i was just precribed xanex xr 3 mg, How long does it take to start working?

I have taken it for about a year now and I started low dose1/2 mg at a time and it will be in your body within a half hour and lasts about 6 hours for me. I never take more than 1 mg at a time. How often do you take 3mg? I know it can be habit forming so I try to not overdo it. Hope you can have success and anxiety is terrible thing to have,and no one knows what its like till you have it.

Hi Kimberly - I am not a physician but do work with lots of folks with anxiety who take a variety of medications to help with that. I have several questions for you - Have you taken Xanax before? Are you being treated for panic disorder? What other medications have you taken for your anxiety.

Xanax XR is recommended for panic disorder because it is long acting and is taken only once per day. According to the literature, initial doses are usually less than 3mg. in order to avoid side effects and most people appear to get relief at a maintenance dose of 3 to 6mg. If you haven't taken Xanax XR before and you don't have panic attacks or extreme anxiety you may want to ask if you could start at a lower dose and work your way up to 3mg. Xanax goes to work quickly and you should experience relief in less than an hour.

Hope this helps

Rick Wirtz

i am not a doctor but from experience ... i started taking xanax 1 mg almost thirty yrs ago for anxiety attacks. the doctor told me that it would destroy my memory. it did. i have eight kids and can barely remember anything they did when they were little. xanax is a very short term drug. but at the time i needed medicine it was all that was available. it took a couple days to start working good and it did work good. maybe see if your doc could put you on something else although this is up too you. i just had to share my experience. best of luck and write back if you like.. carol