I need advice from you ladies taking Xanax....
I've been struggling with the anxiety/panic for about 6 years since the peri started. I've been up and down and lately doing very good. You all know what stress can do and I'm entering a major stress time. We were going to move a few months back.....my husband was offered a great job and we were good to go....well my anxiety went through the roof and I freaked. My husband did not take the job because he was so worried about me......Fast forward about 4 months.....the same company offered him an even better offer and there was no way we could pass it plus. I also felt so guilty about him not taken it the first time.....so we are going for it. The house is on the market....husband started new job today in another state and will be home for the weekend and we are moving December 22!! Did I mention I have an Ebay business and my orders are through the roof! Ok.....just BREATHE ....

Back to my question.....I take Xanax very sparingly but when I do take it it is amazing! Do you think I should just take it daily until this craziness is over? Right now I take half of a .25 pill when needed. Do you think it would help ward of the big anxiety or panic? Last night I had a night panic/anxiety attack and my heart palps have been through the roof. Part of it is because things are so crazy we are eating out alot and I'm not exercising but I'm just in survival mode right now!

Like I said I'm just trying to take one day at a time. I was so angry I let this anxiety stop us last time and I refuse to let it get the best of me.....even if they have to sedate me and pack me with the movers I'm doing this!!

I dont know how much I will be, but I only take Xanax when the real panic and anxiety sets in, as of now my pattern is once a month, I only take a quarter of a pill, it seems to pull the edge off, if I need more later I do...
You sound like you are going through such a difficult time. When I hit rock bottom and think I can't go any further, my husband always says to fight, fight. He says for some reason you have been given this challenge and it is up to me how the outcome will be. So when I don't think I can even stand, I get up. I can barely walk, I go out and walk and take in some fresh air, Little by little all this helps. You are going to make it. Take the xanax and make your move and look forward to your new life and new experience...
Best wishes.
sishaircut (Karen)

Hi oarsinsailsup -

I take Xanax occasionally (about 20 days in the last year). I'm allowed a .25 tablet per day. On the really bad days, I took half the tablet in the morning and half the tablet about an hour before bedtime. I found this took the edge off just enough during the day so I could still function, but the dose at night ensured I got a good night's sleep.

I only take it when I feel the anxiety getting out of hand. It has always worked well for me, even when waiting until I feel anxiety first. If it always works for you, why take it unless you need it? You may actually find you're coping more often than not without it. If, however, you feel its effectiveness isn't as great unless you nip the anxiety in the bud beforehand, you could just use it daily during this short, stressful transition period. Then, once you've completed your move, you could go back to only using it when you get really anxious.

Try to get plenty of rest during your move. Make lists and just focus on completing one thing at a time.

Hugs-
Pam

YES..TAKE IT EVERY DAY. My shrink told me that in times of higher than usual anxiety you won't get addicted to the higher amount and over the LAST 22 YEARS of taking Xanax, I have found she was right.. Divorce, death, peri, etc. I have gone from my .50 at bedtime to 1.5 or 2 mg. per day during bad times and had no trouble backing back down. Xanax has given me QUALITY OF LIFE and I have an anxiety disorder. I used to get nervous about it and my shrink said (and I quote) "If youtook that much every day for the rest of your life, it would not make one minute's difference to your life, but the minute's would be calmer and have more quality. She was right!

I agree, take it!!

This is a stressful time, with lots of changes on the horizon. Don't wait until the anxiety gets the better of you. It won't hurt to take it for the short term on a daily basis. In fact it probably won't hurt you to take it forever, as long as you aren't increasing your dosage. But during these hard times, you would be crazy NOT to take it!! Stress and anxiety are damaging to the body, it is more healthy for you to take it than not take it....not to mention your quality of life will be much better.

After you are settled in your new home and life has returned to somewhat normal, you can reevaluate your need for it. This is not the time for you to try and be "strong", this is the time to "get on with it" and taking Xanax will enable you to do it.

Good luck with your move, and I hope your house will sell in this horrific market!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
You ladies are wonderful......such great encouragement. I think I will take it at the onset of "that feeling". I usually wait until it gets really bad but I also know from experience if the anxiety keeps mounting it can lead to the full blown panic attacks and I sure don't want to go there.

Thanks again.....Have a great day!

Oars

I have been in the same state so many times and the wonderful women here (and they know who they are), and what they have just said is so true. Take the xanax, no time to be a hero. Your body needs to rest and this is a great way to do so. The damage you do by not relaxing it is way worse than taking a xanax a day, it may even keep the doctor away!!!!

Good luck.

Hi Oarsinsailsup,
In my late 20's while working 2 jobs, nursing a baby at night, pumping milk for the day and a 2 and a 4 year old, plus being married to an angry alcoholic, I found myself in the hospital. I was so beside myself with stress that I was having constant full blown panic attacks. I thought I was dying. The endocrinologist at first thought I might have some rare tumor on my thyroid. No just a nasty panic disorder. He prescribed me Xanax 3 x per day. I didn't ask nor did I care at that point, even though I was a total medicine phobe, I took it faithfully. That knocked out my panic disorder completely for years!!!! I felt normal for the first time in so long. It was wonderful. I had my brain back and my life.
Today, I am almost 49. Stress beyond belief in my life coupled with out of control peri/meno. I went to the Dr this year and got a prescription. Doctors don't like to prescribe this much anymore as they claim it is easy to abuse. Well, I never abused it. Any drug can become an addiction for someone. Now, I just take a 1/4 of the dose for the days I feel like crap. I probably should take it like I used to but I still have that drug phobia and hate taking anything. Don't be a martyr. Take the Xanax. It quiets down the fight/flight and resets your amygdala at a slower alarm rate. Thats the problem with run away anxiety, the amygdala and hypothalumus which are the emotion centers in the brain get reset to a higher alarm rate and get stuck. Exercise, medication, prayer,meditation and good nutrition calm that area down. Plus plent of good sleep and naps if possible. Stress becomes a viscious cycle and add peri/meno hormones into the mix and it's like pouring gasoline into a fire. I also talk to myself outloud and reasure myself that I am going to have the strength to get through whatever is stressing me. Then I log on to this site and find others who inspire and encourage me and I seem to make it through another day.................Bless you and good luck with the move................Debra

Hi................



I am your friendly xanax poster girl!....lol....no, but seriously, i do take xanax, and wouldn't be without it!
I have tried other things, and they don't do a thing, plus xanax makes me feel much better, and works much faster!
As for taking a little more, it couldn't hurt...the amt. your taking is so little to begin with, that a bit more won't hurt you, it will help you. You sound like you're having a hard time with the anxiety (join the club), and with all the new stuff going on in your life, I think you should help yourself a bit more, and take extra. It's not that big a deal. I take two, .05mgs. a day, but only when i need it........if i dont' need it, i don't take it. You, however, sound like you need it.
So, go ahead, it won't hurt.....it'll make you more relaxed, and able to sleep better as well!

Good luck with the new job and house! Sounds exciting!!!!!