Ok so I am very wary of this drug. I have been taking it on and off this month. I heard of the withdrawals and believe I may be already addicted to it. My doc prescribed a low dose of .25 mg 3x a day. So I did it only for about 4 days because I was either lethargic or just feeling depressed. Which is unlike me. Now I am doing only 1 time dose of .25mg at 10 o'clock nighttime to help me sleep . During the day I feel somewhat ok but when it comes around 7 or 8 pm I feel VERY anxious, my hands cramp up and start to twitch and even jerk sometimes. I hate the way I feel and try not to take the pill but I do and I feel fine after an hour or so. That's why I think I maybe already addicted to it. I really just want to be my normal self again but I need some advice about this. Will such a low dosage like this cause severe withdrawals? I feel my anxiety has indeed increased but what will happen if I stop it totally? Please if you know anything about this drug at a low dosage let me know. Thanx
2007-01-29 12:42:09 · 12 answers · asked by Mrs J 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
You could be psychologically addicted, but physically, NO WAY. I think your anxiety is regarding something in your life/family. I would go see my doctor and discuss this with him/her. If you have to, just show up and tell him/her about the anxiety. Or, if you are not totally nuts right now with all the answers, contact a psychologist and make an appointment.
2007-01-29 12:51:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋
Many years ago I was prescribed valium and during detox I experianced the same symptoms as you , plus a few more.Your on a very low dose and you could ask your doctor to switch you to a milder drug ,for example clonazepam , which has milder side effects. I have used xanax and I find it to be horrible even to taper down on.Please ask for help with your problem and don't go cold turkey, not everyone can endure the withdrawal of cold turkey.I have my own detox system that works for me ,ask if you need to.
2007-02-02 15:08:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a health care provider, I will not prescribe this drug. Yes it is addictive ,and there are other options for anxiety. The best treatment is antidepressants. They work and they are not addictive. You did not mention if your provider prescribed anything else with the Xanax, and if he/she did tests to make sure your symptoms are not caused by a physical cause (such as an overactive thyroid). Xanax is always decreased slowly until is can be stopped. However, it sounds as if you have already tapered it off and you were not on it very long. You need a return visit to your provider...or a second opinion. And stay away from Xanax...there are better choices of medication.
2007-01-29 20:55:40 · answer #3 · answered by tlbrown42000 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Everytime I went to see my therapist I would ask to try another drug to find the best one for me. They all made me a little sleepy, but some less than others. I had the idea of getting off meds eventually so I did, but I learned to love life when I was on them so when I got off I had a lot of things I loved and a new view of life. To keep depending on one thing isn't good unless it's God. Separation from God is what unhappiness is to me. Connecting to God led me to connecting to my intuition, subconscious, right brain thinking or whatever it is or all those and that is where our happiness seems to be, connection to the right half of our brain with the left. Listening to your thoughts and asking questions of your subconscious, it seems to know all the answers, have all your love and dreams, and be you connection to God and the universe. There is definitely something out there and in our subconscious or right, creative, sensitive and human side. We have greatness and wonder, glory and joy, peace and self control in the side of us that, when we find it people say that they love themself. It's really the unconscious that we are separated from, and/or God. Go figure, I mean what is that, I'm not sure but I'm loving it. Got too much self confidence, too much joy and sometimes too much sadness, but for others, not me. Got in touch with sadness about me too, but blow it off as. so I'm nothing, I don't care. Do I have to be something to be happy? Noo. I let great things be great and I enjoy them. If others are great I enjoy their greatness, but mostly I enjoy God's greatness and power. What do I want with power. Let the ignorant have it, I'll take the love and joy. Of course you can have it all, but somehow the power corrupts or something, maybe it's that everything has been so corrupted. It's hard to be on top, jealousy, don't think I'd like it, reponsibilities, guilt I wasn't doing more with what I had and losing your whole life trying to get it. Nah. Balance.
2007-01-29 21:09:18 · answer #4 · answered by hb12 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Beating an addiction is not as hard as you think. Its in the mind that an addiction is a monster. This past year I started smoking knowing that I'll get sick of smoking and quit. Sure I tried to stop several times and gave in to the urge, but less than a year after smoking a pack a day I smoke no more. Its a matter of knowing YOU don't want to do it. Yet it is the same thing when a person wants to lose weight and cannot. To me its a nobrainer but the individual couldn't lose weight for nothing right, even a better life!
xanex is also not as addictive as other meds and you should be able to beat the mild addiction - first let the med do what the doctor wants it to.
2007-01-29 20:53:09 · answer #5 · answered by AngelKidd+JeffKidd 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
It's not likely that you are addicted, but Xanax is a pain in the neck drug. I'd suggest you talk to your md, taper it slowly and then not go back on it unless it's the extended release version of the drug.
2007-01-29 21:40:51 · answer #6 · answered by adamsjrcn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first time I took it, it made me feel awful. It made me sooooo very lethargic. I truly hated the way it made me feel. That was the last time that I took it since I knew it was addictive and did not want to get addicted to it. So, I went onto other psychotropic medications. I went on to take Prozac, which really helped me, but it's not for everyone. Then I also tried Effexor, which also worked for me. You really need to get off this stuff and get onto to something that is not addictive. I don't understand why you continue with this drug when there are plenty of drugs out there that can help you with anxiety and whatever else. This drug is doing a number on your body by taking it then not taking it, decreasing the amount and then not taking it and then taking it. Switch doctors since this one is not doing you any good.
2007-01-29 20:53:16 · answer #7 · answered by Weasel Girl 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I'm a nurse. It's best to have the doctor replace it with another medication. Going cold turkey wouldn't benefit you. You should have something that will give you the desired results. Take care and all the best.
2007-01-29 21:31:14 · answer #8 · answered by nursey 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Xanax is very adicting. I used to take it and when I quit it I almost went nuts. Try prozac. That works for me and it's not addicting, there are no withdrawals and you'll feel great. Just take the 10 mg once a day
2007-01-29 20:48:22 · answer #9 · answered by catholicgirl55 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
It sounds like you are focusing too much on this and your fear might be contributing to your symptoms.
Talk to your doctor.
I don't think you have taken enough to be going through withdrawls.
Drink lots of water. Eat healthy. Go on some very brisk walks....they are great at easing anxiety.
Find something or someone to focus on more than yourself.
Volenteer to work at a hospital. or anything that means you are giving of yourself and not so self focused.
Take good care of yourself & connect with your doctor concerning your questions
2007-01-29 20:54:03 · answer #10 · answered by clcalifornia 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋