Xanax..Need some Input please

I have Bad anxiety and panic and depression. This has been going on since sept with bad derealization!! I went to the doctor yesterday and he wants me to up my Zoloft to 50mg and to take my xanax. I am so scared of meds and have heard horrible things about uping my Zoloft and with taking xanax. Please help I am scared!!!

Melinda,

PLEASE do your research before taking Xanax or any other benzodiazapine. I can not stress enough how much damage Xanax has done to me and many others I know. My mother is an acupuncturist and has a lot of patients with anxiety who have tried Xanax. ALL of them ended up being hospitalized in order to get off of it. It is an extremely dangerous and addictive drug and once you are on it, it is very difficult to come off of. I began taking it for anxiety, .5 milligrams 3x a day, and noticed within a couple weeks that in between doses I was beginning to have what they call "break-through periods" in which I was experiencing withdrawal from the drug. This happens because the body builds up a tolerance to the medication and needs more and more of it the longer we take it. So they put me on Klonopin, another benzodiazapine in the same class as Xanax, and when that wasn't working, they tried Ativan. The withdrawal I was experiencing between doses was ten times worse than the anxiety I was having previously. A lot of people don't recognize this as withdrawal, but believe it is their anxiety returning, and continue to increase their dosage to avoid these break-through periods. Eventually, I wasn't able to sleep through the night, because I would wake up as soon as it wore off. One woman I know began getting constant and severe nausea and vomiting, after taking Xanax for over a year, and finally figured out it was the drug. She went through hell trying to get off of it.

Most doctors will not warn you about the dangers of getting off these drugs, because they simply don't know about them. Severe anxiety, Psychotic episodes, and even seizures and not uncommon during withdrawal. I know a woman who died from a seizure withdrawing from Xanax.

I having been successfully treating my anxiety, which was very severe, with Chinese herbs (you have to go to an herbal practitioner for these), good diet, regular sleep, and exercise. I would recommend the same for anyone.

Here is a good, comprehensive website:

www.benzo.org.uk/

Post Edited (Cait88) : 11/12/2009 10:33:28 AM (GMT-7)

Melinda I totally agree with Nanners- ive been on Xanax and Zoloft for 7 years. I am FINE. They both work very well for me. Im so sick of people 'scare-mongering' when it comes to Xanax. If your doctor recommended it, I am sure He/She has their reasons, and after all, they are the professionals.

Maz XX

11. No posts of an overtly political or religious nature OR posts promoting advocacy of particular personal, medical, legal, religious, political, or non-profit causes.  The forums are intended for offering mutual personal support.  Debating controversial subjects should be taken elsewhere.  Limited religious references are allowed (ie. "my prayers are with you" or a brief quote as part of a larger post), but the forums should not be used to convert others. 

Cait88 please be a little more sensitive with your comments.  You are dealing with some folks who are suffering with severe anxiety and coming here for support, not to hear negative things you are posting.  Many of us have found great success in treating are anxiety with Xanax.  Thank you!

Post Edited By Moderator (Nanners) : 11/12/2009 11:18:21 AM (GMT-7)