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Anyone use Xanax to help with anxiety?

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Posted 12/10/2008 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
My old GI from the Cleveland Clinic prescribed it for me years ago because I get horrible anxiety when leaving my house because of UC.  I tried to take it and it made me feel loopy so I threw it in my bin with all of my other meds that I don't take.lol.  Fast forward to now, I decided to try the medicine again, this time I only took a 1/2 a pill and it completely makes me feel normal with no anxiety, and no loopiness.  It kicks in in about 15 minutes and I can leave my house without a thought in my mind about UC.  Once I'm out and about, it wears off and I don't feel the need to take another one because once I'm out and going about my day, I'm fine.  I was going to call my new GI (I've been with him for about 2 years) and leave a message on the nurse's line to see about getting a prescription.  I'm nervous that they're going to think I'm fishing for drugs.  I'm not, since I'm only taking a 1/2 as needed and not every day.  I am a little worried about the addictive nature of the drug but I'm being very conscious about only taking it as needed.  I've tried other anxiety meds that you take daily and I don't like the side effects. 

Anyway, just wondering if others use the drug????

Posted 12/10/2008 3:53 PM (GMT 0)

Yes I use xanax, not all the time, but it sure does help. It stops the worrying. It is highly addictive they say, but I have not experience the "need" for it everyday. I went flying this past week and I took it before I flew and it really did give me a calm feeling. Yes take it, I wish I would have taken it long ago, but I was afraid of taking meds, this one I kick myself for not taking. You will feel more calm.

Best to you.

Posted 12/10/2008 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
     Yes, my doctor prescribed xanax when I had anxiety.  It helped a lot.  Seems like while on prednisone my anxiety level is high.  When I am off the prednisone, I really am not anxious at all.
Posted 12/10/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
I take ativan as needed....same category as xanax. it really takes the edge off. I am extremely stressed at my job (i own a business - no fun) and taking atavan in the evenings helps me unwind and actually sleep....if i take too much i get very drowsy so i usually dont take any at all during the day....i have taken it to try to curb uc anxiety and it does work pretty well - again it makes me drowsy so i try to just stick to evenings....actually i look forward to it....thats bad probably... eyes
Posted 12/10/2008 9:48 PM (GMT 0)

I also have to admit that I love Xanax. I take it occasionally when it all gets too much to handle. All I need is half a pill (half a .5 mg) and it takes less than 5 minutes to start calming me down - when my anxiety is high up there. I usually feel the effects in less than 20 minutes. I hardly take it. 30 pills were given to me by my doc last year in July and I still have 10 pills left, so I hardly take it. I took Celexa for quite some time for anxiety, but taking something longterm and everyday against anxiety is not my thing. I'd rather take something on a as needed basis, because we all take enough pills everyday, right?

I once used Ativan, too, but found it so much stronger than Xanax. I can't remember what the strength was, but I remember Ativan kicking in like a rush you get when the dentist injects the novacaine into your bloodstream which is not supposed to happen .... whhhhoooooa, strong stuff! smhair I thought my head is going to fly off.

Posted 12/11/2008 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I am using clonazepam (generic Klonopin), even though my body becomes habituated very quickly (like within a week or two of daily use) and at very low doses, and I have to taper off it very slowly. It is the only thing I've found that helps me sleep when my insomnia kicks in with a vengeance (I stay awake through Ambien, Lunesta, etc.).

One thing to know about Xanax is it has a shorter half-life than clonazepam, which can make it even harder to discontinue.

On a very as-needed basis, the benzodiazepines work great, but I've learned from experience that if you use them regularly for a while, the taper can be very painful (with more anxiety than you started with).
Posted 12/11/2008 1:44 AM (GMT 0)

I believe that Xanax got me out and about before I had UC.  The anxiety was so bad.  I tried some other medications but always felt "loopy" - not a feeling I like!  I only take 1/2 also and no closer together than 4 hours and never more than 3 whole pills a day as prescribed! 

As far as getting addicted - I just don't worry about that - at age 68 it just does not matter to me as long as I can continue to use it when needed.

ElaineNY

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