Xanax for 15+ years

Hello all,
I was prescribed Xanax many years ago for panic attacks. I started with a dosage of .25 mg that I faithfully took 3 times per day. Eventually I realized I could take it as needed only. I went from 90 to 60 to 30 count over the course of time. Many days I never took it whatsoever.
Within the last 3-5 years, I have had a great many stressful situations that have increased my anxiety. Additionally, I now have physical changes, such as high blood pressure, perimenopausal symptoms, and as of late recovering from GP removal surgery, also heightening my stress and anxiety. ( Hormones from hell )
I am back to a 60 per month RX, but to be honest, I fill it at 22 days rather than 30 because some days I need an extra half here and there.
For the most part, I take a half of a Xanax during the daytime, and a half of a Xanax at night ( 50 mg broken in two ) and then supplement when I am in pain ( not for pain management but because being in pain makes me anxious as heck ) or when undergoing stress. General stress I am ok with, but I have been dealing with flooded home/family members death/family members attempted murder/buying a house/ crimes committed against my family / husband's breaking his neck etc. Rather extreme situations.
So given all that - am I looking like I am in the red zone?
60 .5 mg Xanax last me from 22-30 days. Does this scream " overuse"?
I feel like it may be something I am on for life, like a diabetic with insulin. It works for me, and the alternatives I have tried were never successful.
But people hear the length of time I have taken it and warning bells go off.
As long as I am not increasing the size of the dosage, or running out entirely before getting it filled, or increasing the amount of the dosage- I just sometimes have a day where I need one pill...sometimes three ( this would be when I am dealing with a migraine or having to appear in court or some such high level stress thing )...do I seem less like a poster child for addiction?
I have read about people taking as much as 10 mg three times a day - really high numbers. I feel some sense of relief I have not had to venture to that amount.
Is it possible that if a total of 1 , 1.5 or 2 mg helps me each day, I am still a candidate for " abusing" this rx?

Thank you debaser!
Someone else once mentioned to me about Klonopin. Is it something that would be effective immediately - in other words, would I make a switch without a noticeable difference if my anxiety kicked in and I needed medication?
I would like to be eventually off of Xanax, but evidently I do not produce sufficient amounts of GABA (? ) so the Xanax replaces or boosts it for me.
I have had the " if it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude with Xanax. I have no side effects, get my liver checked for adverse reactions from it, and I can relax knowing I have recourse to the horrible attacks.
I have tried Prozac and Zoloft and Lexapro and and and and....they make me so sick and dizzy and increase my panic. " Sticking with it" or " giving it time" did not feel like much of an option- and the withdrawal and / or side effects I heard about those meds gave me great pause!
I noticed in my first post I said that at night I take half of a 50!!! mg
I meant .5 - 1/2 mg of course!

I have taken 1 mg of xanax 4 times a day for 25 years it gets me out of the house and can lead a somewhat normal life, i still have anxity everyday but without the xanax i know I would be housebound again and I do not wnat that so for me it works, everyone is different I dont look at it as a addiction I look at it as a lifesaver. I never had any reactions from this durg, I have tried lots of others with it like paxil lexapro ect had bad side effects from those so for me it is the xanax.

Good Morning All,

I have been on a benzo for many years and at one time was on 4 mg of Ativan per day.  Well my P-Doc had a fit and wanted me off the Benzos so I weaned down using Valium as a substitue.  I did very well but when I got to the low dose of Valium I refused to give it up completely as like you the side effects from the AD's cause me severe side effects that keep me from being able to live my daily life as normal.

Many people do wonderful on the AD's and I wish I did.

I think debaser gave you good advice, talk over with your Doctor the use of your medication and as long as you are not abusing it IMHO you are doing OK.

Take care and I wish you peace.

Kitt

I've been on xanax for years as well for my anxiety and sleep issues.

Anxiety:  Gets into my system quickly when I need it NOW!

Sleep:  Adds that touch to relax me enough so that I can shut my mind off and get to sleep. (I'm also a rapid cycle bipolar).              

 Been on Ambien, Trazadone, Klonopin, etc. and they all leave me feeling very dragged out during the day and takes too long to kick in for me.

I agree with debaser's post:

"Klonopin has a longer half-life...much longer than Xanax. If you take Klonopin twice a day you'll always have some in your bloodstream, hopefully mitigating anxiety and panic. It's not so much that the Xanax isn't working for you. But consider that Klonopin may be worth talking to your doctor about. It may work better for you."

Wishing you wellness.

Good for you Precious Gem,

I feel better that you're sticking with a pdoc regarding this issue instead of a GP!

Keep us posted!

I take 1mg 3xs daily as needed but always 1 at bedtime.

Good Morning Gem,

I am also gald you are following through with seeing a Pdoc as they specialize in mental health meds, which I believe I may have said before.............yours is my first post of the day. 

Hugs

Kitt

I took klonopin for about 2 weeks it made me extremely tired. I'm talking wiped out! Now i take 0.25mg xanax,only a half tablet as needed and it works wonderfully! Somedays i take a whole tablet if i'm having really high anxiety. I don't know if i'm addicted to it or not but like someone metioned above i dont' care right now because it gets the job done! Another med that i have been taking for years that is not addictive is hydroxyizine and it really helps with my anxiety.