Question:
Ingrid Dekker wrote: > Hi guys, I see people are very negative about Xanax. One of it’s advantages is > that you can use it PRN (as needed) because it’s very short acting. Used in > this way, you won’t get dependant on it (I don’t like the word "addicted". > It’s like saying someone with diabetes is addicted to insuline). > Like every med, you should *never* stop cold turkey but taper off slowly. This > way you avoid withdrawl symptoms. Now, with an addiction, tapering off > will never work. > I use xanax for over a year now, PRN, whenever I feel a panic attack come on. > Taken sublingual, it works even faster (2-3 mins.). IMHO, it’s the ideal med > for panic attacks and I wish people would be less benzo phobic. > Bye! Inky (^_-)
I see this old argument brewing again… Good ‘ole dependent vs. addiction. First of all, about Xanax…. When I first started Xanax, it was a Godsend. I was finally able to relax. I didn’t have chest pains all the time, and for a few hours each day, I didn’t feel like I was going to die. Over time… about 8 months… it kind of stopped working for me. I was either still anxious (on a low dose), or badly in need of sleep (when I took enough to calm me down). And very anxious between doses… the old rolly coaster ride… Shortly after that I was getting headaches. So I weaned off of it slowly. It sucked!… couldn’t sleep… anxiety… continued headaches… irritable. But after about 2 months I felt a lot better. Headaches went away, sleeping better (knock on wood), less irritable. So to make a long story short… *for me*, Xanax was good for about 6 months. My SO’s experience w/ Xanax is/was similar. She stopped too, and now she feels better. The main point is: this is how Xanax is/was for me. People are different. YMMV! Now for Dependence Vs. Addiction. IMO, there is the following progression to addiction: 1. Use (occasional use of a drug) 2. Abuse (daily or chronic use of a drug) 3. Dependence (daily or chronic use of a drug, and you don’t feel ‘normal’ unless you use the drug(s). There is good and bad dependence. Good, is stuff like: heart meds, insulin, anti-depressants, and anti anxiety meds. Bad, is stuff like alcohol, pot (and other illegal drugs). 4. Addiction (daily or chronic use of a drug, and you don’t feel ‘normal’ unless you use the drug(s). *And* despite harmful, and serious consequences you still use the drug(s). Also, obsessive compulsive behavior w/ drugs. Your life revolves around drugs.) People don’t become addicted to heart meds, insulin, or anti-depressants. Anti anxiety drugs, on the other hand, *can* be addictive. So there is a gray area. But if you need an anti anxiety drug, you need it… period! Well that’s my take on all this. Please notice that this is IMO, and YMMV. Thank you for playing -G. — …Peace is the answer -Where would you store a universal solvent? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is me>>>> alangreg…@att.net
Response:
-G. wrote in message
<some snippage involved> Over time… about 8 months… it >kind of stopped working for me. I was either still anxious (on a low dose), or >badly in need of sleep (when I took enough to calm me down). And very anxious >between doses… the old rolly coaster ride… Shortly after that I was getting >headaches. So I weaned off of it slowly. It sucked!… couldn’t sleep… >anxiety… continued headaches… irritable. But after about 2 months I felt a lot >better. Headaches went away, sleeping better (knock on wood), less irritable. >So to make a long story short… *for me*, Xanax was good for about 6
months. <snipped again> >Well that’s my take on all this. Please notice that this is IMO, and YMMV. >Thank you for playing >-G.
I’ve taken xanax off and on since 1990, sometimes PRN, other times regularly. Most recently, I reported the "roller coster ride" to my P-doc, and showed him how I was breaking up pills through the day to avoid it. I was terrified that he would take me off. I refuse to live life feeling like I’m about to die, and xanax is the only thing (and I’ve tried a lot) that stops an attack. Well, alcohol does too, but we all know where that leads. Anyway, he studied my chart and said "when I see this pattern, it often means you are undermedicated" so he doubled my dose to 4 mg. a day. It worked for me. After the usual two weeks sleep-a-rama, I felt fine and stopped watching the clock for my next dose. I’m now down to 3 mg. (voluntarily) with no problem. What could be easier? Breakfast lunch and dinner and if I’m late or miss a dose, no big deal. Now I feel free to deal with my depression and PTSD and seem to be making some real progress. IMO, YMMV, CPA, YMCA, CPR, etc, etc. Brent
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