how often do you take it? could you describe your feelings and sensations under the influence? are you concerened about addiction?

i have recently started taking it for my anxiety disorder with great success, however i'm already noticing some physical dependancy. for the moment, the good outways the bad.

can you descripe your relationship with Xanax?

Um. It is very easily abused. I used to take it for anxiety, but eventually took myself off it, because that foggy head, everything's peachy feeling got a little annoying, after a while.

However, if taken only when needed, in the case of feeling extreme and overwhelming anxiety coming on, then it is good. But the problem is: xanax feels good, and you start to feel that if you just keep taking it, you can fend off all anxiety. While that may be nice, some anxiety is part of life, and you have to learn how to pick and choose when medicating is necessary. Doctors also prescribe it for certain stressful periods of life. Talk to you doctor about your feelings of dependency and if there's anything you might do to switch up the dosing/medication/etc.

Most doctors I know will not prescribe it long term anymore. Seems like most docs try to avoid any sort of benzos period due to their highly addictive nature and tendency to be abused. A safer bet is another anti-depressant/anti-anxiety med.

I had about a month worth prescription for Ativan which is similar to Xanax over the summer when I was dealing with all my crap. Yeah, I could definitely see how I could have easily become dependent on it. It made me not care about ANYTHING which was great lol, but not healthy in the long run. I am however extremely grateful that I had it while adjusting to my other meds b/c it made the process a lot easier. I was able to keep my anxiety under control while the other meds were taking effect.

I only took the Ativan when I felt I *really* needed it so my month's RX actually lasted me closer to 2 months or so.

I took it before I went in to get a pelvic exam. It made me feel high or something. I'd slur my words, forget what I was doing, and then fall asleep. It didn't help with the doctor visit either.

Just didn't work for me. I agree that anxiety is a part of life. Sometimes it's good for me to feel stressed just so I can appreciate the calm moments in life.

I should probably take Xanax or Ativan.
I know my Mum has tried both and immensely prefered the Ativan.

I have a rather easily addicted personality type so I need to talk to my doctor about 'low risk' ones...

My doctor prescribed it for me for sleep purposes. Then she suggested I take it during the day and as needed since I've been having major problems with depression and anxiety. I'm just now starting back to work after a 3 month long medical leave due to my depression. I can't take Xanax during the day - I fall asleep. I was worried about the dependency issue so after I ran out, I started taking unisom to help me sleep. I had refills available for the Xanax, but choose not to refill it.

I asked my friend who is a recovering addict and alcoholic how I would know if I was addicted to it. She went to school and is now a counselor at a treatment facility. She said that if you have to take more than your prescribed dosage to get the same effects, it could be a sign that you are addicted. I know some with some drugs, you do have to go up dosages because you body becomes "used" to it. But I have no idea if Xanax is one of those kinds of drugs.

If you have any concerns, GO SEE YOUR DR. Don't just stop taking it especially if it's being used to treat anxiety/depression.

Michelle

I had it prescribed to me by my doctor. I had gone to see the doctor for something else and she kept staring at me asking if how work was going, family, etc. I was having issues at work so I briefly mentioned them. She said "Here, take this."...and handed me the prescription for it. I asked her what it was and she said, "It will help you relax." I was clueless on what it was. I went to get the prescription filled and recieved the side effects print out they give you with all prescriptions and reading it scared the crap out of me. I never took the Xanax and I still have the full prescription at home.
I want to flush it down the toilet but somehow it upsets me that I paid $10 for it. I know I'm never going to use it.

Oh dear, it's a medication that is easily abused and many people get highly addicted to it. I used to work in a psych office and i was in charge of prescriptions, etc. One lady was so dependent on her anti-anxiety medication (it wasn't Xanax, it was Klonopin), that she was pharmacy hopping. She would have multiple pharmacies calling us for prescription refills. The sad thing is that you can't just cut it cold turkey, you have to ween yourself off of that stuff.

Have you tried alternative ways to control your anxiety? I can get it pretty bad, but i've found that if you don't think about it and try to just focus on slow, steady breathing that it's helped me a lot.

I take Xanax because I've been having severe panic attacks the last three months. It does not make me woozy. It puts me in a calm state where I am able to function normally. I only take them as-needed and I am not worried about addiction.

I am at the point where my panic attacks last for hours at a time, and breathing slow does not help.

When I was first married my husband had panic attacks and used Xanax with great success. After a while he would just keep it in his shirt pocket at work and would only take it if necessary. Just knowing it was in his pocket helped relieve his anxiety, and eventually he got himself off of it. Three years later I started having major panic attacks that would last an hour straight. I was on the edge. I never took Xanax though. My doctor prescribed something and it made my head spin like there was no tomorrow, so after that I never would take any prescriptions. I saw a fantastic psychotherapist and started exercising and taking liquid flax seed oil in my yogurts and seeing my family more. Within a few months they had decreased dramatically in frequency and severity. I got to the point where I could talk myself out of one when it would come on. I know how it can really feel like it is messing you up mentally and that can be so frightening. But you can get through it I learned....:) Sorry for rambling.