Xanax

[K9Lover]

So yesterday I went to my doctor who knows my whole history and has always been so supportive. I felt like I needed a little reinforcement?even after all this time, sometimes the beast still rears his butt-ugly head and brings on mild anxiety. She prescribed me a very low dose of Xanax (0.5mg). So long story short, I took one pill at around 10am and everything was fine. Around 6pm I took 2 pills for a total of 1mg (she said it was ok to take 2 in the evenings). I fell asleep on the couch by 7pm and when I woke at 8:30 I was SOOO groggy I couldn?t even shower and get ready for bed. I had to just fall into bed (at least I was already in my jammies?lol). Just wondering if anyone else had such an extreme reaction to such a (relatively) low dose? I used to be on Ativan and could take 1.5mg and still function throughout the day. Is Xanax that much stronger? I thought they were similar. Now I?m worried about introducing a new drug into my system, and I?m thinking I should just ride out my occasional anxiety. Any advice?

[Unwasted]

Xanax

K9, I have taken the generic of Xanax and would find 2 pills to be extremely high (I've had the same mg in the past - .5). I used to break them in half and a whole pill would be heavy duty for me. I'm 5'5" 125 lbs. I never took them during the day.

IMHO if you can get by without them, do. Keep them as an emergency only stash. It's a drug that you can surely get dependent on if you're not super careful.

Hope that helps.

[rubywillow]

Xanax

K-9, good to see you. I have a prescription, for other reasons, really, and I take 1/2 every 3 or 4 weeks. If that much. I've gone 6 or 10 months without ever using them. 2 would make me comatose too. With all meds, be so-so-so careful, and have a good medical expert you trust to watch over their use. They DO have their place, but so carefully. Or we fall into another trap. Thankfully, I have a great doc who is a friend, for over a decade, and he laughs at how cautious I am. But he respects it too. Take care, an post often. Hope the pooches are great.

[fluff]

Xanax

I am on .5 mgs as well,twice a day, but at this time of year my anxiety increases beyond belief-and my blood pressure really rises- so I am on low-dose xanax and blood pressure medication that reacts to the adrenal glands- I get very hyper so it calms me down. I take one in the morning and one in the evening- and then the blood pressure med. I'm okay with xanax-but I know it's addictive and if you want to stop then you need to do it slowly by cutting down your dose. The blood pressure med I've been taking is called nadolol and it helps with the jitters. Good luck.

[Lavande]

Xanax

K9,
Xanax is meant to be an antianxiety agent - not a sleeping pill. Obviously 1 mg is too much for you!
Everyone reacts differently to benzos, you have to be careful.
I use an OTC herbal product called Seredyn from time to time. It takes the edge off but leaves me fully alert & functioning.

[rubywillow]

Xanax

Lav, great advice. And of course, no one should mix anything with AL.

[mama bear]

Xanax

K9...I have been weaning myself off of klonopin (another benzo) and it has been torture.
It is a wonderful medication, but it is HELL to get off of...think about that, ok??

[Cinders]

Xanax

K9,

My best and dearest friend, who has never had any addiction issues, was prescribed Xanax a few years ago by a psychiatrist for her anxiety.

It has taken her almost a year to get off of them. She hates them and resents the fact that her psychiatrist was so free handed with something so addictive.

Be very careful.

btw, in the 90's, my doctor prescribed me 3 days of Xanax only during a very rough time when I was having panic attacks, etc. He told me that Xanax is not a drug to be taken lightly because it is so addictive and so difficult to come off of.

You should try Lav's suggestion. I take Calms Forte if I feel panic attacks coming on. They help me, not perfectly, but take the edge off.

HTH,
Cindi

[ATLThrash]

Xanax

K9-- to echo what others have said. Even if taken just like the doc's say all the benzos can be highly addictive. Xanax has a short half life which may be why it hit you like a ton of bricks-- it will get out of you quicker than say valium which is good but it is pretty addicitive. I was prescribed xanax at one time for anxiety-- and told to take at night since I woudl worry all night. I agree with old Steven Tyler from Aerosmith-- after taking it for a while it was the worst withdrawl ever. The good thing is that you have nto taken much and used occaisionally I am sure it is fine-- just be careful! Maybe some ambien if you are not able to sleep due to worrying? I think klonopin actually works better for the general anxiety -- does not knock you out liek xnanax. Xanax is good for panic attacks but I would try not to take it for general nagging anxiety if you can do without. It is like unleashing an atomic bomb when maybe less might do!

[K9Lover]

Xanax

Thank you all for your responses?I KNEW I?d get help from all you great people! I?m glad I have only taken it three times. I honestly had NO idea how strong it would be. I?ve been on 0.5mg of Ativan before and I could take up to 3 of those and only feel a slight relaxed feeling (just enough for a nap?lol?and yes I know, it?s not a sleeping pill?was only kidding). My doctor said she doesn?t prescribe Valium because it stays in your body too long. I will be VERY careful with the Xanax and never take more than one pill at a time, and then only as needed. Lord knows I don?t need to trade in an alcohol addiction for a prescription pill addiction! My anxiety seems to be fading anyway, thankfully! Unfortunately due to insurance rates, that was my last visit to my doctor because I have to switch to another medical facility. When I told her that, we both got teary and hugged each other :upset: She?s been such a support to me and she always commends me on my commitment to this battle. I hope and pray that I can establish a similar relationship with another doctor?lets hope so anyway. Thank you all again, it?s nice to have somewhere to turn with these questions :thanks: