Xanax... Options

[Madge]

Do any of you take Xanax? I'm going to try a small amount on an as-needed basis, but could use some tips on when and how much might be effective. My son is getting married this coming weekend, and I've had a lot of tingling, head pressure & fatigue. I mean I've had it for years, but I think that since I've started a stronger blood pressure med in the last week or so, the tingling is much worse. So my doc decided to let me try a little Xanax to help get me through. He suggested 1/2 of a .25 mg tablet two or three times a day. But how many days at a time? I don't want to get addicted or drowsy. Any advice?

[chriscarol]

Since the standard dose is .05mg., half of a.025mg. is miniscule. I once had a doctor tell me to wean off any medication taken for longer than 2 weeks. I weaned off of Xanax twice, so it's is doable. If you don't use it daily, I wouldn't worry about addiction, or withdrawal.

[mindis2596]

Hi Madge, I've taken xanax and I usually take 1/2 of .25 when I need it. I have to say I try not to take anymore than 1/2 a day. I don't want to become addicted either. I really save them for times I'm really stressed. It sounds like this is a stressful time for you so I don't think 1/2 twice a day for a couple of weeks will affect you. I don't feel sleepy when I take it - just relaxed - not so high-strung or jittery. I have taken a whole one when I fly (vacation) and I still don't feel sleepy. Just use them for high stress times and you should be ok

[Pudge]

I think that 1/2 of .25mg is a really low dose. I take .25mg on an "as needed" basis and never worry about addiction cuz i don't take them that often.I save them for when the anxiety level is really high and nothing seems to calm me down. The good thing about XANAX is they work quick and don't stay in you system very long. If you feel that you need to take them, do but use them wisely...pudge

[Madge]

I've been having increased tingling in my head, legs, hands, and feet for about a week now, along with pressure on the right temple and scalp. It's just so darn uncomfortable. The xanax does help it some, for maybe 3 hours and then the tingling/pressure starts to come back. After the wedding, I'm going to a person who does head and neck massage. While I don't think it will make any of this go away, at least it will relax me some. Three weeks ago, I had some of what I'm experiencing now, but not nearly as much. Scares me a little, but I can't let it get to me too much, or the old anxiety thing will set in.

[Kleeo]

I've been taking xanax off and on since I started the anxiety 'crap' approximately 6 years ago. My prescription is .25, and I have never EVER taken more than one a day. I use them AS needed, mainly at night, and have stopped cold turkey many times, for a week, for a month, etc. and never had the slightest problem without it. I just had my annual physical last Thursday, and asked the doc about it, and he said considering the low dose that I use, and where it works for me, he thinks he prefers to keep my script going especially now that my peri symptoms have increased my anxiety levels. (I'm a naturally anxious person-LOTS of anxiety disorders in my family) HOWEVER! Never, never NEVER use another person's advice or personal experiences with a drug to determine if it's right for you! ASK your doctor! What works for one, might not work for another! HUGGERS!!

[Pudge]

Kleeo, nice to hear from you. You and I have been friends of this board for a few years now. My situation is like yours, my anxiety started 4 years ago with all this peri stuff. My dr.told me the same thing at my physical, keep taking the XANAX as needed because they work for me and I don't take them often (usally a few per month). I go weeks without them and have never had any problems. Can't wait for this to be done with, but i have to say I am much better than i was a couple of years back.Hang in there everyone..pudge

[Melb]

I truly don't think i would be here right now if i didn't start taking xanax--- my dr. rx. a 1 mg tablet---and i would cut it into 6ths---with a razor blade-and take it when i needed--in the beginning i would just about take the 1mg per day--but as i got better i took less and less---but wouldn't ever go ANYWHERE without it---now i only take it when i need it --i think it has been about 3 wks-- Hope this helped. Melody

[Sawyer]

I'm glad I came across this site. I have been taking 1.5mg of Xanax (.5x3 times a day) for a prolonged period of time. Plus I take 1mg of clonazapam at night and Zoplicom (7.5mg) at night to sleep. Major pill popper hey? I am now afraid of long-term side-effects and the ability to come off of them. Now that I am menopausal, my anxiety levels have risen significantly and am especially scared. I just bought a bunch on natural vitamins (calcium, magnesium, soy, black cohash) and am hoping they work. As well, I'm going to talk to my dr. about withdrawing from the others. Do you think it's wise? I don't want to be on all this stuff for ever, and yet I'm terrified to quit. Any advise?

[Melb]

Hi Sawyer, I remember reading that d/c-ing the xanax should be done very carefully. I think if you continued to take it 3x a day but took a bit less than .5 mg---and continue that for say 2-3 wks then cut the amt down again it should be ok---as far as the other meds--i can't help you there. But again you may want to talk to your dr. about it. I had been on my xanax about a year and didn't want to be dependant on it--i was taking it only at night so i just took smaller and smaller amts. then started doing that every other day till I finally could do with out it---I still keep some on hand just for those "special times" when my anxiety rears it's whole ugly body. Hope this helped---some other ladies out there probably know alot more than me, and will chime in also. Take care Melody

[Sawyer]

Thanks for the advise, I am going to go to my doctor before I do anything. If he won't help me, then I plan on finding a new doctor.

[MrsUnderstood]

Hi Sawyer, You just gave yourself exactly the advise I would have given you. Working with a dr of your choice to adjust the dosage of meds is always a good idea. Gradually lowering the dosage as Melody suggested should be something your dr can help you with. As for adding new supplements, it helps to add 1 at a time to see how each helps you personally. You'll figure out what works best for you. ~Helen

[Sawyer]

Thanks you guys, it helps to have advise. There will be a way out of this I'm sure.

[chriscarol]

Just wean slowly and it's quite doable. A doctor could give you a reduction schedule. Clonazapam is generic Klonipin, which is also a benzo, but easier to withdraw from allegedly. Rebound anxiety can be a problem. Also, the nature of this class of drugs is they can stop working when used regularly. At least this is what my med man tells me. Good luck, Sawyer. The time I didn't wean off insomnia was the only symptom. I was taking about the same dose as you Sawyer. Since seizures can be a side effect of withdrawal, doing it slowly is wise. I weaned off rather quickly the other time, without a major problem. I wasn't taking Klonipin additionally, however. Is the sleep med. like Ambien or Sonata? These are not physically addictive, but can be psychologically.

[AngieSW]

A few years ago I was on .5 mg Xanax 3 times a day. I took it for over 2 years. My doctor worked with me in slowly taking me off the medication. I used a razorblade to reduce the amount; a little bit more every week. My doctor advised me that anytime I would feel a "rebound" effect to stay at the same dosage for at least a week or until I felt stable again. It took me a half year, but at this speed it was comfortable and painless. I've been off for 6 years now.

[Dearest]

I've put up some excellent articles by by Stuart Shikp, M.D. about Xanax (Alprazolam), the side effects, the usage, and stopping Xanax. You can find them at: Side Effects of Alprazolam (Xanax) and 'More Information on the Use of and Stopping Xanax' Dearest

[ej]

So, I just took 1/2 of a .25mg does of xanax even though I didn't feel overtly anxious. I have been having awful gastro issues and I thought it would relax me (and my tummy) but did it - NOOOOOO:( it just ended up making me more anxious than before I took it. I don't take it often and I don't take a full dose so what's up.... Do you ever say, what ME!!!???

[ej]

That should be WHY me!

[debrikkia]

ej, If you find yourself taking xanax "even though you are not overly anxious", and because you are having tummy problems, you should become concerned a bit, as far as what you're expecting the xanax to do. I would refer you to a previous post by Dearest that leads to this link: Side Effects of Alprazolam (Xanax) and 'More Information on the Use of and Stopping Xanax' We all need some help along the way, don't misunderstand me. We just need all the info and education that we can get before we begin a new regime. Good luck to you, and please let us know how you are doing. Deb

[debrikkia]

Sorry--I was not able to post those links correctly. Scroll up a bit to where Dearest posted and you can click on them and go directly there.

[skiptown]

Been taking 3 x's daily, for 4 mos. Don't ever want to stop taking, it really is all thats working, anxiety attacks are really just as hard on the body anyway

[Mattia]

Anxiety runs in my family as far back as my Grandmother. My Mom, my sister, and myself all take it on an as-needed basis. I began taking it in 98 when I had to travel and was petrified to fly in an airplane. My God, as soon as they would shut the airplane door, the panic would begin. I could not breathe or swallow and was so afraid I would die on the plane from a heart attack because my pulse was so out of control. One xanax pill cured it to where I would sit at a window seat and watch the ground below get smaller and smaller. Started taking it again 2 years ago because I would have a horrible panic attack before I had to go to work (not traveling any longer). I loved my job and could not understand why I felt like I could not breathe and had to throw up or have diarrhea RIGHT before I had to leave for work. I have never taken it as prescribed, just like all of you, I would take a lesser dosage - 1/4 of of a pill only on those days where I would get the attacks. Strange, isn't it, that is seems like nothing seems to trigger the panic attacks, they come and go as they please. I have learned to live with the attacks. I get up 2 1/2 hours before work, watch the news, relax, shower, and if I have a panic attack, just take my 1/4 pill and get on out the door. Tina

[jrobi]

I have neen taking Xanax for two to three years. I take between 3 and 4 milligrams a day. I would like to taper off, but every time I try, I get scared I am going to have a seizure or something. This leads to another panic attack in which I pop another axax. Hepl me Please, what do I do.

[dicannon]

jrobi,

You need to taper it very very slowly. I would do it under the care of a psychiatrist. The slower you taper your doses the less the effects of withdrawel will be. Try to cut down .5 mg every other day for a week. Then cut down .5 mg on the other days. Take it very very slow. I had to taper off a antidepressant that way. It took me about 2-3 months, but I had no effect at all.

[Nancy0531]

I have been taking Xanax for about 2 years .50 just to sleep every night.
Until September, my perimenopause symptoms have gotten so bad & the anxiety is uncontrollable. Now I take Xanax .25 2 X aday & at night .50.
Sometimes it doesn't even make me sleep because anxiety so bad at certain times of the month.
Let me know how you are doing.

Nancy

[Nancy0531]

I have been taking Xanax for about 2 years .50 just to sleep every night.
Until September, my perimenopause symptoms have gotten so bad & the anxiety is uncontrollable.  Now I take Xanax .25 2 X aday & at night .50.
Sometimes it doesn't even make me sleep because anxiety so bad at certain times of the month.
Let me know how you are doing.

Nancy

How are you doing?

[KarlaSwan]

What a great discussion! I am learning so much from everyone. And now I feel so
"not alone!!!" I know you know what I mean.

I have to take xanax pretty much every day for now. The anxiety is that bad. I can function, but
it's so very hard. I take .25 in the morning (if I'm having a bad morning) and the other .25 in the afternoon).
When I'm not having a bad day, I save it all for bedtime - - .5 mg tablet.

Only rarely have I exceeded this dosage, so reading all these posts has educated me.

I have to have a psychiatrist prescribe for me because I am on several medications, and I need to
be careful. So the advice of going to a doc to monitor what you are taking is good.

I take:
.5 xanax per day, usually at bedtime
1/2 .25 tab of doxipan at bedtime (this is a tricyclic anti-depressant). This pill puts me to sleep thank God!
.20 mg Proxac in the morning
HRt every day

So far, so good. My symptoms are manageable, however they just don't "go away."and i am learning to live with that.

[mik1in]

Do any of you take Xanax? I'm going to try a small amount on an as-needed basis, but could use some tips on when and how much might be effective. My son is getting married this coming weekend, and I've had a lot of tingling, head pressure & fatigue. I mean I've had it for years, but I think that since I've started a stronger blood pressure med in the last week or so, the tingling is much worse. So my doc decided to let me try a little Xanax to help get me through. He suggested 1/2 of a .25 mg tablet two or three times a day. But how many days at a time? I don't want to get addicted or drowsy. Any advice?

The best way to get over anxiety and depression is to take a break from your regular schedule, go out, and take good sleep. This helps in clearing the mind and try consulting a specialist who can suggest you as how you can get over your problem. There are various prescription drugs to get over anxiety and depression, but these should only be used in accordance with the instruction of a physician. There is a lot of fake selling of such medicines on internet, so before you can order it online just make sure it is a real pharmacy. People looking for online information on Anxiety, Depression and its drugs can have all the important information on http://www.xanax-effects.com

[brethor]

Hi all! I am brand new to this website and still trying to figure it out....I am 6 days post partial hysterctomy and I feel awful!!! Since yesterday I have started having horrible anxiety attacks, cold chills, sweats...does anyone know what is happening to me and what do I do....very worried

brenda

[Juliann]

Hi Brenda,

Have you spoken to your doctor??? My first thought is that you need some replacement hormones???

I don't know your situation or why you had this surgery, if you had cancer, you may not be able to take hormones. I guess we need to know more about your situation.

I know that some women have terrible hormone symptoms after a hysterctomy, I really think this might be part of it for you. It could pass and you could adjust and feel better in time. I have a friend who had this surgery and she is fine, never needing hormones. It's complicated, we are all so different in how our bodies handle things. I hope that you find out what you will need to feel like yourself again.

Take care, Juliann