[Ltr2Hermione]

Ok.. this might sound bad... but I'm going to put it as plainly as I can.

I've been on xanax for YEARS.. like about 10 years... the dose is .5 .. 3 x a day. After so many years, I have developed a tolerance... this stands to reason.

So I end up taking a month's worth of pills in a week and a half, then go through panic attacks, unclear thinking and higher blood sugars for the rest of the month.

The doc doesn't want to increase the dosage.. so here I am.. TEMPTED to buy the stuff from some foreign pharmacy online... and THEN this gives me the fear that I'll end up getting some sort of poison or placebo after spending a fortune to do it.

Just knowing I'm OUT of them is giving me a panic attack right at this VERY moment.

On top of this, I'm about to embark on a new business venture and this is NOT the time to have unclear thinking.

If I was a junkie, I'd buy 'em on the street instead of going to a doctor.. I mean.. why bother? I have panic disorder.... I've become tolerant to the small dose I've been taking for years.

What am I supposed to do?

I simply hate this.... I hate being treated like a junkie because there IS a drug that works but the dose isn't doing the trick anymore....

Any suggestions?

[jenniferever]

It says in the patient information given to you by the Pharmacy when you get Xanax that "if this drug is used for a extended period of time it may not work as well and you should talk to your doctor as the dose may need to be adjusted" or something to that effect... it is a known fact that you DO develop a tolerance to Xanax or any Benzo. I started on .5 twice a day 3 years ago and now am on 1 mg 3 times daily as needed. You might want to talk about Xanax XR if you are on it everyday. Also, if you are seeing a "primary care doctor" that could also be a factor, they tend to be alot more hesitant about prescribing psych drugs like Xanax or Adderall. I would get a psychiatrist if you don't already have one. If you are seeing one, I would maybe look for a new one. My p-doc is wonderful, and I have been seeing him for 4 years. It is SO important to find the "right one" when it comes to psychiatrists!