[Mountaindewed]

My anxiety has been pretty bad these past couple weeks. I’ve tried working through it but nothing has helped. I set up an appointment to see my Pdoc. I saw him today. I said to him “I know doctors don’t like prescribing it, but is there anything I can try besides Ativan?” He asked me if I wanted to try Xanax. He said “That’s about as strong as it gets” I said yeah sure. He said “it looks like you’ll need it 3X a day.”

I’m not saying he’s not a good doctor, but it just seems weird to go from being told no to benzos or having a doctor be hesitant about them to this new guy. He also prescribed me topamax because I was worried about my weight.

This guy is a specialist psychiatrist. So maybe people with my disorder truly do benefit from benzos. I’m not unhappy or anything. I just don’t really understand it. Does anyone use Xanax for anxiety? Does it work and do you have any side effects?

[Mountaindewed]

I don’t know if it matters, but when the nurse took my blood pressure my pulse was 101. So I was showing legit signs of anxiety. Maybe that’s why he was so quick.

[Guiness187055]

I take two benzo's one of which is xanax. My doctor has no problem prescribing benzo's as long as I use them responsibly.

[still_crazy]

hi. the big problem with xanax is that back in the day, -some- doctors put -some- people on excessively high doses for any number of problems...and that leads to trouble. I think the rule now is no more than 4mgs/day, whereas for a while there -some- doctors were going up to and above 9, 10mgs/day.

[Mountaindewed]

I got my prescription an hour ago. I’m wondering when to start it. Should I expect to be really tired from it? There was some confusion so I couldn’t get it last night and I was hoping to start it this morning. I have a busy day tomorrow including work. So I’m not sure when the best time would be.

[Deejay14]

Since you are working I would start it after work while you are home.

[Mountaindewed]

I actually just started it a couple hours ago. So far it’s been good for my anxiety if not a bit numbing. Side effect wise I might lie down in a few minutes but I hope it won’t be too bad.

I looked at the bottle and I’m actually on .5 twice a day instead of 3 times a day. I thought 3 times a day was kind of excessive anyways.

[Travelinglady]

I think most psychiatrists are weird! I've taken Xanax for a good while, tapering down from Klonopin. I now take it as needed, most of the time in the morning if I anticipate a stressful day, although occasionally I take it as night if I can't sleep due to worry. I haven't noticed any side effects.

[Mountaindewed]

So far the Xanax seems to be the med that has worked the best for my anxiety and has had the fewest side effects. It also seems to be working well with my topamax and is also reducing my appetite. I’ve also been sleeping really good and waking up rested. I’m really happy with it.

[salus]

Gabapentin works great for nerves?anxiety

[Wonderfalls]

I am a little confused by your "besides Ativan"? Did you try it and it didn't work? Because I don't know if Xanax is all that much stronger. I take .xanax up to 2mg a day, which I think is a bit high, but I don't notice side effects, except maybe sleep.

[kecanoe]

I have found that I can take half of one of my .5 Xanax and get the relief I need. I have a history of addiction (30 years sober) and I see a p-doc who specializes in addictions. He is convinced that I am safe at my current dose. I just take it only when needed, and start with a half dose and only take the other half if needed-which is almost never. It works really well for anxiety and for falling asleep.

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by Wonderfalls

I am a little confused by your "besides Ativan"? Did you try it and it didn't work? Because I don't know if Xanax is all that much stronger. I take .xanax up to 2mg a day, which I think is a bit high, but I don't notice side effxects, except maybe sleep.

It had been working but it didn’t work that well. Plus my old doctor only gave me 15 a month. It also made me hungry. The Xanax works much better for my anxiety and actually seems to reduce my hunger.

[Disorder7]

Sure it worked. .5 twice a day. Absolutely no more. I’m following my prescription exactly so I don’t end up like those other people I’ve heard about.
Then one day the nausea hits. I think I have the flu or something. Then I notice the nausea goes away when I take Xanax. But just this one time, right? The Xanax wears off and the nausea returns, with a few more symptoms. But it’s all good as long as I keep taking Xanax. I’m sure you can guess what happened next.
But you do what’s good for you. Everyone is different. Some people are on them for years with no problems. The only way to know is to roll the dice. Good luck.

[Mountaindewed]

I don’t think I’m having any issues. I have no issues taking just my two a day. At my scheduled times. 6AM and 2PM. Not to mention I have about 60-80 .5 Ativan I have no desire to take at all. Yep no issues at all with benzos.

[downandlonely]

I took klonopin for a little bit (just a .25 mg when needed). I had no problem stopping, but I do try to stay away from benzos if possible.

[Mountaindewed]

I get annoyed when doctors say you can’t have them when they don’t have a valid reason. Like you don’t have a history of substance abuse or a diagnosis where one of the major symptoms is impulsivity. Because then it seems like they are just making a bias judgement on your personality or intelligence or something. At least that’s how I’ve felt. I’m glad I’ve found a doctor that actually listens and understands that benzos truly do help some people.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by still_crazy

hi. the big problem with xanax is that back in the day, -some- doctors put -some- people on excessively high doses for any number of problems...and that leads to trouble. I think the rule now is no more than 4mgs/day, whereas for a while there -some- doctors were going up to and above 9, 10mgs/day.

Yes! I've had this happen to me in the 80's. I'd had no idea that 14mg.per day was not the usual dose, as I was brand new re: dealing with psych meds.
The excessive dose made for a terrible withdrawal, which had to be completed inpatient. It was horrific!

I am glad sense prevails and current Xanax daily dosages are much less!


WC

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by kecanoe

I have found that I can take half of one of my .5 Xanax and get the relief I need. I have a history of addiction (30 years sober) and I see a p-doc who specializes in addictions. He is convinced that I am safe at my current dose. I just take it only when needed, and start with a half dose and only take the other half if needed-which is almost never. It works really well for anxiety and for falling asleep.

I’m wondering if I take half of the .5 four times a day instead of two .5 twice a day if that will help with my anxiety? If I try to space them out a bit? I’m still having some anxiety and I’m wondering if splitting up the .5 will help. I mean sometimes less is more right?

[Mountaindewed]

You know I did that this morning. I took half of the .5 at 6AM and the other half at 9:30AM and it’s almost 4 and my anxiety is still gone and I don’t even feel like I need the other .5. Maybe 1 milligram was too much.