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Question about Using Xanax Safely
by harris5998, Jun 07, 2007 12:00AM
Hello everyone. My doctor has me on 10 mg of Lexapro every day and also .5 mg of Xanax as needed.
My question is this: How far apart do I need to space the days on which I take Xanax to avoid building up a tolerance, dependence or addiction to it?
Is every other day sufficient, or should I wait longer in between? Could I get addicted if my body gets used to taking it every X number of days on a regular basis? Or is the time in between enough to prevent physical addiction?
I could honestly use the Xanax everyday because my anxiety is everyday, but I don't want to because I have watched my mother destroy herself with a benzo/opiate addiction for years now.
I've been asking around and can't seem to find a straight answer to this question. I've asked the doc and his response was when you need them, he is not very helpful. The pharmacist wouldn't tell me. I don't want to switch to a longer acting benzo, I don't want to deal with any additional or new meds. I just want to know how to take Xanax as often as possible without getting addicted to it.
On the days when I do take it, my dose is .5 mg two to three times per day. It is an absolute godsend for my anxiety and helps me function a lot better than on days I don't take it.
Thanks!
Angela Harris
My question is this: How far apart do I need to space the days on which I take Xanax to avoid building up a tolerance, dependence or addiction to it?
Is every other day sufficient, or should I wait longer in between? Could I get addicted if my body gets used to taking it every X number of days on a regular basis? Or is the time in between enough to prevent physical addiction?
I could honestly use the Xanax everyday because my anxiety is everyday, but I don't want to because I have watched my mother destroy herself with a benzo/opiate addiction for years now.
I've been asking around and can't seem to find a straight answer to this question. I've asked the doc and his response was when you need them, he is not very helpful. The pharmacist wouldn't tell me. I don't want to switch to a longer acting benzo, I don't want to deal with any additional or new meds. I just want to know how to take Xanax as often as possible without getting addicted to it.
On the days when I do take it, my dose is .5 mg two to three times per day. It is an absolute godsend for my anxiety and helps me function a lot better than on days I don't take it.
Thanks!
Angela Harris
Post Comment
I would say really use it as needed. If you find its every day try half if you can. Look at me... I am on a really low dose and once a day and my body is use to it and needs it.
wish me luck on getting it out of my system!
Clarissa
The reason why is a direct result of the drugs half-life, which in this case is 4-6 hours. The rapid onset of action and short half-life leads to rapid *tolerance*, and with prolonged use, *dependency*. The drug never reaches "steady-state", and the rapid fall in plasma levels causes "rebound anxiety" if used too frequently.
Therefore, this particular drug should only be used intermittently (one or two tablets every two to three days), OR to stop a panic attack in progress. Ideally, using it ONLY when genuinely needed is the best option.
Xanax is of particular value for the termination of sporadic panic attacks that occur infrequently. It should never be used daily, or for prolonged periods of time (unless its use is intermittent).
For the long-term maintenance of anxiety disorders, a long-acting Benzodiazpeine that carries a long half-life is the best option. Klonopin, Librium, and Valium remain the first line treatments. These three drugs reach a "steady-state" level in the plasma when taken daily (BID for Klonopin, TID or QID for Librium and Valium). The risk of *tolerance* is low, but as with all Benzodiazepines, *dependency* will occur.
Dependency has also been shown to occur with the SSRI/SNRI family of drugs as well, and in particular, Paroxetine (Paxil). The modern, more friendly term used by the SSRI manufacturers is "discontinuation syndrome", rather than dependency. The two are one in the same. ANY psychotropic drug that alters or influences brain chemistry will eventually result in some form of dependency, which becomes apparent upon its discontinuation.
-Ryan
Moderation is the best. If you are trying to cope hr by hr every day average 1-2 xanax but once you fine that your daily meds are kicking in, begin to take 1/2 and then 1/4 if you feel that you are half way in control. Alot is when some people take up to 4-or even 6mg a day. That is scary. Xanax is not dangerously addicted if you pace urself. If you take half and you still feel funny later take another half. If you take a whole one or 2 in the first half of day then you will feel that your safety pills are overused and you are done for the day. You always want that feeling that i have been strong so far......and if i really need one im ok cos i havent taken anything yet. I go in 1/2 and 1/4 so if i take it frequentley twice a day or every few days i feel fine and not over doing it.
xanax is over done when you are taking more than your physician has prescribed to you. The worry is not when you are scared but when you are not scared. When you are scared you are scared to take it so you dont take alot. If you are not scared you take alot just to feel the high.....thats the danger in xanax.
maria
What do you do if you need more to avoid W/D symptoms? First, realize that you are experiencing the symptoms of withdrawal and not an increase in your original reason for using the drug. The symptoms of withdrawal can look like the original condition, and they also can mimic other serious illnesses.
People have been told that they have MS when they really have withdrawal symptoms. People who experience extreme anxiety and other emotional withdrawal symptoms have found themselves in psychiatric wards and misdiagnosed. During this time, the benzo withdrawal is not being treated. It can get out of control quickly.
People who have been withdrawn using too large benzo reductions also are prey to those misdiagnoses.
It's clear that how to taper from a benzo is not well known. The popular Ashton method is merely reducing 0.25 to 1.0mg of Valium , waiting for a week or two to recover, and then doing it again.. Medical doctors typically call for even larger reductions. So medical help or internet help can be far off the mark.
Look into titrating with a liquid form of your benzo. Consider crossing over to a long half life benzo as Valium or Klonopin.
I can tell yoou this: Benzo.org.uk gave me false information about related drugs. They insisted in a taper that caused extreme problems. My own doctor wasn't any better.
I devised my own titration plan, but you can find a doable titration plan by searching for it.
Now for the warning: my medical supervision didn't cover any physical monitoring. I knew that my accidental withdrawal had caused hypotension, something I'd never had before. The medical people told me that this was normal. Normal isn't safe. The ignorant attitude allowed the BP to damage my heart. Don't let this happen to you. Insist on monitoring.
Any benzo can be beaten if the reductions are made small enough. That's why titration is humane. The cut and suffer method is obsolete.