Xanax-Is It Really Bad?

[Mitchell]

As I've posted previously, since my mom's cancer diagnosis in March 2010, I've had sleeping issues, and my Dr in Lancaster at the time perscribed Xanax to help me sleep.

Since I've moved to NY, my new Dr, even though I've only seen him a few times, and my dad, as well, have been "encouraging" me to stop taking the Xanax. My Dr said it a few times, and my dad seems to bring up the subject every chance he gets.

I take it once a night, as directed, only. The only times I deviated from this were the morning my mom died, when I had been up most of the night before with her, and of course was very upset. (I needed to sleep for a few hours before figuring things out) I also took one on the day of her funeral, before the service, when I was a basket case.

I' ve never been a good sleeper, even before my mom got sick

Thoughts? Is Xanax something I should really worry about, if I only take it once a night, as perscribed, or is it something I should seek to get off?

Thanks.

Mitch

 

[jhop220]

It is a minor tranquilizer. Like other drugs, Xanex shouldn't be abused or used for an extended period of time unless you have a severe anxiety disorder.

It would be wise to ween yourself off of them if you can. Now, unlike pain killers such as Hydrocodone or Oxycontin...it doesn't have the overdose effects because your likely to simply pass out.

The problem is addiction and whether you take one a night or twenty...it has the same effects. Start to go every other day...then once a week...once every other week...once a month...and done. Cold Turkey could work too but it isn't actually recommended IMO.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks, jhop. I doubt I could just go cold turkey, but I will seriously think about, and try the other suggestions you mentioned.

Mitch

 

[jhop220]

Thanks, jhop. I doubt I could just go cold turkey, but I will seriously think about, and try the other suggestions you mentioned.

Mitch

Not a problem Mitch. You just have to make sure you are aware of the power of addiction and overcome it.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks. I wouldnt say I'm addicted to the Xanax, but I see your point.

Mitch

 

[Gothika]

i myself have been prescribed it i have seen how addicting it can be not from my self but from others i dont even take it just becarefull if your going to take it

 

[Flatfoot]

Personally, if your current doctor is recommending coming OFF a medication, I'd go with what he or she suggests. I'm not a big fan of pharmaceuticals, and I feel that many aspects of the healthcare industry have become less about patient-care and more about making money, but I digress. It would be beneficial for you to find another means of helping you sleep, as your insomnia may be more mental/emotional than physical. Find something positive to occupy your brain during the day so that your nights are more restful.

 

[chicago]

Xanax scares the hell out of me. I have a couple 1mg pills for panic attacks if I need them and I only need to take 1/4 of a pill to calm me down. 1/2 of one and im out for a day. I wouldnt even wanna know what a whole pill would do to me.

My mom's addicted to em, she's ODed on em a few times and pops em like candy.

They are no bueno.

 

[Mitchell]

Flat, I will talk to my Dr.

Mairead, my Xanax isnt anywhere near 1 mg. Its only 1/4 of a mg, and it still knocks me out for 4-5 hrs.

Mitch

 

[Jagermeistered]

I abused Xanax with alcohol when I was 19-20, and missed out on a lot fun! I had no fun on that drug; in fact, I had to climb the "color ladder." I do not recall the order of strength(orange(low) to green(high), I think?) However, I tried a quarter white bar a few years ago, and I recalled why I hate that drug the next morning.

 

[fttickler]

As I've posted previously, since my mom's cancer diagnosis in March 2010, I've had sleeping issues, and my Dr in Lancaster at the time perscribed Xanax to help me sleep.

Since I've moved to NY, my new Dr, even though I've only seen him a few times, and my dad, as well, have been "encouraging" me to stop taking the Xanax. My Dr said it a few times, and my dad seems to bring up the subject every chance he gets.

I take it once a night, as directed, only. The only times I deviated from this were the morning my mom died, when I had been up most of the night before with her, and of course was very upset. (I needed to sleep for a few hours before figuring things out) I also took one on the day of her funeral, before the service, when I was a basket case.

I' ve never been a good sleeper, even before my mom got sick

Thoughts? Is Xanax something I should really worry about, if I only take it once a night, as perscribed, or is it something I should seek to get off?

Thanks.

Mitch

Mitch.... I was sorry about your mom. Ihad the same problem when my Dad died. I ended up on Xanax. Here is Calif they do not like to perscribe it though it can be done. If you want to talk privately about my experiences for a compareson..let me know. I would love to help you get an actual Xanax users perspective but I will not air it here.

Adam

 

[MrMacphisto]

I'll put it this way. My roommate tried to commit suicide with Xanax pills a few months ago. He's fine now, but, along with some other meds, he became much more depressive than he was without them. Now that he's off all medication, he's normal again.

For some people, medication actually worsens a condition rather than helping it.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

Only two substances can kill you if you become addicted to them and abruptly cease taking them. One is alcohol. The other is Xanax. I think that should answer your question.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

One of the most enjoyable and ergo most dangerous synthetic substances known to man... Weed is illegal but doctors fall over themselves describing shit like this for anything from sleep problems to panic attacks. Don't think it's a minor tranq, there's nothing "minor" about it.

Btw, if you've been taking them (in any dosage) for an extended period (a few months) your body has already grown accustomed to having it in your system. This is why you must be "weaned" off and you cannot simply stop taking them... while I wouldn't necessarily categorize such a dependence as addiction, as an experiment stop taking them for a few days and see how terrible you feel, all because you needed some shut-eye.

Big Pharm has been insidiously influencing doctor recommendations for too long now....

 

[Jagermeistered]

Only two substances can kill you if you become addicted to them and abruptly cease taking them. One is alcohol. The other is Xanax. I think that should answer your question.

I disagree with alcohol. My addiction from alcohol firstly lasted from 17 until 29, and I was asked to abruptly to quit for three months. I did not suffer withdrawals, but became addicted to caffeine afterwards. I am back to alcohol, and nothing has changed. However, when I consume some caffeine, my heart feels like it is ready to explode.

 

[kis123]

Xanax scares the hell out of me. I have a couple 1mg pills for panic attacks if I need them and I only need to take 1/4 of a pill to calm me down. 1/2 of one and im out for a day. I wouldnt even wanna know what a whole pill would do to me.

My mom's addicted to em, she's ODed on em a few times and pops em like candy.

Are you familiar with gabapentin/neurontin? They work great for panic-anxiety disorder. My daughter's been on them (off and on) for over a year. She only takes them when she needs them; she takes ametrypheline for her sleep med and only uses it when she has to.

Google and read up on it......maybe that's a better fit for you than the Xanax

 

[kis123]

Mitch:

In my personal opinion, is how do you feel? Do you feel addicted or are you only using them when you absolutely have to? I'll tell you that sudden withdrawal from some drugs is worse than being a heroin addict so you must withdraw under a doctor's care.

I was on effexor XR for about five months and realized that although it was PERFECT for the depression and anxiety, it was AWFUL on my liver. I decided.......without consulting my physician.......to stop cold turkey. It was the worst three weeks of my life! I was in the bed most of the time with my ears riging like bells of St Francis! It was an awful withdrawal but I survived it. When I went back to the Dr., she was pissed that I went cold turkey. I later found out that I could've really screwed myself up so I don't suggest to ever go cold turkey on antidepressants.

Google and study your med and see the withdrawal symptoms so you'll know what your body is doing. If you still need sleep meds, try elavil/ametrypheline--it has antidepressant qualities and it helps you sleep. I don't know of any side effects or addictions.

By you living in NY now, you may want to consider traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). We have what's called "Asia Plaza" community in my city. The holistic medicine practitioner is awesome! But he ain't cheap but it would be still be in your best interest to check it out.

 

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the advice, kis. I appreciate it.

To answer your question, I dont feel addicted. As I stated before, I use it as directed, to help me sleep. The funny thing is, I can nap in the afternoon, and not take it, but at night when I get into bed, I start thinking about my mom, and find that taking it does help me relax and sleep.

Im going to talk to my Dr, and see what he thinks.

Mitch

 

[kopfhorer]

Benzodiazepines (the family of drugs that Xanax belongs to) are serious shit. When used properly they can do good things. When over-prescribed or misused they can be particularly nasty.

 

[Jota37]

Only two substances can kill you if you become addicted to them and abruptly cease taking them. One is alcohol. The other is Xanax. I think that should answer your question.

You forgot heroin and opiates. 😉

As far as simply getting to sleep, Xanax is not what you should be taking. Since there's a potential to become seriously addicted to Xanax. Honestly, try smoking some high quality indica cannabis and you will go straight to sleep with less potential for addiction or overdose. This doesn't mean you have to become a pothead, but smoking once before bed every night will benefit you.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

Xanax isn't something you should be taking every day for insomnia. Your doctor probably prescribed it to you when your mom was diagnosed with cancer because it's main purpose is to reduce anxiety, which was only going exacerbate the insomnia you already had. At this point I would take the advice of your current doctor and gradually decrease your dose until you're off of it entirely. If you want to keep it around to take on an as needed basis for anxiety (not insomnia) talk to your doctor about it. It's perfectly reasonable. As far as treating your insomnia, if you went years having trouble sleeping and not taking anything for it, I would try to do that again. It's going to take a while for your body to adjust to not having the Xanax. Even if you don't feel addicted, your body has gotten used to having that aid, and will need time to remember how to relax on its own. That will happen with damn near anything - even something as harmless as over the counter laxatives. If a few months go by and you're still having trouble falling asleep that really is having a harmful effect on your daily life, then you can talk to your doctor about a sleep aid. But even before that I would look into making sure you're not napping and trying to stay relatively active during the day - mentally and physically - and avoiding caffeine for several hours before bed. Maybe give some thought to something more natural, like melatonin.

Good luck!

 

[Mitchell]

Jota, no thanks. I dont like smoking substances.

Skip, the sleep problem wasnt nearly as bad until after my mom was diagnosed.

I'm going to make an appt to go see my Dr alone. Part of me thinks that this whole thing was brought on by my father making a big deal about me taking Xanax. This is from a man, by the way, who has been a heavy alcohol user for years, so if anything is hypocritical, that is.

Mitch

 

[paracarl44]

Go to: www.drugs.com/xanax.html


Just try to wean yourself off of that stuff.

 

[kopfhorer]

See also... (Opens to the benzodiazapene chapter at crazymeds.us, a great if informal source of info on medications).