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Xanax for Hubby

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Posted 1/13/2009 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hubby just got a prescription for Xanax and he is worried about taking it. Dr. prescribed 1 mg twice a day. Do any of you have any advice for taking this medicine????
Posted 1/13/2009 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there, I have never taken the drug myself but I know there are fantastic people on this site that will be alone to give you great advice....Welcome.  gillxx

Posted 1/13/2009 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
2 mgs seems like A LOT to start.

Has your hubby tried therapy? Was this dose rx'ed by a psych or a family doctor?
Posted 1/13/2009 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
1mg bid is not a bad start and he should not feel scared because it can be such a help when feeling so down right now. Maybe he can speak to his doc about taking half the dose for a few weeks to start out? Make sure you let you physician know.

Good luck to you all and much prayers :)
Posted 1/13/2009 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
I've taken xanax for years, and have had great luck with it.  It's a fast acting med, so he should feel his anxiety lessen right away.  It doesn't need to build up in your system over time like anti-depressants do.  I've never had any problems taking it, no side effects besides being sleepy when I first started it, but keep in mind that different people react differently to medications.  If you have any specific questions, I'd be glad to help.  Let me know how it goes.
Posted 1/13/2009 4:41 AM (GMT 0)

Hi ChristianNut,

Welcome to HealingWell. We are not medical professionals but we seek to support through common experience. Xanax is quite a strong anti-anxiety drug, but it works extremely well for the short term. How long has this dosage been prescribed for?

If he is uncomfortable taking 1mg as his first does he could try taking half the pill .5 and see how he feels.

I wouldn't let him drive on this med..and certainly no alcohol! Let us know how things go.

Meg

Posted 1/13/2009 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replys! The Xanax was prescribed by a family doctor. He was told he could take 1/2 if he wanted to. Dr. wanted him to take one in the am and one in the pm but I was worried how it would make him feel. I mean, hubby still has to go to work everyday. And I was worried about him driving back and forth to work. Hubby woke up this morning about 5 am in the middle of an attack and he didn't know if he should take one or not. He somehow worked it out without taking the meds. Before all this started he thought he was having heart problems and was scared he was about to pass out or something. Now that he knows he won't pass out and it isn't really his heart he feels much better. He's able to control it more knowing all of this. Poor guy!! I've had anxiety come a few times but nothing like this. It must be so hard to deal with everyday! eyes
Posted 1/13/2009 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
CNut, I would suggest your husband sees a therapist. I don't believe a family Doc should be rx'ing anxiety meds at a high dose like this. It's ok as a "band aid" for now, but anxiety is not a wound that heals with meds. It's deeper and the cause of the anxiety should be discovered.

Meds will get one over the hump, but in no way will cure the cause.
In my experience, and I am not a medical person, but have been an anxiety sufferer for 25 yrs and I took xanax in a high dose MANY years ago and also got over my anxiety w/out any meds, I think 2 mgs is a very high dose for someone who has not been assessed by a therapist.
For someone who's never taken xanax, 2 mgs will make him sleep all day. When I was given xanax, the dr told me to take 1 mg a day and I was in a coma state for 3 days until I realized I would rather be anxious than in a coma.

Please have your hubby see a therapist to find the underlying cause of his anxiety.
Posted 1/13/2009 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Cnut, I am one who uses Xanax for my anxiety. I only take .25mg at a time. That is about 1/4th of what you husband prescribed. I agree with the other posters, that maybe he should try 1/4 to 1/2 of it at first and see how he does. I find on .25 mg that I don't get the drowsiness like I would if I take the higher dose. It is a great med, that works really fast. I would also only have him take it as needed, i.e. when he is having an anxiety attack.

Good luck!
Posted 1/13/2009 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks peacesoul. He hasn't taken the medicine yet because it just doesn't feel right. He put some in his pocket just in case he feels a big one coming on. He's been doing well without the medicine so maybe he can keep that up. We have being seeing a family counselor for about a year now and the last visit she was a big help teaching us about anxiety. We are suppose to see her on the 19th so she can show him some relaxation techniques. This has all been an eye opener for the dh. He is a macho kind of guy and used to think someone just worked themselves up into a frizzy with an anxiety attack....lol!! Now it is hitting him out of the blue and it has changed his way of thinking!!
Posted 1/13/2009 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes a 'wake up" call is what we need to get us on the right path. Keep the faith and keep researching, reading, getting to therapy and you'll find all the answers.
Good luck to both of you. Anxiety is not an easy road, but it can be dealt with in a healthy and happy way

Wishing you all the best :-)
Posted 1/13/2009 3:59 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning,

I am glad you are concerned about the dosing of your husbands Xanax. 

First of all is he to use the med for high anxiety or a panic attack or is it ordered on a daily schedule to be taken twice a day every day?

The usual starting Xanax dosage is 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg taken three times a day.  This Xanax dosage may then be increased every three to four days to a maximum daily dose of 4 mg, divided into smaller doses.

As with most of the benzos this med is to be for short term therapy.  However I do not know what other issues or illnesses your husband may have.

I agree he needs to be seeing a therapist to learn ways to deal with his anxiety .

On HealingWell we strive to seek a balance between alternative and traditional approaches. I feel strongly, both approaches have value for anyone seeking healing.

Let us know how your hubby is doing.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

 

Posted 1/13/2009 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hello! I used to take Xanax. It helped a great deal with the anxiety. Your hubby should take half a pill tonight. That way he'll know how it makes him feel and he won't have to go anywhere. The side effect he'll probably feel is a calmness and sleepy. Once he's taken it, he'll feel better knowing he has this med just in case. His doc prescribed the Xanax. It will be okay! If your hubby does end up taking the Xanax on a regular basis, he will need to learn how to wean himself off safely. Encourage him to try half a pill. He will feel better!

Also, is your hubby doing anything else for his nerves? He should be learning relaxation techniques, reading books on the subject, exercising, cutting out caffeine, etc. Let us know how he's doing, please!
Posted 1/13/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)

Aries8 said...
Hello! I used to take Xanax. It helped a great deal with the anxiety. Your hubby should take half a pill tonight. That way he'll know how it makes him feel and he won't have to go anywhere. The side effect he'll probably feel is a calmness and sleepy. Once he's taken it, he'll feel better knowing he has this med just in case. His doc prescribed the Xanax. It will be okay! If your hubby does end up taking the Xanax on a regular basis, he will need to learn how to wean himself off safely. Encourage him to try half a pill. He will feel better!

Also, is your hubby doing anything else for his nerves? He should be learning relaxation techniques, reading books on the subject, exercising, cutting out caffeine, etc. Let us know how he's doing, please!

Good points
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