Member Medication Rewiew: Xanax

Merely Me Living With It I am a published writer who suffers from depression and MS I have suffered from depression for as long as I can remember and I... Send Message Subscribe: Merely Me

Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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Hi all! Well it is that time again to review one of the medications. This time I am choosing one slightly out of the realm of antidepressants...an anti-anxiety med. Many people who suffer from depression also suffer from anxiety, myself included. I was given a small prescri...

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Untitled Comment
rose martin
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 05:24 PM

Dear Merely Me, I took Xanaz some years ago, to help me try and get off Valium which I had been on continously since being put on it at 13yrs of age.

I found Xanax v different, Valium,Diazepam, relaxes the muscles and thats it, you feel calm, Xanax has a buzz to it and gives you a kinda lift, a little haze out of reality. this is good if youre very agitated or Highly anxious. I found it very good for Panic Disorder and the huge withdrawals from the Valium. I did find it user friendly, Im full of phobias so the Drug suited me. It didnt knock me out but then I was tranquillised so young I have a very high tolerance to Sedatives in general. The 'Buzz' factor made me a little aware that it could lead to dependence quickly and like Efexor XL, it has a short life so the withdrawals could be bad, for a short lift from Anxiety, a plane ride, its an excellent drug, Its better to take a few hrs before the journey though. I found it good for Anxiety.

re: Untitled Comment
Merely Me
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 06:08 PM

Hey Rose!

Yeah I agree...the Xanax definitely has a buzz factor going on. I had some difficulty conversing while taking one pill. I can see where it would help with panic attacks so that you don't reach that state of hyper nervousness and dread. But I would be cautious with this drug. Being out of it is not really a mental state I wish to remain in. But it does serve a purpose for the panic attacks, great anxiety and phobias. I am looking forward to hearing what other people say.

xanax
Anne
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 06:02 PM

Just an aside from a recovering addict with almost four years clean and sober. When I was still in prerecovery in a drug program; xanax was one of the most abused prescriptions drugs going. I kept away from it because I was told it was so addictive that if you didn't get it you could have seizures and that scared me to death. I would advise anyone with an addictive personality to stay away. If, however, you are truly suffering and under a Dr.'s care then it is a different story.

re: xanax
Merely Me
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 06:11 PM

Hi Anne

This is really sound advice. I do think that if you have problems with addiction of any kind...this might not be the medication for you. I am glad you are candid in your comment here.

roots of coincidence
jpw2008
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 06:11 PM

hi

I don't take antidepressants

I just think I do

If I wasn't evil I wouldn't need them

Jon

re: roots of coincidence
Merely Me
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 06:16 PM

Wow Jon...you are boggling my brain tonight.

If you weren't evil you wouldn't need antidepressants? So you are saying you are evil and need meds? Or are you saying you are not evil and therefore don't need antidepressants?

Jon...you are not evil regardless of your antidepressant usage or need.

How are you doing this week?

re: re: roots of coincidence
jpw2008
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 06:21 PM

hi

I don't know

Maybe the medicine is evil

You read my paradox of time

I wish it werent true

Really paranoid and oh so angry

I am angry at mom angry at my therapist

Just plain angry its evil

Jon

I am going to have a nightmare in a few hours

I am so not used to thewm

But here they come every night

I'm not having a good night

Jon

re: roots of coincidence
Judy
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:13 PM

Jon, I'm just curious - is someone telling you you're evil and that's why you need antidepressants? Do you know that's a lie? Even if it was the Pope telling you that, it would be a lie.

Untitled Comment
stewie
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 01:27 AM
Hi. I occasionally take a xanax if I feel super stressed out or unusually anxious. I have a very low dose of .25 mg. It is enough to calm me down while keeping me alert. It also seems to slow down my thoughts, but not too much. I haven't felt the buzz others have mentioned. It does sometimes make me a little tired, but doesn't knock me out unless I'm really tired or take two pills. I haven't noticed myself becoming addicted. I don't like to take pills unless needed. I have found xanax to be helpful when I REALLY need it.

re: Untitled Comment
Merely Me
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 07:51 AM

Hi Stewie!

It sounds like the Xanax is really working for you. That is the thing I felt about this med is that it actually works and that day. There is no waiting around for the "therapeutic effect" to kick in after weeks. You take it and feel the effects within a couple of hours. It definitely decreases anxiety in my short experience with it.

I am wondering if one took it regularly if the effects would diminish over time. This I do not know.

Xanax
Ivory
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 02:42 AM

I am taking .5mg of xanax, sometimes just 1/2 of the pill. I had to quit Serzone as it was causing me to trip, be dizzy, forgetfulness, sleepy. After giving it the good old try of several months, it as not getting better.

So I stopped taking it and was so much better, more social, could concentrate, my words came quicker, and more energy.

I was taking this along with Wellbutrin SR, 3 pills a day, but I cut back to 1 a day as it was making me too hyper and my legs felt like rubber. So when i saw my med DR he suggested Xanax which I was a bit worried about, but he just gave me the small dosage to take the edge off.

I have had 2 bouts with the flu and Xanax has really helped on my second bout and also just relations with DS18 and DH when they are in their bad moods.

I had wanted my late father to take this med and told the DR when he was alive, as I'm sure it would have really helped him in his later years. And he would have helped me too as I was the brunt of his anxiety. Which became part of my depression.

I'm wondering if xanax would have helped me more than taking anti depression meds. But then i was truly clinically depressed and in my deepest hole. So the first meds given have really helped. But now I'm finding that I don't need anti-depressants as much since many stressors have changed and ablilities to cope with life has grown.

Ivory

re: Xanax
Merely Me
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 07:55 AM

Thanks Ivory for sharing this...

It does sound like the Xanax is helping you to take the edge off things. I am finding that too...I seem to have my depression under some control by taking my SAM-e so now the anxiety seems more prominent. Not sure which is worse...depression or anxiety. When you are going through either one...they both are horrible. I am glad there is help for these things.

I hope you are doing well and it is very good to see you here!

Xanax
sioux
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 11:08 AM

Hi Merely and all, missed you guys, been in Hospital w/ heart problems, soo I'm back. About Xanax, I'm prescribed .025 3xdaily as needed, but I very rarely take it as I'm not usually anxious, always more depressed. I don't notice any side effects at all and if I DO happen to be anxious for some reason and take one I don't feel the "buzz" you have mentioned. It just calms me down and mellows me out for a little while. I take so much medicine it would be hard to tell if Xanax was giving me any side effects. Well that's my take on it, I feel it's a good medicine for anxiety. Again, it's good to be back with you all and am so glad to see Rose Martin back on-line. Merely sounds like you've been extra busy, congrats on your public speakinig gig. Sioux.

re: Xanax
Merely Me
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 06:22 PM

Hiyah Sioux!

It is so good to see you again. Are you doing better now? You were definitely missed.

I am glad the Xanax does help you and has no bad side effects. I used to be more depressed than anxious but now it has reversed. Not sure which mental state is worse.

I am glad Rose is back too...we have a nice little Internet family here. The conference went well...I was just terrified! Maybe next time I will be less scared.

Thanks so much for your comment

Xanax
lonelyone
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 02:02 PM

I use to be on this medication and it is very addictive. It made me sleep no matter when I took it. So I can't take it anymore. I do have an addictive personality. I'm taking Klonopin for anxiety now. It stays along time in your body.

re: Xanax
Merely Me
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 06:24 PM

Hi there

This is good information...so it seems for folk who are more susceptible to addictions...xanax may not be the drug for them.

Can you tell us more about Klonopin? How does it make you feel? any side effects? Do you have to worry about your blood pressure on this? My son's neurolgist was suggesting this drug for him...so I want to learn more about it.

Thanks so much for your comment!

Klonopin
lonelyone
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 06:35 PM

Hi MerelyMe, I've had no side effects from this medication. It might make you drowsy in the beginning but that soon wears off. I've been told it's a long acting med so it stays in your system longer than the rest of the drugs in the same catorgory. I have been on it a long time and it helps with my anxiety. It might be a good drug for your son depending what he needs it for.

re: re: Xanax
Judy
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 11:06 PM

Merely Me, I've taken Klonopin for quite a while - it usually makes me nice and drowsy so that I can get to sleep, yet it doesn't really knock you out. I took it once for an MRI and it erased the claustrophobia. I only take 1 mg., but once in a while, if I wake up during the night and feel too wide-awake to sleep, I'll take another one. I've never felt like I've had a "hangover" from it, either.

XANAX
Danny G.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 11:02 PM

Hi, Merely Me, I tried it too on occasion, it does have a calming effect on you.

I haven't noticed any real side affects from it though. Thanx Peace & Blessings

Danny G.