Don't understand xanax side effects???

Question

Ok, my psych gave me 25 mg xanax for my GAD and panic disorder. Along with my disorder I experience things such as palptitations and sometimes skipping beats or extra beats which bring on more intense anxiety for me. When I research the side effects of xanax I see less common could be palpitations or irregular heartbeat.....geez. Why would a person with anxiety want to cause more problems that might cause more anxiety? I've also seen anxiety itself listed as a less common side effect! What's the deal with this med? I really want to take it so I can at the very least sleep for more than 3 hours before waking to a panic attack but I'm so worried it may cause more problems for me. I am fully aware it is addicitve but after living with this horrible disorder for 12 yrs I'm just tired already! SSRI's just don't work well for me and the Buspar isn't helping at all. I appreciate all comments and many thanks.

Tori

Answer 1

Mirtazapine or Bupropion worth trying.
Panic disorder is real and potentially disabling, but it can be controlled. Because of the disturbing symptoms that accompany panic disorder, it may be mistaken for heart disease or some other life-threatening medical illness. This misconception often aggravates or triggers future attacks. People frequently go to hospital emergency rooms when they are having a panic attack, and extensive medical tests may be performed to rule out these other conditions, thus creating further anxiety.

Treatment for panic disorder includes medications and a type of psychotherapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches people about the nature of panic attacks, the cycles of negative thoughts, and demonstrates ways to interrupt the panic process.

Medications can be used to break the psychological connection between a specific phobia and panic attacks. Medications can include antidepressants (SSRI's, MAOI's, etc.) taken every day, or anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines, e.g. -- Valium, Ativan, Xanax, etc.) during or in anticipation of panic attacks. Exposure to the phobia trigger multiple times without a resulting panic attack (due to medication) can often break the phobia-panic pattern, allowing people to function around their phobia without the help of medications. However, minor phobias that develop as a result of the panic attack can often be eliminated without medication through monitored cognitive-behavioral therapy or simply by exposure. The decision to participate in this therapy personally or through a registered practitioner should always be made in conjunction with a medical professional.

Often, a combination of psychotherapy and medications produces good results. Some improvement may be noticed in a fairly short period of time--about 6 to 8 weeks. Thus appropriate treatment by an experienced professional can prevent panic attacks or at least substantially reduce their severity and frequency--bringing significant relief to 70 to 90 percent of people with panic disorder. [2] Relapses may occur, but they can often be effectively treated just like the initial episode.

In addition, people with panic disorder may need treatment for other emotional problems. Clinical depression has often been associated with panic disorder, as have alcoholism and drug addiction. About 30% of people with panic disorder use alcohol and 17% use drugs such as cocaine or marijuana to alleviate the anguish and distress caused by their condition. Research has also suggested that suicide attempts are more frequent in people with panic disorder, although this research remains controversial.

As with many disorders, having a support structure of family and friends who understand the condition can help increase the rate of recovery. During an attack, it is not uncommon for the sufferer to develop irrational, immediate fear, which can often be dispelled by a supporter who is familiar with the condition. For more serious or active treatment, there are support groups for anxiety sufferers which can help people understand and deal with the disorder.

Other forms of treatment include journalling, in which a patient records their day-to-day activities and emotions in a log to find and deal with their personal stresses, and breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing. In some cases, a therapist may use a procedure called interoceptive exposure, in which the symptoms of a panic attack (such as hyperventilation) are induced in order to promote coping skills and show the patient that no harm can come from a panic attack. Stress-relieving activities such as tai-chi, yoga, and physical exercise can also help ameliorate the causes of panic disorder. Many physicians will recommend stress-management, time-management, and emotion-balancing classes and seminars to help patients avoid anxiety in the future.

Answer 2

I have xanax. I have anxiety also. However, you need something more for panic attacks. Also if xanax is not relaxing you then you do not need it. There are other anti-amxiety meds.
Are you drinking too much caffeine? Cuz I suffer from the pa;lpitations too.
Also I dont think it's taking the anxiety away at all thats why your heart does that causing it to be worse.
You need valume. Im telling you, they work great for me. You also need a different doctor.
Good luck, I know how bac it can get.

Answer 3

Ask your psychiatrist to prescribe LYRICA!

The European Union has approved the drug Lyrica as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.

It's a nerve pain medication and it helps me tremendously with my anxiety disorder,
I was on Xanax for 2 years and I now finally feel better on Lyrica.

I feel like lyrica is side-effect free!

Last but not least:
If a medication isn't working for you, don't be afraid to ask your doctor to try something different.

Answer 4

After taking it for 3 days I felt terrible. Like a zombie and more depressed. Very angry with thoughts of suicide. I feel much better without it. It wasn't the answer to my problems.

Answer 5

You have a difficult choice to make - either to continue with your life before Xanax or take Xanax and feel better, though you will experience side effects (listed below). It is a personal decision but I think you should take the medicine for a while at least. Do not stop it abruptly! It can create a lot of problems. You need to taper off the drug when your doctor thinks it is the right time. Good luck!

Side effects of Xanax cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Xanax. Your doctor should periodically reassess the need for this drug.

Side effects of Xanax are usually seen at the beginning of treatment and disappear with continued medication. However, if dosage is increased, side effects will be more likely.


More common side effects may include:
Abdominal discomfort, abnormal involuntary movement, agitation, allergies, anxiety, blurred vision, chest pain, confusion, constipation, decreased or increased sex drive, depression, diarrhea, difficult urination, dream abnormalities, drowsiness, dry mouth, fainting, fatigue, fluid retention, headache, hyperventilation (too frequent or too deep breathing), inability to fall asleep, increase or decrease in appetite, increased or decreased salivation, impaired memory, irritability, lack of or decreased coordination, light-headedness, low blood pressure, menstrual problems, muscular twitching, nausea and vomiting, nervousness, painful menstruation, palpitations, rapid heartbeat, rash, restlessness, ringing in the ears, sedation, sexual dysfunction, skin inflammation, speech difficulties, stiffness, stuffy nose, sweating, tiredness/sleepiness, tremors, upper respiratory infections, weakness, weight gain or loss

Less common or rare side effects may include:
Abnormal muscle tone, arm or leg pain, concentration difficulties, dizziness, double vision, fear, hallucinations, hot flushes, inability to control urination or bowel movements, infection, itching, joint pain, loss of appetite, muscle cramps, muscle spasticity, rage, seizures, shortness of breath, sleep disturbances, slurred speech, stimulation, talkativeness, taste alterations, temporary memory loss, tingling or pins and needles, uninhibited behavior, urine retention, weakness in muscle and bone, yellow eyes and skin

Side effects due to decrease or withdrawal from Xanax or Xanax XR:
Anxiety, blurred vision, decreased concentration, decreased mental clarity, depression, diarrhea, headache, heightened awareness of noise or bright lights, hot flushes, impaired sense of smell, insomnia, loss of appetite, loss of reality, muscle cramps, nervousness, rapid breathing, seizures, tingling sensation, tremor, twitching, weight loss

Answer 6

You mean 2.5 mg, not 25 (per day I assume). Switch to a milder Benzodiazepam, like the old standby, Valium. (Remenber though, Valium wears off slower, so make sure you can get 6 to 7 hours of sleep before you take it.)