The Xanax question:

If you need it, it's better to take it until you get through the situation you're taking it for. Personally, I'd go with one of the other benzos -- probably Ativan, because it has a longer half life -- but I'd still be taking it. As long as you're not upping the dose regularly, it shouldn't be too hard to get off. Yes, it is a dependence, but it's not a terrible one. WIthdrawal should be pretty OK. (I don't like Xanax so much because it's so short acting that you can get into a cycle of withdrawal from it dailiy, depending on how much you take, and it can increase depression. That happened to me, but even stopping it cold turkey wasn't nearly as bad as stopping Effexor, for instance.)

And for the timing of the drugs: I'd say it's probably better to try to take them in the morning, if htat's what the doctor recommends. It might be contributing to your disturbed sleep patterns, taking them midafternoon. And those disturbed sleep patterns aren't so great for you, especially if there's any seasonal element to your problems. You might want to try to correct that, if you can, and see if you feel any better for it.

Just my thoughts. SOmeone who actually knows something might say I'm completely off base, but them's my thoughts on it, and i hope they help.