Does anybody get depressed after taking a benzo? I get confused sometimes because if I take half during the early afternoon I get drowsy and sometimes depressed or should I say more depressed since I already am. When I take it at night I feel really good and relaxed. I wish I could get the same results during the day....

Hi,
I am on xanax low dose and I don't think it makes me depressed, really, more my mood is up and down along with my hormones, LOL. Every time i want to blame it on xanax I remember what a mess I was before starting xanax, severe panick and anxiety, moody and crying, excrutiation muscles tension, indigestion, etc. so I stop blaming it.
It also depends what BZD are you on, long acting benzos as ativan, valium, clonopin can linger in your system much longer, xanax has a shortest 1/2 life, so it clears faster too.
I would switch to taking it before bed, and see how you feel, it certainly made huge difference in my sleep and how I can handle work and life stress, but I take sometimes 1/2 dose in the morning or afternoon, and it does not make me dizzy, perhaps your body reacts differently
If you just started, it also takes adjustment period to build up level, and eventually drowsiness dissapperes.
HTH,
Best,
I.

Dear 'chaotichar'
I take Xanax on an as needed basis and its have never made me depressed.
It maybe that you need an AD.
Perhaps as Iradan suggested it might be better to take a dose of Xanax before bed as drowsiness can be quite common when it is first used.Also try to take the lowest dosage possible.
If the symptoms do not improve I would advise seeing your prescribing Physician as you might well do better on another anti-anxiety drug.

Warm Wishes
Keep us posted
Elizabeth

Elizabeth
I do take Paxil 20 mg every morning. I was first on ativan and for some reason stopped working for me, so started on xanax and was fine for a while. I took .05. I felt like I had to keep taking it through out the day and just wiped me out and could not even sleep even after taking a doseat bedtime. So doctor switched me to Klonopin and that works so much better for me at bed time. I will quarter it during the day since it's so strong. It all depends what I'm doing that day. I think I just panic when I need to take it when I have to go out some where.


Iradan
I've been taking benzo's for the last 9 months so I wonder if my body just get addicted to it. Klonopin let's me sleep at night better than xanax.

hugs char

Take the ativan then. My mother uses ativan and in panic moments I have had to take one of hers if I didn't have my xanax and they didn't seem to work as well for me and she was the same when using my xanax.

Haven't touched the stuff in about six months now, thank God!

I have been taking Xanax and recently noticed that I have depression that wasn't there before. It sort of snuck up on me, but I realize that it's new since starting Xanax a month ago.

In fact, for that reason I plan to get off Xanax. Well, not just that reason - it also doesn't seem to help my anxiety at all. Or, perhaps it does, but only for a few hours after I take it. I only take it once a day, although my prescription is for 3x a day. But I'm way too afraid to take any more than I already do. I recently read that if you're only taking it once a day, you can be experiencing withdrawals between your daily dose. I've had enough. Am also tired of that "drugged" feeling.