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Starting xanax today...please share your experience, helpful or not?

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 8/3/2007 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Well, in addition to paxil, my dr. has started me on xanax due to some major anxiety issues I've been having.  Going back into the workforce, many interviews and I have to fly next week--which has me in a major panic.  I started my first dose this morning.  .75 mg.  I don't know if it is working.  I can't tell and quite honestly, I think it has me even more anxious because I don't know what it will do to me.  Please share your experience if you have taken this drug.  Has it helped?  Made things worse?  Anything I should know/expect while taking it?  Thank you so much.  Benelly.
Posted 8/3/2007 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I was given xanax .5mg for my bad attacks. I too was afraid to take it cause I thought it would make me feel weird or crazy or something.  A few years bad I lived in houston and the hurricane and bad storm would always bring on a panic attack. So It got so bad my doc told me to take xanax to help me through it.  When I would take it I would go from freaking out to being calm and no worring about anything. The storms didnt bother me, NOTHING bothered me, I felt calm. It was great!

But it made me very sleepy after about 30-45mins after taking it.

I would only take it when I thought I was really really going to loose it!

My doc gave me a bottle of 30 pills and I only took like 15 over a 2 year time span then had to toss them.

It is scary to try something new but it is worth a shot if it can make you feel better.

Good Luck!

Posted 8/3/2007 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Benelly

Hello and welcome to Healing Well. To help you with some info on Xanax:

Xanax

Alprazolam, also known under the trade-names Xanax and Niravam, is a short-acting drug in the Benzodiazepine class used to treat severe anxiety disorders and as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety associated with depression. This medication is a tranquilizer. Many members use this drug for anxiety and most seem to find it useful.

Patients taking a dosing regimen larger than 4 mg per day have an increased potential for dependence. This medication may cause withdrawal symptoms, so please consult your physician before just quitting the drug.

Maximum daily dose is 4mg divided per day. Reference: 7th Edition PDR

I know it is scary to try a new med but if it will help you, IMO, give it a chance and let your body work with it.

Stay with us and keep posting.
Posted 8/3/2007 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Xanax is quite habit forming if taken regularly, as Kitt alluded to. I've known people who've taken less than 4mg/day and tolerance bit them. My advice would be to take it only if you really need it, and if you find that you need it daily, ask your doctor about switching to a long-acting benzodiazepine such as Klonopin or Valium.

It has a pretty low side effect profile, but marked drowsiness is certainly possible. Some people don't feel the drowsiness, but many do. Don't take your first dose right before you're going to drive somewhere. See how it affects you first.

Xanax is used to STOP panic attacks. Again, if you have panic attacks often, then you may want to use something else for maintenance. Discuss that with your doctor. Don't be afraid to take it, though. This class of drugs has been around for years and risks/benefits are very well known. You'll be fine.
Posted 8/3/2007 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
well I was on Xanax about 1 mg, I was taking ittwice a day, it didnt seem to work for me, the doctor then upped me to 4mg a day which still ddidnt work, i am now on 40 mg of prozac and 4mgs a day of clonapin.(when needed) but everyone is different what might not work for me, might work for you, so good luck with it, and keep us posted ok hun

Dawn
Posted 8/3/2007 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Just checking back with you and I see your getting some great advice. Again welcome to our world.
Posted 8/4/2007 2:30 AM (GMT 0)

I have anxiety/panic disorder for over 12 years.  I was also recently dx'ed with Fibromyalgia.  With all the years of pain and suffering, I can tell you Xanax is one of the few meds I take and one of the few that actually does what it is supposed to do. It calms me and takes away the panic.  I have to be careful though. I'm too afraid of becoming dependent. I want it to work when I need it.  I have .50 mg tabs which I break in half when needed. It always seems to work for me within 1/2 hour.  Sometimes, even breaking it into 1/4 works.  My Dr told me that is the Placebo effect......whatever, it works for me and is a great med for panic and anxiety. 

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