Taking Xanax for extended period of time.
I have been taking xanax for about 6 months now and I take it for anxiety and panic attacks. Also I have been diagnosed as having Hypohydrosis. It is a sweating condition that causes me to sweat from the top of my head and pretty much all over. I can go into a room that is 70 degrees and start sweating excessively usually my head and face and shoulders. I have seen a psychiatriat about this and a Dermatologist and both agree with the Hydrosis. They also believe that they may be anxiety or panic induced. I can tell before it happens. I also have some testosterone issues as well, so I wear patches off and on to try to control that.
Anyway, my concern is that I am taking 3 to 4 mgs of Xanax a day. I have grown a tolerence to it. The doctor want to take me off the xanax which is the only thing I have had that works, and put me on an antidepressant. I have reviewed the ssri's and they all have side effects including sweating,anxiety and trouble sleeping. I had a bad reaction to tricyclids or what ever they are called. They gave me rashes and shortness of breath, not good. I do not think that antidepressants are the way to go.
It seems that the benzos work best. I know they have there side effects as well, including tolerence and dependance. My question is, should I switch to another benzo like ativan and if so am I going to start out at a high tolerence since it is a different med. I guess basically what I am asking is, can I switch back and forth between two different benzos and use one for awhile and then switch back to xanax and use it for awhile to avoid the tolerence problem. I realize that doctors do not like to give benzos, but I have three friends ,relatives and friends at work who are on various antis and they have all kinds of problems as well. They seem different and I can tell when they have switched meds. Also they seem to have as many problems quiting them as the old benzos. I just don't think antis are the answer.
Any advice appreciated, Texasbear
Switching to valium and tapering down is a rather common thing with docs trying to wean people off benzos although you can still just taper down with the xanax if you have the willpower and wanna deal with the rolelercoaster ride of ups and downs
i was on 3 a day for maybe 5 years..i have been on 4 a day for the last 3 years...sometimes i take 3...somedays 2...i never run out early.
i have no prob with it..it works well for me.
oh and i am supposed to be bi-polar but never having a up cycle...
???? or i cycle always on the low side...i am only on the xanax for this.
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
20 - 100 hours.
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
How come your doctor wants to take you off of the alprazolam? Have you given him any indication that you are abusing it? Yes alprazolam is not indicated for long term use, but if it has been working for your anxiety and you dont abuse it, I dont see a need to d/c the medication. Perhaps you should speak to your physician about switching you onto a longer acting benzodiazepine to help with the anxiety issues.
the xanax still does the trick for me....if i am really stressed i was told to let one melt under the tongue. nasty but does help it work faster...i need something to deal with the stress of my physical problems/and xanax works for me. Goat
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
I have to tell you guys, right now in my life I am on that rollercoaster, and just reading this post and seeing how honest you are all being makes me feel so much better. Its great to know I have a place to turn to when I need honest opionions. thanks all ( sorry its so off point)
I was wondering sice we were talking about long acting benzos and short acting has anyone have any experience or know about switching from a longer acting benzo to a shorter acting benzo. because currently im not getting much relief from my klonopins I take 3 1/2 a day and its just not working but im worried to ask my doctor about xanax because i dont know if I will get good relief from it. I would ask about diazepam but i currently take it to sleep so i dont think its an option. but any input would be great. sorry to the op I should have started a new thred but i know theres sooooo many about benzos and i know everyone gets sick of the same old story (klonopin- xanax). sorry and thanks again.
-JpD
Well klonopin lasts longer than xanax and that is usually the longest acting they will prescribe for anxiety. Usually the longer acting benzos are used as hypnotics and not anxiolytics like restoril(temazepam) or dalmane. I have heard someone prescribed tranxene once a day in the morning for anxiety which has a very long half life but is rarely prescribed. Why would you want to go from a long acting to a shorter acting. In my opinion xanax is a little more potent for a panic attack but klonopin gives you a longer acting and stable amount of benzo in your system. Perhaps you just have a tolerance to the clonazepam and switching to a different benzo would take advantage of cross tolerance. So perhaps you could switch to ativan or xanax to take advantage of the cross tolerance. Ativan has a half life in between xanax and klonopin.
I was on ativan for 6-7 years, before the current xanax...i would always end up short the last year i took them..i was prescribed 8 mgs daily but was using at least 12 mg...it was horrible...great at first/then a nightmare.
I am not a Dr. I just play one on tv.
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Well definitely get swtich to valium to start getting off of the xanax. Xanax withdrawl is the worst thing ever! Valium will have a longer half life than xanax (100hr compared to 12hr I believe)