I sort of wanted to start over from where Lindsay closed the FAQs thread. Lindsay  :wave: !
My experience with xanax is more of positive than negative at this point.
It didn't work that sedative on me. I had severe anxiety problems which manifested themselves in dizziness, empty-headedness, no slepp, paralyzed- like feelings etc. 0.25 mg xanax twice-3times a day helped me to survive it all (I was finally able to sleep some) and feel more or less ''normal''. Second time that xanax helped me big time was when my ADs (paxil, at the beginning) triggered side effects such as dizziness, nausea and worst of all- panic attacks.
I was later on put on to xanax xr, which I take now 0.5 mg every second day. I'm in process of going off it.
That's one thing one needs to be carefull about, though. Warnings about going cold turkey (especially after taking high doses or lower doses for longer time, which is in my case)could just be for real! I tried it and went numb.
My advice is to follow your doctor's orders regarding taking this med precisely and don't lower your dose and especially not higher it! without a consult first.
Take care all!

I went off xanax cold turkey last month.  My doctor had been "fussing" about the quantities of meds I was taking so I decided to try to eliminate something...I chose xanax.  Since I had been on .5mg 2-3X daily  for two years it was a small amount but a long duration.  I wanted to see if I was addicted.  Initially it was not much of a problem but I got really anxious in the 7-12 day range.  I had the shakes, felt a bit nauseus and couldn't sleep well.  Beyond that it was fine.  I have now been off a month and appear to be fine with it.  HOWEVER, I still have anxiety and sleep problems.  I see the doc next week and I may go back on the drug.  I may take the approach of washing it out of my system yearly if the doc agrees.  Hey, he may not want me on xanax again...we shall see.  I don't recommend the process...cold turkey and without permission.  I will let you know how much flack I get after the doc visit next week!

Swede

BTW, my PDoc told me I could have had convulsions.  Yikes!

Swede, thanks for that input! Please do tell us about the doc appt. next week!

I've been on regular xanax .25 mg 2- 3 times a day for almost two years and my doc was careful with me going off it 'cus my body seems to react strongly to any change in meds (starting, ending). Xanax xr is said to be good for those  trying to get off.
I'm not sure I cold go cold turkey with xanax all the way anyway, 'cus as I already said it, I go sort of numb. (You are so good to go off just like that, Swede!)
Maybe I should consult my doc about highering my paxil dose? (I'm on 30 mg now)
:verysad3:

Xanax, can be one of the most addictive medications out there. Unfortunatey Dr.s don't realize alot of the time how horrible withdrawl can be. Fact is if taken long term, xanax can be harder and a lot more painful then heiron to detox from. If taken in small amouts as perscribed for a short amout of time weening is definately recommended. There's people who have been on it for years and years and their Dr has taken them off of it all of a sudden, and the result is awful. There's people who have had to admit themselves to rehab because they have taken it long term as perscribed, and their dr. discontinued it. I seen it first hand. This is one drug to think twice about taking regularly long term. ALWAYS consult your doc. when discontinuing it.

I would agree...do as I say not as I do!  I was fully prepared to back on the xanax if my propblems got to be insurmountable.  But I stuck it out.  I gave up alcohol the same way.  I guess I am lucky...or have a great deal of fortitude.

Swede

I agree, too. I have been on Xanax and still have a little for emrgencies, but I'm afraid to take any now.
I'm kinda afraid to take it even in a big crisis... it seemed to make my anxiety even worse when it wears off.
  ajax

I take xanax on an as needed basis (a quarter of a.05mg pill) It has been a good drug for me because I dont get real drowsy with it, it just takes the edge off, calms my mind from the racing thoughts that often cause my anxiety. And at such a low dose I know that if that dose doesnt help, i can safely up it by quite a bit....(gives me peace of mind:D  )

If I do go back on Xanax I would hope to take it "as needed" or possibly before bedtime for sleep.

BTW everyone, welcome to the new board!

Swede

Yep, adiction risks are very high with xanax. And no picnic going off it, I can tell that by now. But If I go  over it again in my head, I'd probably never made it to here without it. Talking about dilemas!

???

And yes, always make out a plan with your doc about going off it (Swede, that goes for you to  :D !) Take care all!

I have been on and off Xanax for years.  I am a lucky one in that I have never had a problem with stopping it. (Klonopin made me a zombie and did nothing for my anxiety). I am now on Xanax XR .5mg/day.  It is the best drug I have ever had for anxiety.  I feel no effects from it, no tiredness or dizziness, and if I dont feel I need it, I simply dont take it.  We are all different.  If I need this for the rest of my life, then so be it.  I am bipolar and know I have to take meds for the rest of my life anyway so what's one more? That is just my experience.-R

I like your attitude, Dispatch! In my experience, from when I decided not to be ''affraid'' of meds anymore (I ''blamed'' myself for taking them and worrying I'll never be ''clean'' again...lol!), I felt better in time. Is like coming to terms with something. Take care!  :wave:

I agree with Dispatch.  I am Bipolar as well and will always be on meds.  I happen to have GAD, SAD, and panic disorder.  I have been on Xanax XR for 9 months.  I really like it better than the Ativan I took 4 times a day for about 2 years.

Katie :wave:

I have taken Xanax for two years now. The doctor prescribes 1 mg tabs 4 times a day. I only take half mg tab twice a day if needed and 2 mg tabs at night to help with anxiety before bedtime. This is one of the meds that "Scares" me because I hear all the horrid "withdraw symptoms". I do notice if I dont take it in the day for a few days straight.. I do get antsy.

OK, I went total of 4- times 48 hours straight without xanax xr .5mg now (that's one day- take, one day- not take, one day- take...). I can't sleep really well on the nights I don't take it and I tend to get somewhat more irritetable and depressed. I'll keep on trying.

One more thing: did anyone notice having ''weird'' dreams after taking xanax (or x xr) late at night? I seem to wake up exhausted from vivid yet strange and ''mixed up'' dreams when I take my xr late at late  evening instead of afternoon....
Take care all!  :wave:

My doctor recently prescribed Xanax .25 mg, "as needed" for anxiety. I have taken it a bunch of times but I don't think it really does anything! Is it because it's a low dose or do I just have weird body chemistry? I wonder if a different benzo would work for me, or if one doesn't work none of them will?

Hi, Kaitrin!
Xanax does nothing at all for you? You don't even notice getting somewhat sleepier or something?
You should ask your doctor about that, that's my opinion. I myself only once took other benzo than xanax and it had a totaly different effect on me. I was so sleepy after a half an hour I fell right asleep and didn't wake in 3 hours. Then it wore off and I felt worse than before taking it.
I don't believe all benzos have the same effect 'cus it's not just that they have different names, the substances are different.
Take care and keep posting!

Kaitrin,
Do you feel anything when you take it?  Xanax is very quick acting but has a short half life and it may be wearing off right away.  You should ask your doc about another benzo to take.  Klonopin would give you good coverage over a long period of time.  It might not be bad to ask the doc about an increase in the Xanax since it is a small dose.

Katie :)

Yeah, I don't seem to have any effect from it - it doesn't make me sleepy, either. I'm a freak!;)

Kaitrin... I too believed that xanax was not doing anything until I went off it!  After a month without it I am ready to ask about going back on.

Swede

Here's a minus for xanax...I don't have the best time getting off my xr, but I guess this too shall pass.... :wave:

I depend on my Xanax anytime I am having an 'episode' - I feel it has been a lifesaver for me!  I have never taken it more than 3-4 months and never had trouble coming off.  I hope this helps,


bebo

Swede, I was just curious, did you get to the doc's app. yet? What did he/she say regarding going off xanax? Thanks!  :wave:

hi, i also take xanax on an as needed basis which has been lately every day sometimes 2x a day but i only take 1/2 of a .25mg pill.I took the whole pill once and it knocked me outcold, i slept for hours. I have found that it works great but only for a few hours and when im not home i find it wears off fairly quickly. Is that normal? I will say i would never stay anywhere if i didnt have my xanax its the best thing that has gotten me though some evil pa's.

Melanie

Hi, Melanie. In my expereience regular xanax worked for 2- 8 hours or so well, based on how stressfull the day was. It usually started working for me good 20 minutes after I had taken it.
Xanax xr which I take now takes longer time to kick in and gets me going for whole another day (almost). Take care!  :wave:

I have that same problem with the Xanax XR not seeming to have a very rapid onset.  I complained about this to my pdoc over 6 months ago.  We decided to have me take a little regular Xanax with the XR for relief until the XR kicked in.  I am pretty pleased with it, because it definitely helps.  Leonarda, how is the tapering process going.  How long have you been trying to get off Xanax XR and do you have any idea how much longer it might be?

Katie  :)

Katie, I took xanax xr every day for last 5 days and that's not good, I know  :( , but I had a lot of things to take care off and I simply needed to be ''well'' and on the go.
The days I don't take it, I have trouble sleeping and my anxiety and depression raise up a bit. I'm not really sure yet if that's from not taking the pill ''psychologically' or ''phisychally''.
I expect the process to last for some months to come.  :wave:

The last time I went into the hospital, the doctors there put me on 2mg Xanax 4X per day.  They got me back off of it as soon as my anxiety was under control with the explanation that it is highly addictive. I currently take 600 mg of Seroquel per day for other symptoms, but a side benefit for me is that the Seroquel seems to keep my anxiety in check.

Hello, SchroedingersCat.  I am glad that you were only on that dosage of Xanax for a short while in the hospital.  It is interesting what you said about Seroquel helping out with your anxiety a bit.  I seem to be hearing that on other websites.  I am on 600 mg a day like you.  Maybe if I didn't have Seroquel I would have to take tons of Xanax.

Katie  ???

Katie - I really do believe that it is the Seroquel that is helping with my anxiety.  Prior to my last hospitalization, I had been taking 6 mg per day of Risperdal as opposed to Seroquel as an anti-psychotic and my anxiety was out of control.  At the hospital, they made an overnight switch from Risperdal to Seroquel and my anxiety has been manageable ever since.  I have talked to other people who have had the same experience with Seroquel.  I was prescribed the Risperdal and later Seroquel to deal with various manic and psychotic symptoms.  If you don't mind me asking, why do you take Seroquel?

I am on Seroquel for Bipolar II.  It helps heep me even throughout the day and lessens psychotic symptoms.  I know what you mean about Risperdal.  I felt panicked on it.  I felt like i dissociated  some and felt out of place.

Katie ???

I see a few posts about seroquel here. I found out today that one of my friends,who had been addicted to xanax for a few years (and is having a really hard time with it) has been perscribed seroquel for no other reason really then to help her come off of xanax.

Insanity, thanks for sharing that.

No xanax xr for me yesterday. I was tired and sleepy to my bones, which is first for me on a day without x. Long, exhausting night with hard nightmares.
But today is another day I guess.... :confused:

I had a bad experience with Xanax.
When my anxiety reached its apex about 2 and a half years ago, my gp prescribed Xanax.  I wish I could remember the dosage so I could tell you guys...anyway, I'm sure he started me at a low dose, because I am always reticent to take a new medication.  
I took the Xanax about 2am (I sleep days) and ran to an all-night store.  I remember parking my car in the street and walking up my driveway...the next thing I remember was getting out of bed the next day!  I had absolutely no clue what happened for about 10 hours!  I rang the pharmacist, who advised I try half the dose I had taken, and the same thing happened the next 2 nights I took it.  My gp switched me to Ativan, which I have taken ever since, and never had a problem with.  It's weird how the same med can affect different people different ways...
                                                                --Candy.

JayFarrarFan, thanks for sharing. You're right, one med can have such different affects on people...
I took my xanax xr today afternoon and it knocked me out for good 5 hours....I sort of needed that sleep  :sleepy: .
:wave:

I have been off xanax a good five weeks now.  My doc said it was ok to continue using it on an as needed basis.  So far I haven't really needed it.  I have come close on occasion but I stuck it out.  I am having some dental work done in the near future and am sure to take it then.  I am one who gags at the dentist and I used to take xanax before going and it worked wonders.  The dentist was amazed at how well it worked for me.

Swede

Swede, I share a deep dislike and fear of going to the dentist.  I also take a small amount of Xanax before the appointment.  My dentist is glad I use the Xanax, because I used to fear choking on things and just start shaking in the office.

Katie :D

How funny!  And I thought I was the original "choaker" at the dentist.  One time he even put a teaspoon of salt on my tongue for about 5 minutes...it is some sort of old time dentist trick.  It barely worked.  Xanax is much better.  LOL.

Swede

No one here will probably believe this but I have been on xanax for 12, yes 12 years.  Yes, I am addicted.  I went to a mental hospital 1.5 years ago where the cookoo pdoc took me completely off xanax and put me on 6mg. klonopin.  Of course I did not have any xanax withdrawl symptoms just stoned to the bone on klonopin.  He assured me klonopin was fine to take the rest of my life...sigh.  I was off of xanax for a year after that for the most part and tapered myself down to 1mg. klonopin per night for nightmares.  Now I find myself using up to 1mg. xanax per day :verysad3:  Since I live in nowhere I cannot go to a therapist...there are none to be had.  I counsel with someone on the phone once a week and will go to a new pdoc in October (2hrs away).  Xanax is a great drug and does take care of my anxiety and some other BPII symptoms I have but you have to be very careful using it.  I wish I had never become so dependent on it.  Being strung out on my anxiety and BPII is horrible too so it is a catch 22 for me.

As a p.s. to the above, I tried using risperadol to take me off the xanax but it puts me out cold or else I am all day long.

Swede, thanks for the input!
Orion, thanks for sharing your story!
I actually know some people who've been taking xanax for many years...Some say one should go completely off x. and take some other benzo in case of need, but I don't buy that...Benzo is a benzo right? The last thing I need right now is take different drugs and possibly get me in a bigger mess.
What kind of drug is klonopin, if you don't mind me asking, Orion?
Take care all!