is this a smart idea?

Hi everyone! I've been active in the schizoaffective forum but I also have as my primary dx panic disorder.

Most days I can get by on my Xanax with only 4mg (two pills instead of three) and I like those days because I'm more energetic. Then there are the days I need the full daily prescription... for say... going to Walmart with my girlfriend. I can't believe I haven't run out of there screaming yet but my gf says if I need to leave she will finish the grocery shopping and give me her keys to her car to sit and wait and calm down. Last time we went after an hour of shopping I was losing my freaking mind! Sensory overload, angry shoppers smashing carts into ours, way to overcrowded for me.

I have a nagging question. My psych doctor prescribes me 3x daily 2mg Xanax for Panic... my dilemma...

So... the point I'm making is I want the least amount of Xanax to work so that on tough days (like a Walmart day or Movie Theater adventure) I feel OK taking the full prescription. Does anybody else do this for those of you that take benzos? Do you try and hoard some so that on the bad anxious, panic driven days I know that extra 2mg in my daily routine will keep me calm and kills my agoraphobia.

I had taken a year break from Psych Central... but now I'm back looking to reach out to my fellow schizoaffectives and panic/anxiety sufferers. Should I just stick to the game plan on 2mg 3x daily or 1mg 4x daily? Does it depend on how nervous or sensitive around crowds or sensory overload? I've always been told by others to never throw out what's left at the end of the month, just add it to the new refills. SMH... not exactly what I should do... some people can take their benzos (ativan, xanax, klonopin) PRN as necessary but my current psych doc keeps telling me at our meetings that "throttling" my Xanax is a bad thing to do to a body... like he said if you only took one or two pills a day he said that is close to PRN but since my anxiety is usually off the charts he wants me on the full 6mg a day.

Confuzed

I would take the full prescription, but ask your pdoc if he can prescribe something PRN for Walmart/movie/social situations.

You could also always withdraw from the alprazolam, and try something else with the alprazolam as PRN? I would reccomend BuSpar but it interacts with your doxepin (Serotonin syndrome risk). Why do you take doxepin? For Anxiety? Does it work well, or would you be willing to try something else? Do you have congenital long QT syndrome? Because lisinopril isn't a beta blocker you aren't taking it for anxiety right?

Hi. I only take the Xanax for panic disorder. I'm not on Sinequan anymore because my insurance wouldn't cover it anymore now I'm on Nortriptyline for Depression. No my blood pressure meds Lisinopril and Metroprolol ER regulate my stage 1 hypertension. The Xanax has worked miracles so I don't take a 'second' benzo. And no I sleep in like 3 days missing work when I first tried Buspar. Too strong. Xanax does me right. Don't worry I've researched a LOT on all the 9 meds I'm taking (6 psych, 1 Prilosec, 2 BP meds). I'll change that in my signature of my CURRENT medlines. Thanks for your concern and reply... much peace!

Thanks! No I think I'll just take the minimum amout (about 4mg = 1x 1mg every 4 hours). I need that third one when I interact with the public and go out. I guess I'm a hoarder. I don't abuse my benzo I just try and take the least so when I do have a panic attack I know that third 2mg pill will set me straight.

much peace!