Xanax....why are some people uptight?

My doctor's office prescribed Xanax for me because I am suffering from panic attacks and anxiety. My therapist doesn't want me to take it...what is the big deal?
Should I get it to have it on hand? Or do I listen to her and not get it and wait for my next session to discuss what is going on?

sj, that's a BIG question. your therapist is probably nervous because xanax is highly addictive and is sold on the street because so many like it.

at this point, you need to ask yourself if you have an addictive nature and speak with t and p'doc about it honestly. if you've had problems with addiction, i wouldn't take it. if you haven't, i would if i needed it, but be very careful not to take more than dr prescribed or up the dose yourself, etc. you can build a tolerance to these and need more and more to help like it did in the beginning.

i took xanax for the better part of 8 yrs and never became addicted. in fact, when the time was right, i simply quit taking them...by then of course, i'd been taking them less, so i didn't deal with withdrawal.

ask your t if she's just looking at the "addictiveness" of the drug and not looking at you as a person and it's benefits. her opinion of the drug may be overshadowing her individual therapy with you if you've never had any problems with addiction.

all of this of course, is just my opinion and personal experience with it. xanax kept me functioning for quite some time when i was dehabilitated from panic/anxiety.

be safe and let us know

kd

My hubby is on xanax and it has helped him tremendously, yes there are pro/con's on the fact that it is habit forming but if your careful it should be fine, your T, needs to talk to your Pdoc and say why she is against it
Angie

Yeah, I think my T just wants me to rely on other methods of coping with my stress/anxiety. I don't have any addiction issues. But, I guess I do have other issues that would make her not want me to take Xanax.
She handed me a work book on dealing with anxiety but I thought it was stupid. It wasn't helpful...and trying to breath differently is funny to me. Like that is going to stop the voices in my head...come on!
I may be crazy, but I am not stupid!

<font color="blue"> sj, I would like to add to kimmy's very well stated comments. I have Panic Disorder. Mine is absolutely debilitating and ruled my life. My psychiatrist put me on Xanax, and for the first time in years, I was able to function and be a little happy instead of suffering in minute by minute panic.

It is addictive, and I am always careful to never take more than prescribed. However, it has made my life livable and if I take it forever and can be free of or at least diminish the fear with it, I'll take it for the rest of my life.

I am very concerned that your t hasn't called your pdoc to discuss her worries. Of course, mine work together but I honestly don't think your t should buck your pdoc. She can tell you it is addictive and not to take too much, but I'll guarantee you that she absolutely does not have Panic Disorder, and she can't prescribe, so she needs to be more careful about stating you should never try a certain med.

'Just my opinion and nobody pays me for it!

I wish you peace, for I know how precious it is in a panicked word.

January </font>

i second what January posted. i'm kinda reluctant about being comfortable when someone who can't prescribe (and therefore hasn't studied meds) disagrees with a psych doc without a conversation with said doc. ask her to call your psych doc.....

It wasn't my pysch doctor who prescribed the meds.
I don't have a psych doctor, I go to my primary doctor.
And she wasn't even in the office so another doctor who doesn't even know my presribed them from what I was saying was going on.
I still don't see the big deal in taking them, but I don't want to break the trust with my T

When I first encountered people taking Xanax it was in the ER during my psychiatry residency. It seemed that every other person was addicted to Xanax, alcohol and street drugs. I even remember thinking that Xanax should be taken off the market I had such bad feelings towards it. Then I started seeing outpatients in my office that were already taking Xanax and never took it in larger doses than prescribed, never "lost" a prescription or ran out early and didn't throw a fit when I suggested cutting down on the medicine. Gradually I started to prescribe it in selected patients and found that for most people it helped them be more functional in their life. They could drive to work, go out in public and tolerate crowds. Nowdays I frequently prescribe it for panic patients.

The key issue is that it is not right for everyone. The patients that are likely to get addicted are those people with prior addictions, and those who have unrealistic expectations that a medication will take away *all* their anxiety. Usually it is obvious who these folks are; they are already taking other prescribed medicines or over-the-counter medicines (Benadryll, etc.) in large amounts or inappropriate ways. In that case it is the physician's responsibility to say "Hey, I think you have a problem and I'm not comfortable giving you any more."

Medication is a tool though, not a coping skill. I defiinitely agree with learning new techniques to handle anxiety. I go through the CBT model of panic with all my panic patients and encouage them to use it. Some of my patients with severe panic are able to talk themselves through the attack and overcome their fear of having one, which reduces the chances of having another one in the future. This is the best strategy because you never have to worry about running out of your medicine or leaving it at home in case of a panic attack. Unfortuately the majority of people I see are unwilling or unable to do the work CBT requires. But they are willing/able to take an occasional Xanax when a panic episode comes on.

As long as someone's use of Xanax is an attempt to deal with anxiety rather than escape it; I think Xanax should be thought of as another useful tool for anxiety.

I didn't get the xanax.
Lucky for me I have my own set up coping methods...
T appt is on Thursday....

I really want to get the script. My doctor was furious that my T doesn't want me to take it and she still has it on hold for me.
My T knows I don't need it for panic attacks but for other reasons. But, I just kinda think I would feel better knowing if I had them on hand I could manage my feelings.
Besides, it isn't like one can OD and die right?

(***You remember me,eh?)

A few words of wisdom, Xanax is an excellent Rx in small doses for ppl who have anxiety attacks. Defintely, wait to talk to your T again to find out why (s)he doesn't want you to take it BEFORE you go ahead and start taking it!

(Disclaimer: This is only MY personal opinion; you should ALWAYS consult w/ your physician and/or T before you take it!)

(((((((( DAYZEE))))))))))))))))))))

I just told my gf I was going to get the xanax to shut the world out, she told me to stop being an %#@&#! and then
she got mad at me.

I should call my T but I am afraid too.

My experience with Xanax (as I, too, suffer from Panic Disorder)

My family doctor was the one who rx'd it for me, based on what I was telling him. He felt that it would help me deal with the things going on (at that time) so my life wouldn't be lived in constant fear of a panic attack.

Yes, it is highly addictive, but you have said you do not have addictive tendencies. You shouldn't feel concerned about being addicted to it if you follow the dosing instructions your family doc gave you.

As far as you T feeling like you don't need them, that's a whole other can of worms that should be opened carefully. She may feel you don't need it, but apparently your doctor does. My humble opinion, get the Xanax and go from there. You may find that it helps immensely with "the little things".

I was eventually taken off Xanax and put on a stronger med, Klonopin. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT! Xanax just didn't cut it for me anymore.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope that the experiences of myself, and others here help you make the best decision possible for you.

Dolfin

P.S. A little aside....yes, you can OD and die depending on the strength of the Xanax.....