[radio_flyer]

I wrote a post in the meds section but I thought maybe I could write it here too. Guess because I wasn't sure many folks would see the post in the other section... And I don't know if I have reasons to be concerned.

I read up a little on Xanax... Treatment for panic and depression. Highly addictive.. Can cause birth defects...

A pill was on the floor and AJ's girlfriend said AJ your Xanax is on the floor.. Well AJ doesn't take Xanax....His girlfriend said she gives him half a pill to help him sleep/.... So does Xanax help one sleep... Can this be harmful without a prescription and under a doctor's care...

You'd think mama would have a super long nose for butting it in folk's business.. But the truth is I tend to "stumple" on this stuff.. I never go ln AJ's room.. I don't search the house for stuff.. I was just standing by AJ's door talking to AJ when his girlfriend picked up the pill on the floor

Should I be concerned she gives AJ Xanax.. I don't know the strength of the pills or how often... But if it can be addiction, he might be taking more thank she is saying.... I could be wrong... Just searching for info

[Evening]

You should never take prescriptive medication without doctors permission (and even then they dont know what theyre talking about half the time). I would try to discuss it with him, if he is having genuine sleep issues then offer to help him, see a specialist etc (as there are many different reasons for issues with sleep), if he gets defensive on the other hand, then the situation might be a bit more sinister. His girlfriend is not in a position to just be handing him meds. And I would like to know how SHE came into possession of it anyway? Unless something is going on, one of them would have had a prescription. If either of them say they do, ask to see it. There is a growing trend of younger people taking 'legal' drugs now instead of illegal ones.

[radio_flyer]

The Xanax is a prescription for AJ's girlfriend.. As she has panic attacks....She has prescriptions for "other" meds too... But I will stick to the Xanax for now..

His girlfriend is a "night person"... And I think she keeps up AJ... I am not blaming her.... They are up till wee hours of the morning almost every night... AJ has to be at work by 9...She sleeps in till noon... So I am thinking the sleeping problem has to do with them being up all night..??? Because I don't recall him having a problem sleeping before....well before she moved in...

I am not attacking her or on her case... I thought she was gold but think she just might be pyrite... The meds are my concern... I don't want him taking pills without a prescription.. I mentioned it to him and she butt in and said she only gives him half a pill but not every night.... But for some reason I don't believe her...Guess when I read Xanax is addictive is why I became concerned...

All of her meds are prescribed by a doctor....Just I don't like her playing doctor with AJ......I don't trust her anymore....

She also wads small pieces of paper towels and pushes it up her nose and twists it about with her head back.. I know she isn't searchen for buggers... Yet I don't know what she is doing... Have a feeling it has nothing with cleaning out her nose...

I don't know what is happening.. I know if I interfere this will cause a problem.. Is hard to look away esp when prescription drugs are involved....

[seeker1950]

Xanax IS highly addictive. I was prescribed it for anxiety, but also found it a great way to get to sleep. I confess I loved it, and I did this for way too long, until my doctor became reluctant to prescibe it for me. Eventually, it came to cold turkey going off it. Very hard, with physical as well as emotional withdrawal, physical pain in all my extremities and necessitating staying in bed for about a week!
AJ should only take Xanax if it is prescribed for him.

[radio_flyer]

Thank you seeker.... Oh geesh, and if you loved it, gosh I am sure AJ is loving it too... Which isn't a good thing.... ANd as you said, AJ has no business taking Xanax without a prescription......

Geesh... if it isn'e one thing it is another... I thought since AJ was getting his life together, working full time that things around here would have settled down. This new girlfriend I thought the world of.. ANd now all of this ... Since I know about the prescriptions, now I need to know what she is putting in her nose... Because I know for a fact, she isn't blowing her nose.. Stuffing paper tiny pieces of twisted paper towels in her nose, holding her head all the way back.. Like she is trying to keep whaever she put up there in.............

Rambling now.... Something will be done this weekend for sure... Because I can't stand all of this happening in this house.................Guess the drama continues next week..

((((((((((((((((radio flyer)))))))))))))))))))))go easy on yourself...little people, little problems; big people, big problems.................You're a good mom.

[ECHOES]

Xanax is habit-forming and if taken regularly, over time more is needed for the same effect.

I am prescribed .5mg 3xday, but I only take a quarter or half from time to time. Sometimes even less. I do notice that when I have taken it daily, I begin to feel depressed.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000807/

[radio_flyer]

Thanks Echoes for the link...Link is very helpful.... Is very clear these medications should only be taken under a doctor's care.. Blows my mind, all these meds..

[sunrise]

As others have said, your son should not be taking medication prescribed to someone else. Plus, there are better meds for sleep problems than Xanax. That said, I do take a quarter to half tab of the lowest dose of Xanax on occasion at night when I can't sleep. This happens about 3 times a year, although in a more anxious phase a couple of years ago, I took it a few times a month at night. So for me, Xanax has been useful in that regard. I can't take it during the day as it puts me to sleep or makes me zone out, even the lowest dose. Taking it so infrequently has not resulted in addiction. (I also took vicodin for 2 years for pain management and did not become addicted. I currently take stimulants for ADHD and have not become addicted. --Just wanted to add those comments as possible reassurance. Taking prescription drugs as prescribed does not necessarily mean a person will become addicted.)

RadioFlyer, it sounds like your son doesn't have good "sleep hygiene." I think the first step is his acknowledging he is having sleep problems and wanting to do something about it. Is he falling asleep during the day, being irritable, not feeling refreshed when he wakes up? If he doesn't believe he has a sleep problem, he is not going to ask his girlfriend not to keep him awake on her schedule, not going to want to try different alternatives from Xanax, etc. Radio_flyer, does your son think he has a sleep problem? Maybe he could ask a doctor about Xanax. Hearing about it from a doc might impress him enough to stop taking it. Unfortunately, even when our kids are adults, they often just prefer not to take advice from parents, so a "neutral" expert like a doc can have more influence.

Good luck to him (and you). His GF doesn't sound like a good influence at all.

[Crew]

I have been on Xanax since 1998 I have come off of it once. It is highly addictive yet all I can say in my case is that it takes the edge off of my nervousness and it DOES help me sleep. I have learned the less you can take the better....! I can take 1mg 4 times a day, however because it makes me tired I usually take 1mg at night and use the rest prn.

If your body needs it, I feel you won't become addictive if your taking them for the right reason. Like I take Morphine and it makes me so mad that I get pushed into the catagory of a addict. Yet if you people knew how much in pain I am in then one wouldn't think that.

Don't be afraid unless your taking them without doctors consent and I don't think you are.
Don't be nervous unless you have a history of drug abuse however just so you and your doctor knows that is all that matters... but I take Xanax and have so for years!
No worries right? Just make sure you follow your doctors orders............. and I hope it helps you, Crew