SODELL HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT XANAX????

Hi sodell how are you,from the last thread i read of yours,youv'e been worrying alot lately! As i said i know the feeling.I have a question about xanax since you said you've been taking it for years.I've been on it for about 3 months now and my DR said it is real addictive.Is that true? Have you ever tried to get off of it? The reason why i'm so curious about is because i've been on a couple of different meds since i've been having P/A,mostly SRI's and atarax.But the xanax is the only med that has ever given me total releif,and my DR doesnt want me to take alot of it because she said it's addictive! So i dont take it alot but when i do as i said i feel totally relaxed!! Do you take it everyday and do you think i would be ok if i took it a little more often than i do?

Hi Panike

I will give you my exp with xanax. I started having PAs in 1990. I was given xanax but not enough to keep the attakc away so i became dependent on it. I tried coming off and got to a month but the withdrawal was so bad I had to get back on it. I tried to take as little as possible so I was always having attacks. I was miserable for those 4 years that I did that. I felt bad to be addicted to a drug. I moved to Canda and saw a specialist in the disorder. He told me that I should not feel bad if I had to take it. He siad if I had high bp or diabetes I would have to take meds so it was not different. He gave me a dose that made me comfortable and my quality of life improved immensely. That was 1995. I now take 1 mg 3 times daily and I am fine. I know I will have to take it for the rest of my life but I do not worry anymore because I NEED it.

This is just my exp. Everyone is different.

Thank you sooooo much guys!! The info that each one of you gave me was very helpful! LIke i said it really does make me feel better, I mean i can actually get out of the house and do things! I have been taking zoloft and atarax for several years and recently i felt like the zoloft wasnt working any more.I had taken paxil years ago and did ok on it besides a few unwanted side effects! So i decided to try my luck with it again and about 2 days after i started i noticed that i started itching everywhere.I mean my nose,my eyes, my back,everywhere! I felt like i was in an itching frenzy!!! So i called my P Doc and she said dont take anymore and she would see me first thing monday morning,as this happened over the weekend.She said since i wouldnt be on anything(SRI's) that i could take a xanax everyday which she had only perscribed for really mental melt downs.So i have been taking it and the feeling i have been having this weekend compared to other days has been awesome!! I mean i knew it made you feel good from the few other times i've taken it but i hadnt taken it enough to get the full benefits and i love it.Now since you guys gave me that info i dont feel so bad about taking it! I agree with what you said cary,if the benefits out weigh the risk then why not!!!

Panike

I am glad that you are getting relief with the xanax. Studies have shown that of all the benzos there is something about xanax that help more than the others. The only drawback is that it is short acting so you have to take it like 3 times daily.

The withdrawal effects were anxiety and lightheadedness. I don't know if your pharmacist will do this but a product monograph comes with every bottle of medication. This gives you detailed info about the drug. Ask your pharmacist for it All the best.

GT

Thank you again guys! And yes, i have noticed that the xanax is short active i thought it was just me! I guess not! But when it wears off i dont take another one,i only take one a day but i can really see the difference even with that one a day.I take half of a 1MG in the AM and the other half in the evening. My Pdoc started me on celexa 20MG today also since i didnt have any luck with the paxil.I will be taking the first one in the morning.I hope it works, but i still will be taking the xanax.

Thank You Sodell!!! Take Care!!!

Thank You Sodell!!! Take Care!!!