Should someone recovered from a drug and alcohol take XANAX?

Question

My husband has recovered for 3 years now from a drug and alcohol addiction. He also suffers from deppression. His Psychiatrist just gave him a script for Xanax. It didn't sound safe to me considering people use this as drug illegally to get high off of, so i looked it up on the internet and it is says to tell you dr if you have had drug/alcohol problems in the past. His dr knows all of his history. Do you think he should still take it though? Maybe get a secong opinion? Or am i overreacting?

He suffers from depression and bad anxiety. The xanax is for his anxiety.

Answer 1

Xanax is indeed abused by some to get high. I am a recovered junkie and take a medication similar to Xanax. What I have discovered is that, despite my history, I have the strength to use properly perscribed drugs without resorting to abusing them. However, If you and he believe that there is a risk that he will abandon his recovery, you may help a great deal by monitoring his use of the drug.

My wife and I have created and follow a plan for my safety. Because I will forget to take my medication at the proper time my wife monitors when I should take them. While she manages medications, being aware of the "relapse cycle", she keeps a count of the pills and will approach me if there is a descrepency.

Perhaps you may make a plan to monitor the perscribed use of your husband's medication. This may help him continue to be strong in his recovery and, as an added benefit he may have the lovely experience of your care and thoughtfulness.

His doctor, like mine, probably has faith in him not to abuse his perscription medication. A second opinion could be helpful and answer some additional questions, but concider that doctors are really unable to refrain from applying the techniques of their craft to the benefit of their patients. I assume your doctor has discussed the risks to your husband's health. I he hasn't, then you may want more than a second opinion.

I hope your husband's health improves and that you both may live happily. That being said, I am not a doctor. I do know that communication with your husband and his doctor is to your best advantage in dealing with your situation. Good luck.

Answer 2

No, you are not overreacting and no he most definitely should not take it. Where do you guys find these doctors? I was tooting along fine for over 5 1/2 years on Xanax, then I got a new primary who demanded I get off of them and I can't get anything now. She flipped out because I've been on this drug which is really only meant for an 8 week maximum prescription for half a decade. If I ever had a drinking or prior drug problem, I can't even imagine her reaction if I were to ask to stay on Xanax.
Let me explain very briefly. Xanax is a benzo which is a CNS, central nervous suppressor. Alcohol is the exact same thing. With benzos, particularly Xanax, you get the benefits of being drunk with none of the side effects, until you try to come off of them. It takes no time at all, none, to get addicted to these even if you are a straight shooter. I myself am not a drinker and was vehemently anti-drug, until I found Xanax. Now, imagine if you are a former alcoholic constantly looking for the calm that alcohol provided. Exactly. He will have hit the motherload of drug jackpots with Xanax. It provides a close to instantaneous calm and is just about almost too good to be true.
I am not a doctor, just a Xanax head who was abducted without even realizing it more than half a decade ago.
I speak from experience. The most innocent among us become addicted to Xanax. With your husband's history, I put his odds at 99.99999% and as some have stated, withdrawal is unbelievable. It is actually the only drug, as far as I know and have been told, that, being a CNS suppressor, equates to alcohol withdrawal. There is a risk of seizure and so forth as there is with alcoholics.
His history and the potency of this drug SCREAM "Danger Will Robinson!!!!"
Don't let him taste these cause he'll never stop and when you get a minute, I'd ask his doctor where he went to medical school.

Answer 3

Your husband has a root cause of his drug/alcohol abuse and no xanax, alcohol, or any other drug is going to fix that. Figuring out what the real problem is and dealing with that would be much more effective than throwing another drug at the symptoms. Maybe he is working on that. If so, then the xanax may help him deal while he heals. Psychiatrists prescribe meds. That's just what they do. They see a lot of patients. Clarifying the docs logic and inquiring about alternatives would be a good plan.

Answer 4

When I went to alcohol rehab, they put me on Xanax when I left. I promptly became addicted. Xanax is a benzodiazepine in the same family as Valium. It is highly addictive. It makes depression MUCH worse also. Most people trade one addiction for another. Here is the tough part though. He has to make the decision to stop using mind-altering chemicals. You cannot make that decision for him. Even though you suffer consequences. Xanax is hard core and there are other drugs that are not addictive that do help with anxiety(Xanex's primary use) plus depression. Talk to his doctor about your concerns. Due to patient confidentiality, he may be not able to say much to you, but he will listen and if he is worth his salt he will take into consideration all that you say . Good luck to you and your husband.

Answer 5

Hell no your not over reacting. I dont know what kind of doctor would even perscibe a pill like that to a recovering alcoholic and drug addict.No, dont let him take them. Throw them down the sink or flush them or something. Do you know how easy he could get strung out on those kind of pills,You must have a quack for a phychiatrist. I am sorry for calling names it just pisses me off for a doctor to do this. I know long ago drs. were not educated on drugs and the alcohlic and drug addict, but today they know alot more than they did years ago. I dont even know why he would give anybody xanax for depression! Anxientiy, maybe but not depression! I believe if I had a doctor like that and he gave my husband xanax, knowing full well he was an alcohlic and drug addict, and my husband went back out there getting high again, I would take that dr. for everything he had!I am sorry hon I am just so upset right now. Please take care Of yourself and your husband and please,please YES, look for a second opinion. I will be praying for the both of you.

Answer 6

Get a second opinion and find out what other options there are. Very often taking legitimate prescriptions like Xanax leads people in drug and alcohol recovery right down the same path. It is not always this way, but it is a risk that should not be taken lightly.

Answer 7

Before taking this medicine

It is dangerous to purchase Xanax on the Internet or from vendors outside the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. The sale and distribution of Xanax outside the U.S. does not comply with the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the safe use of this medication.
You should not take Xanax if you have:
- narrow-angle glaucoma;
- if you are also taking itraconazole or ketoconazole; or
- if you are allergic to alprazolam or to other benzodiazepines, such as chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), or oxazepam (Serax).
To make sure Xanax is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
- seizures or epilepsy;
- kidney or liver disease (especially alcoholic liver disease);
- asthma or other breathing disorder;
- open-angle glaucoma;
- a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
- a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
Do not use Xanax if you are pregnant. This medicine can cause birth defects. Your baby could also become dependent on the drug. This can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in the baby after it is born. Babies born dependent on habit-forming medicine may need medical treatment for several weeks. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking Xanax.
Alprazolam can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Xanax.
The sedative effects of Xanax may last longer in older adults. Accidental falls are common in elderly patients who take benzodiazepines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury while you are taking Xanax.
Xanax is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.


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Answer 8

Probably a bad idea. It really depends on what kind of prescription was given. If it's a limited number of pills with no refills, maybe there's a chance of him using it responsibly, but it's still risky.

Xanax is one of the most addictive substances known so far, even worse than illegal street drugs, and the withdrawel can literally kill you. If there's any doubt in your mind that this is a bad idea, try talking with his doctor and explaining your concerns.

Answer 9

If his drug of choice was Xanax, then he shouldn't be taking it. There are many antidepressants out there. His doctor should have put him on something like Wellbutrin or Zoloft. Talk to the doctor and see why he prescribed him that instead of a antidepressant. Watch your husband and make sure he is not abusing it. It will probably be okay if he is taking it as prescribed.

Answer 10

YOU ARE NOT OVER REACTING!

No. xanax can become habit forming, and would give him a new sobriety date, as well as trigger a relapse. I'm no professional but I'm not sure why he would have xanax for depression, since it is a benzo-and usually used for anxiety. but if you want a nonhabit forming alterative for anxiety, ask his Dr. about Propranolol...it works for me.