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Xanax and pain

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 10/8/2015 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
I started using Xanax for pain after some ptsd that was connecting anxiety and pain. I only used it occasionally and over the last year started using more for pain...and anxiety and now I use it every day for both. I know the titration to get off of it should be very slow( I work in pharmacy) but was wondering if anyone has done this. I take approx 1mg a day total

I'd like to get off everything and work on a more natural approach
Posted 10/9/2015 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
What kind of pain do you have? Chronic?
Posted 10/9/2015 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
I'm being treated for severe tmj that has caused a host of cranial and cervical problems all stemming from an undiagnosed hip sprain from a Chiropracter 6 years ago. The Xanax worked Better than muscle relaxers and pain mess such as not I or oxycodine don't touch it. It's a lot of nerve pain. I mainly see chiro, crainaloscopy specialist and massage. After lots and lots of tests...fibromyalgia which makes me mad. Until 2009 I ran a good 30 miles a week and was very active now I can barley work full time and I'm so tired all the time. And my anxiety level has skyrocketed
Posted 10/9/2015 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
It's generalized anxiety that is heightened by pain and likewise anxiety causes severe pain.
Posted 10/9/2015 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Sarah,

I was on Xanax .5 mg 3x daily for four months last summer. I didn't really have a weaning schedule, I just kind of followed what my body was telling me. I lowered to .5 twice a day for a couple weeks, then down to .25 mg twice a day for a couple more weeks. From there, I started taking it as needed for about three weeks and then I was off. Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be! Good luck!
Posted 10/9/2015 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
S.,

Here is a link that could help. They have instructions for water titration...and schedules.


 

On-line drug weaning information: (to be used in conjunction with, not substitution for your doctor's instructions)

http://www.theroadback.org/


You can ignore the sale of herbs/supplements. They are certainly not necessary...

...but the site has good information otherwise, so I still recommend it.

Some people prefer other sites, but I have found some of them to be negative...and really demonzing the use of benzos...which I find counter productive to recovery.

Youtube also has titration/weaning videos that you can look up.

Best wishes on your discontinuation. You are on a low dose, so I don't expect you will have trouble.;)

Keep us posted, and we will keep you in support!

S.C.

Posted 10/9/2015 8:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear you are dealing with anxiety and chronic pain I also deal with both so know how troublesome they can be and very fatiguing.

Anxiety definitely has an impact on pain levels so I would really concentrate on dealing with your anxiety as an improvement with that will see an improvement in your pain. Medications do have their uses but I find one of the most effective ways of dealing with both is by using Mindfulness Mediation we have some links in our resources so take a look.

Keep us posted.

Hibee
Posted 10/9/2015 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
I was recently on .5mg 3-4x a day. I followed a schedule that my doctor provided to taper and it was simple! I had no side effects. I certainly miss the relaxed feeling that I had from the Xanax, but that's about it!
Posted 10/9/2015 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
This is more encouraging than anything I have found. It's been very isolating and difficult. Thank you all the suggestions. Very similar to whatnot understand to be the way. I just don't want to cause any adverse effects . In just super sensitive right now. Actually starting to experiment with essential oils and finding them to be helpful. Not as much as I like but hoping once the Xanax is out of my system, they will work better. As far as managing pain. I just don't knows the tmj and cranial/cervical pain isnkorenthan I can bare sometimes . Pain mess don't work at all. Any similar experiences ?
Posted 10/9/2015 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
park12- what was your xanax weaning schedule? Im going to discuss one w my pdoc this month and wondering how it works..
Posted 10/10/2015 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sarah.

Chronic pain is tough to live with on a daily basis it was one of the reasons I gave my job up back in 2010.

You can get some antidepressants that also work well for pain a good example is Cymbalta I found it to be good for my pain levels as well as treat my anxiety and depression.

Hibee
Posted 10/10/2015 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
Gibber
Thanks for the encouragement. I struggle with taking meds because of possible side effects . I was going to start Effexor Xr but between working in pharmacy and trying to find anything possitive was really scary and depressing. I can't risk trading symptoms I'm at least use to for ones that medication causes.

I just quit my job...for the second time in 5 years. I find that just a few days a week per diem is better than 5 days every week. I do a lot natural things like yoga, chiropractic and massage and all those take a lot of time .

Any side effects you have found from cymbalta, especially while your body is getting use to it? My experience with patients is they have mild results and have to increase dose rather rapidly.
Posted 10/10/2015 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
just to add my personal experience with effexor ive been on it 3 months and no issues/horror...im an ssri lifer though and im ok w that so not concerned about withdrawal at some point
Posted 10/11/2015 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Anxiety medication is really nothing but trouble if you ask me. I took xanax for 6 straight years every day. I ended up with some horrible side effects. When it comes down to it you should really just be learning more about breathing exercises. And meditation as well. I would highly suggest that you take a look at this story at


And you should also find a decent and cheap way to learn meditation as well. it will really help you more than you could ever imagine. I hope you start to feel better soon and remember that you are not alone!

We respect all forms of anxiety management here...including both therapy and other self help coping skills...as well as the use of medication. To say that medications are wrong for somone needing help for their challenges is counter productive to the support we seek to give here. Also blog posts are allowed in your profile only. Please review our rules before posting again.

 

Scaredy Cat

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 10/11/2015 7:18:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/11/2015 8:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

I was on 90mg of Cymbalta for around 3 years and it did work really well for my anxitey, depression and pain.

The reason I stopped was because I was getting night sweats which I tolerated for a long time as I was pleased it was helping with my anxiety etc etc. It was a tough one to stop so I did a very gradual wean over a couple of months. The night sweats were the only side effect I got

Hibee
Posted 10/12/2015 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for that hibbee...I think cables is a better choice anyways from just what I know about it from my job. I'll keep that in mind :)
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