from Anxiety and he can help you too

 

[RuthD]

The mental health center I go to stopped prescribing benzos and sleeping meds for everyone there. So now I take Visteril for anxiety and sleep. It is much milder and does not have the side effect of the tiredness hangover benzos give. I have a few of the benzos left in the form of Klonopin but I only will take it if I have severe anxiety. I have only a few left but I'm not worried about it any more as I've mostly withdrawn from them. I was taking benzos for about 10 years but not all the time, only as needed.

 

[SaphireOwl]

You'd be better off taking oxycodone.

AKA/Hillbilly Heroine? Hardly!

I had a dear friend who was prescribed Xanax for her anxiety. She was on the stuff for nine years! Desperate to get off the drug and switch to something natural she sought advice from her prescribing physician who told her she could never risk getting off Xanax.
Withdrawal could cause her to seize to death!

Had he told her that risk prior to prescribing she'd have gone with a natural remedy. Which she was hoping to transfer to while slowly weaning herself off Xanax.

Check the on-line PDR for any and all medications you're prescribed. That's my recommendation. And ask both your doctor and the pharmacist to give you details about what you're prescribed. Then double check at the PDR site on-line.
Xanax



Oxycodone, that someone mentioned, is for chronic pain. Not anxiety! And it can be incredibly addictive. This is the narcotic we hear celebrities being addicted to.


Edited to add this: I found this reference link that you might like to look through. It's all about natural remedies for mood help and frayed nerves/anxiety. (LINK) The Get Happy Herb Guide
The 10 best herbs for boosting your mood and mending your frayed nerves.
by Hillari Dowdle

 

[Paul01]

...I must tell you from my experiience with these drugs is that there very addicting...

They are.

Xanax should really not be used as a daily pill for anxiety though some people take them daily. My brother was on 2 mg daily and had to be admitted to a detox center to get off them. It was a nightmare. If used for occasional (maybe weekly) anxiety flare ups, it's a lot less likely someone will build a tolerance. I'm down to a few doses a year now, but w/o them I'd have been unable to work a few years ago. Through my worst times I never lost respect for the drug and only took them in total desperation.

 

[raylog54796157]

Yes you are very smart in this matter, but unfortuntly there are those who abuse this drug and when it comes down to withdrawl it is very difficult, i commend you for using it as you do. I am down from 4 mgs per day to 2 milligrams. I was down to 1 mg and had to go back up a milligram for it really affected my blood pressure but with Jesus and prayer i will get over this.
Thank You

 

[actionsub]

I had a dear friend who was prescribed Xanax for her anxiety. She was on the stuff for nine years! Desperate to get off the drug and switch to something natural she sought advice from her prescribing physician who told her she could never risk getting off Xanax.
Withdrawal could cause her to seize to death!


Xanax

This is quite true. I tried to get off Xanax after 20 years and I'd have a mini-seizure (similar to that feeling you get when you're suddenly startled) about every 2-3 minutes. I managed to wean myself down to .5mg a day, but anything below that brought on the bounce-back symptoms.

Take the advice of those who told you only to take it as needed. I didn't get that from the physician who gave it to me originally and the internet didn't exist when I was first prescribed benzos (started on Ativan), so I didn't have that resource either.