Is it safe to take Xanax just when you feel you need it. I have a prescription for .5 mg and I just use maybe half of that when I feel I need it or to help me fall asleep. Does anyone else do this?
2006-11-19 13:44:51 · 6 answers · asked by cheerful2 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
yes its safe to take just when you feel you need it
2006-11-19 13:46:26 · answer #1 · answered by tamumd 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I take ativan, which is in the same class of medication as Xanax. I take .5 mg at night (with another medication) and .5-1 mg as needed (which I don't do often.) I can stop it suddenly and not have any withdrawal symptoms (which I can't say for some of the other meds I've been on, like antidepressants.)
Xanax is a benzodiazapine, and they are potentially addictive. A lot of people will need a higher and higher dose to get the same results and will have trouble stopping the medication. I tend to have quite the addictive personality and I haven't had any of those issues with benzos in all these years. I am still on the same dose I started on and it still works.
Half of .5 is a low dose. It is prescribed to you. It sounds very safe to me. At the same time, it's a good idea to be aware of the possibility of an addiction and to use benzos with caution.
Someone else suggested Melatonin...it's a good suggestion...I find it to be very helpful for sleep. It's something your body naturally produces that has to do with regulating the sleep cycle. As far as I know, there is no risk of addiction and it's a very safe supplement. You can find it just about anywhere vitamins are sold. It's a good idea to double check with your doctor first, of course. Every doctor I have ever spoken to about it has been supportive of me using it for both me and my son.
2006-11-19 14:57:02 · answer #2 · answered by Jess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is safe to take as needed.
No offense to the above posts, but I know many people who take Xanax and are not addicted. I am a nurse and I have over 20 patients who take Xanax and are not addicted. Also other nurses I work with take it and are not addicted. My ex was prescribed Xanax for sleep. If he doesn't sleep he has seizures. I know of only 1 person who was addicted to Xanax, but in reality it wasn't the Xanax - it was any pill she could get. Just be sure to check with your doctor, especially if you are on any other medication.
2006-11-19 14:28:19 · answer #3 · answered by Marlie S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
stay with me right here, this might get long. That dose might desire to artwork when you consider that he has in no way taken it till now, yet that's an exceedingly small dose. so a approaches as how long it takes to artwork, it would nicely be approximately 20 minutes....Xanax works very rapid and if he nevertheless isn't feeling nicely sufficient to pass outdoors than the dose isn't extreme sufficient. Now for the undesirable section: beware for the "and as needed" stuff, Xanax and different Benzodiazepines are VERY, VERY addictive and the withdrawals are scary. It takes approximately 2 weeks or in line with threat much less to grow to be bodily addicted to drugs like Xanax, so if he continues to be on a low dose and basically takes it while needed he won't might desire to go through via withdrawals 15 years from now while he's on 8mg/day with the aid of fact his physique is tolerant to the drug. If there is any way he can SLOWLY attempt to pass out without drugs please attempt this! in line with threat he might desire to take a quick walk....then an prolonged one and then achronic, and so on. the element of that's that this: as quickly as he includes the thought that he's in no way going to die from the panic he experience while he leaves the living house, he would be waiting to do greater. I won't carry forth anymore, yet he does might desire to be careful with this drug, that's extremely risky, and in each and every week or so 0.25mg won't artwork as he builds tolerance to the drug, and that's the place the habit starts off and take it from me....that habit leads to hell!
2016-10-04 03:51:38 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your useing it to sleep its not good you can get addicted very easy, Ied go to the store and get some melatonin pills there non prescription and it workes for me when i need one.. and so far no sighns of anny addictions.. i have xanax for perscription as well for nerves but i only take when needed maybie 1 time a few months so go sparingly that stuff not to play with.
2006-11-19 14:24:23 · answer #5 · answered by jimh1985 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
often times medications are prescribed "prn" or as needed so you may want to check with your doctor to see if this appropriate for you. my question though is whether or not you are getting a theraputic dose if you are only taking half of the prescribed dose. the levels have to be at a therapeutic level to do you any good, otherwise its just a placebo effect. your doctor prescribed the 0.5mg dose for a reason. are you having any bothersome side effects? if so you should talk to your doctor about what is happening. maybe he or she could prescribe another medication that you could tolerate better.
2006-11-19 15:31:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is safe to take Xanax just when you feel you need it. I checked with my sister who is a nurse.
2006-11-19 13:47:38 · answer #7 · answered by Daphne 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Please, please don't take Xanax (or anything else from the benzodiazepine family) to help you fall asleep. You can become addicted to benzos in as little as 14 days. The withdrawal can be worse than heroin withdrawal. If you're one of the unlucky ones (like me) your withdrawal can last YEARS. I wish to God that someone had told me when I was just starting ... and that I'd listened to them.
2006-11-19 13:50:32 · answer #8 · answered by vita64 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many times Xanax is prescribed to take "as needed". Ask your doctor if that is appropriate for you.
2006-11-19 13:47:07 · answer #9 · answered by honey 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋