Just looking for advice

[[An...]]

Have been on xanex for 16 months. i only take 1/2 of a 0.25 ML. twice a day, or if the anxiety gets real bad I will take a whole.  I want to maintain this and not increase for fear of not being able to get off of it.

[[gr...]]

What advice do you need then Angel? Welcome

[[An...]]

Hi,

Thank you!  Is 0.25 like twice a day really bad and  addicting?  I don't want to increase but anxiety has been out of control. I'm going to Psyche specialist Wed. b/c the Dr. who prescribed this is an M.D.  I just started on Effexor Mon.

 

Need input!  TY

\\\

[[Ch...]]

Hi AngelC and welcome.

 

Even though a daily dose of .25mg doesn't sound like much, after taking it steadily for 16 months it has probably caused dependence.  After years on Xanax and taking a 'little extra for anxiety', I learned my anxiety was a result of tolerance from the Xanax.  Now that I'm benzo free, my anxiety is gone.

 

Here's a link to start posting for taper help: General Taper Plans.   

 

You can click this link to the Ashton Manual to read more on benzodiazepine withdrawal.

 

Please include your benzodiazepine information in your posts.  To make that easier by adding it to each post automatically, you can go up to Profile, choose Forum Profile, write the information in the text box and click Change Profile.

 

 

Take care,

Challis 

[[An...]]

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.  I will discuss the taper with my Doc. on Wed 

[[Ch...]]

Hi,

Thank you!  Is 0.25 like twice a day really bad and addicting? I don't want to increase but anxiety has been out of control. I'm going to Psyche specialist Wed. b/c the Dr. who prescribed this is an M.D.  I just started on Effexor Mon.

 

Need input!  TY

\\\

 

Any amount of a benzodiazepine taken regularly can be physically addicting after a few weeks, and usually is.  As I wrote in my welcome post, anxiety can be a symptom of tolerance withdrawal.

 

You've said you sometimes need to increase the Xanax to deal with anxiety.  This happened to me, too.  I increased and increased until I went from .25mg 'as needed' to 2mg daily.  When we reach 'tolerance' (the drug doesn't work like it used to and we need more) the choices are to increase the dose, stick with it and suffer with tolerance withdrawal symptoms or taper off completely.  Benzodiazepines were never meant to be taken long term.

 

Challis

 

 

[[ME...]]

Hi AngelC and welcome.

 

Even though a daily dose of .25mg doesn't sound like much, after taking it steadily for 16 months it has probably caused dependence.  After years on Xanax and taking a 'little extra for anxiety', I learned my anxiety was a result of tolerance from the Xanax.  Now that I'm benzo free, my anxiety is gone.

 

Here's a link to start posting for taper help: General Taper Plans.   

 

You can click this link to the Ashton Manual to read more on benzodiazepine withdrawal.

 

Please include your benzodiazepine information in your posts.  To make that easier by adding it to each post automatically, you can go up to Profile, choose Forum Profile, write the information in the text box and click Change Profile.

 

 

Take care,

Challis 

 

Thanks AngelC for your thread.  It leads to Challis comment that says:

 

"After years on Xanax and taking a 'little extra for anxiety', I learned my anxiety was a result of tolerance from the Xanax.  Now that I'm benzo free, my anxiety is gone."

 

It gives me hope that I will feel improvement as I go down with my taper.  Healing biologically could help me facing the underlying issues that are weighing me down.

 

Thank you.

 

MEexpat