Debaser,
I've taken alprazolam (xanax) for about 15 years on and off...mostly on. For many years I took .25 mg each morning, then went down to half of that each morning. Last Oct/Nov. started a bad setback for me and my doc. upped my dose to 'up to 1 mg a day as needed'. There were days that I took all four of those .25 mg pills and a couple of times took a half or whole more than that! Now I'm back down to a pill and a half of the .25 when I first get up and then another .25 around 10 am. I'm planning on lowering the dose over time, but not sure if I will ever completely get off of the stuff. It used to worry me, but now I know I need it and that's all that matters. For me, it has been a life saver, it's the only thing at times that will stop the panic attack and during really bad times keeps me more balanced with the anxiety. It's also just a comfort knowing I have it to use if a panic attack starts, though I've had a few panic attacks the last couple of weeks and have talked my way out of it and have not reached for the pills...good sign, I suppose, but I always know I've got em if I need em! I don't have any side effects from them, and they take the panic/anxiety away within about half an hour, so very effective for me. Hope this helps!