Opinions on Xanax XR instead of a Mood Stabilizer for BPII?

I have General Anxiety Disorder with Panic Disorder and a family history of BPII.

Last before last doc wanted me on Tegretol for BPII.

New pdoc wants me on a very low dose of xanax (0.25mg 4x per day if needed similar to xanax xr) and I'm freaked out. He says that since I don't experience the major depressive episodes, it may actually not be BPII but just the GAD but acknowledges my family history of it (and thus won't prescribe ADs).

If someone had cyclothymia or BPII without depressions, do you think the xanax would solve the entire anxiety and mood problem? I'd rather not have something in my system continuously 24/7 as I take other meds (diuretics, anti-inflammatories).

Re: safety
There are risks to benzos I'm aware and I've never used drugs (or even drank alcohol). But the mood stabilizers are not innocent either. Are there any BPIIs with GAD that just take benzos and nothing else to function?

I'm just trying to educate myself on this, so please don't take offense. You can have cyclothymia or BPII without depression?

I believe so. The previous pdoc said BPII. Therapist had said possibly cyclothymia ("bipolar light"). Now new pdoc says GAD but we'll see.

I feel I have cyclothymia and GAD and PTSD. If I have downs it's very light and short.

hello

this is a common thing with a different doctors/practice groups treat ppl .......plus they alter and change how things are defined

it comes down to do u like this new doctor and trust their judgement or do u feel the need to see a 3rd independent doctor and have a complete new work up done

as for the effect of them ......good thing u do not drink
first few days while u take them take off work and just be so u can get use to them .....do not drive while on them until u know how u will react ......rem it is a pill so the effects will wear off if u do not like it

here is raw data for u
Tips on Taking and Discontinuing Benzodiazepines (benzos) | The Good, the Bad & the Funny of these Crazy Meds

I really do like this new pdoc! He is old school in that he actually talks each time so sessions are not just rx refill visits. He always returns calls and is not judgmental. He gives real CBT advise too like in prepping for upcoming exams and dealing with the insomnia.

I did bark at the Xanax rx and he offered an antihistamine and a beta blocker but since I have asthma and am on a diuretic, it's not good (pushes blood pressure too low and I already have low bp).

Thank you so much on those tips! It puts me at ease. I will check out that link.

There was a period where I took Benzo's and nothing else to function and it ended badly due to my mood instability. Benzo's can dis-inhibit us and lead us to do more crazy things than we would normally do, and that is what happened to me. I was not diagnosed as bipolar at the time and ended up a train wreck. If you only have GAD then you should be ok as long as you are aware of the addictive qualities of Benzo's. Benzo's do not solve mood issues in the long term, they tend to make them worse. Perhaps you should talk to your psychiatrist about this. Take care.

Oh my, I def feel I am already disinhibited while hypo - the sexuality and charm or the extra sharpened skills and energy.

So benzos are like ADs then in that they really should be avoided by BPs unless on a mood stabilizer? Wow I did not realize at all and he didn't mention...I will call him on Monday. Thanks for this info!

i'm 68 yr. old female who was diagnosed bp2 more than 35 yrs. ago and do not have depression either and have never been hospitalized…have a lot of anxiety. was on a mere 450mg. of lithium daily for those 35 yrs. until it destroyed thyroid, had parathyroid removal surgery and most recently kidney issues so got off lithium. need 1/2 or entire 25mg. seroquel to sleep and stop the mind from racing and that seems to help keep me stable throughout the day. have been taking 1/2 klonopin daily for yrs. if anxiety gets worse throughout day, i'll take another 1/2 klonopin or 1/2 xanax which works faster.

i believe we all have different ranges of mania/depression regardless of what label the p/doc offers up, i.e. not being bp2 if u don't have depression. have been under different p/docs for all these yrs.

I have not been on the xr but I take .5 mg of xanax at night. Very rarely do I need to take it during the day. I have been on it for a year. I was worried about dependency issues etc but I haven't had to go up in dose during the year and I figure I'm on all these other meds for life anyway. You can always just try it for a few weeks and stop if it doesn't go well.

Benzos and mood stabilizers are two completely meds given for different reasons. I can see the benzodiazepine for GAD. But it is not a mood stabilizer and it cannot replace it. Also if you do not have episodes of depression, then you are mono polar and not bipolar. Still, IMO your mood disorder may still respond to a mood stabilizer. This is JMHO. I am no doctor.

I have a BP2 dx, well at the moment myself, my T and my pdoc are all in agreement that its BP1.5 anywayyyy, I am currently not using any daily meds, but I do have 1mg of Ativan to use as needed.

So far this suites me just fine as I'm no longer interested in ingesting anymore metals or seizure pills on a daily basis.

My opinion? I'm not a fan of a daily benzo, but if you have a GAD dx, they would probably rx that anyway, who knows, maybe it keeps you chilled out enough to find reprieve from the bipolar.

PS. This is not directed at anyone here in particular, but I am getting pretty miffed at all this recurrent talks about non Bi, bipolar.... Makes no logical sense.

Lol BP1.5!! Luv it!

Someone once explained to me to think of Bipolar as on a linear continuum with Unipolar. I'm still confused but I guess treating the symptoms rather than the label makes more sense.

I too do not have any interest in putting poisons in my body as I can see what happened to TRNRMOM could happen to anyone after long term use of mood stabilizers, especially when I'm already taking other meds that could cause serious drug interactions.

I figured I'd just use the Xanax as ozzy1313 does or in the smallest dose possible on a PRN basis rather than a daily basis to control the anxiety and hypomania when it comes on. It's good to see examples of people who do this without turning into addicts. I def plan to use natural remedies though in between days that I don't use the Xanax but it's coming to a point in my life now that I cannot function on those alone.