Xanax ? to my fellow Anxiety sufferers.....

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hopeforpeace70

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:wave: I am new to this site. I am an OCD and Anxiety sufferer with depression when my OCD gets bad. I just recently went on the generic Luvox. My doctor also gave me Xanax. I've only taken it a couple times and didn't really feel any affects from it. When I stopped taking it after only a couple days I had an awful time sleeping - not sure if it is related. I'm also hesitant taking the Xanax because it is habit forming, and I don't want to become dependent on it. My doctor reassures me it is okay, because it is such a low dose. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
It CAN be related. When I used to take Cyrabalta and first stopped taking it, I had a TON of energy (which I didn't mind since Cyrabalta made me extremely tired) and had a tough time sleeping. I would wake up throughout the night and would get night sweats. Supposedly this is what you may go through with withdrawal, even though I gradually went off of Cyrabalta and also lowered my dose before stopping.

What level of Xanax do you take? I have .25 mg but I can cut the pill in half (per my doctor's instructions) and it will still work fine if you don't need a high dose. Maybe the whole pill affects your energy level a little bit much. I know I'm sensitive to medicines making me feel different energy-wise, and thus affecting my sleep. Also, what time of day did you take Xanax?
 
The thing is, I only took a few pills for 2 or 3 days - that's it. My doctor told me the affects were immediate after 1/2 hour or so. I didn't really feel any affects. I haven't taken it for some time now, but I think each dose/pill is .5. I got as high as 1 mg I think. Anyway, I've been taking Luvox for about 8 weeks now (about 4 weeks at 200 mg. - my therapuatic dose). Until I get my meRAB in order my doc keeps telling me that taking the Xanax is okay. Some days I feel more anxious and this is when my doc tells me to take it. I don't know - I just want to avoid having to depend taking a pill when I feel more anxious (I say "more" because I am always anxious). And the whole idea of it being habit forming makes me hesitant. I know I'm being paranoid, because millions of people take anxiety medications and are okay taking them. Oh, and I recall taking it in the evening.
 
To become dependent on a benzodiazepine, you would have to take it continualy for about 6 weeks, however, you may get a bit of rebound insomnia when you stop it if you take it for ore than a week or so.

There is no risk of addiction if you occasionaly take a single pill when you feel especialy anxious, and there is no risk if you were to take say one three times a day for a week or so while going through a bad patch.

The risk is taking it daily for protracted perioRAB.
 
Hopeforpeace,

I;m not your Doc but I actually agree with you, if you can avoid taking the Xanax than do so.

You are correct it is extremely addictive and yes it's possible to have some withdrawls on after taking it for a few days.

In addition dependant and addict are two different worRAB. If you take Xanxax on a regular basis you will for sure become physically dependant on them and coming of Benzo type drugs such as Xanax is extremely difficult and dangerous.

Alot of people start taking the drig just like you and stay on the drug for life because they are never able to come of it because they are afraid of or can;t handle the withdrawls.

Which again if you take for a certain period of time you will for sure have to deal with withdrawls because your body will become physically dependant on them.

So my point is if you feel you don't have to take them then don't.

Second (And i've been saying this to verybody on the anxiety board), get your hormone levels and vitamin levels checked. These are special test your regular doctor will have to perform and they have to be special requested.

Anxiety and depression type symtoms are many times a result of being difficient in your hormone levels (Such as estrogen or Testosterone, and yes even woman can have Low testosterone or having some sort of vitamin difficiency)

As physciatrist will just go and put you on anti-depressants or benzo without first making sure you been properly checked physically for all the things that may cause symtoms of anxiety, depression, poor mood, low energy levels, etc..

And I can't tell you how many times that I've been told "oh my gosh they found out my hormone levels were super low and no that I've started on treatment I feel so much better, mentally and physically". And I know from personal experience; My doctor was going to put me on Anti-DEpressants and I insisted on a hormone test and we found out I had Low testosterone and now that I;m on treament my anxiety, sense of well being, and physically I can't tell you how much better I;m doing and feeling.

Good Luck - And you are very smart to be cautious with the Xanax. :wave:
 
I agree with these replies as well and I completely understand about feeling nervous about taking Xanax on a regular basis. I'd probably think twice about it too if my doctor instructed me to do so. I have only been taking mine as needed and since I also split the pill in half, I don't feel that I have a high risk of becoming addicted to it. My doctor was at first concerned about how it can cause dependency and didn't want me to rely on it too much, which is why she gave me Prozac as my main medication. I've been happy with it and feel a bit more comfortable on it.
 
Yah, I recently started Luvox, but my doc told me to use Xanax to help me through the transition of meRAB. Because it is such a low dose he assures me that it is okay. I'm still very hesitant though. Thank you all for your feedback.:)
 
Thanks for your reply. Very helpful info. I'm currently seeing a family doctor for my meRAB. All the psychiatrists that are on my insurance are part of a group; therefore, I would have to drop my current therapist (who I have been seeing now for 2 years) and go with one of the groups Psychologists. It's so frustrating because I need to see a psychiatrists regarding the meRAB, because I think I need a corabo, but respectfully my family doc has admitted that he is cautious about trying this because mixing anti-depressants is not his specialty. I do not want to drop my current therapist, because I like him and I have spent 2 years with him. My other option is to go to a psychiatrist outside the network and pay 30% of the charge. It's better than nothing, but most psychiatrists want you to pay up front, and I can't afford it. Anyway, I am babbling.....my family doc did run blood tests, and I am waiting for the results. Yah, I'm hoping I can hold off on the Xanax thing. Thanks again for your feedback, it's greatly appreciated.
 
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