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dangers of xanax
by Jude444, Jun 12, 2001 12:00AM
I am writing for a friend. She recently had surgery for cancer of her kidney. Surgery was successful and she is neither on chemo or radiation therapy. After surgery she became very depressed and cried frequently. It has now been about two months since the surgery. I myself, have gone thru severe situational depression a few years back and have compeltely recovered, so I am familiar with how my friend is feeling. She is now taking Prozac, which has just been upped to twice daily. Her doctor has also given her Xanax. The recommended dosage is 4xdaily. I don't know the strength. In the beginning she seemed to be coming along fine and getting progressively better. But now she has hit bottom again and it seems when she takes the xanax she becomes more depressed- she starts shaking. and cries easily. I know when I had my problem, the doctor did not want me on this drug for more than two weeks, and then put me on Klonopin. My friend used to be a very strong person-ran a bookstore then a clothing store. Am I correct in thinking that the xanax is not the drug for her? Is it working against the Prozac? She was going to call her internist today, whom she has not spoken to about this yet. I might mention that I took my self off of my anti-depressants on my own when I realized it was causing high blood pressure. My physiatrist never once told me to monitor my blood pressure. My physcian didn't even know that anitdepressants can cause high-only low. He looked it up and sure enough it could cause high. It seems that doctors are pushing pills on us without all the facts.
It is possible if she lowered her dose of xanax for 24 hours even by one or two mg's she could have withdrawal such as crying and shaking. Possibly even seizures if she is not careful. Klonopin is said to be better for anxiety since it is longer lasting. It also is addictive though like xanax.
It is also possible that the prozac is making her extra emotional. I take 10 mg of Klonopin a day which is extremely high dose but I take mine for seizures as well as acute anxiety attacks. She will experience withdrawal from prozac too, doctors prefer to call it discontinuation syndrome which is really withdrawal because your body has become used to it.
The surgery operations can easily lead to depression. My worse depression has been over the past six months since I had a historectomy, only the uterus, and catarac surgery. I have been suicidal many times. Just give your friend all the support she needs and keep telling her you care for her. That's what a depressed person really needs to hear for emotional support; not a lecture on drugs or lifestyle changes etc.
I own a piece of land in Punta Gorda Florida. It is two miles from the Gulf Of Mexico and on a lake. Do you want to buy it? LOL
Actually I am trying to sell it. I don't need it way over where I live. I don't get the Weather Channel over here, but I sure can't wait for that first typhoon!!!!! It has been much much much too long!!!! With my new job I will actually get to chase the typhoons and enjoy them instead of working through them!!!!
On the other hand, a number of people have told me about themselves, friends, family, etc. "freaking out" due to antidepressants. I agree w/Cindi that is a possible cause, moreso than the Xanax. But whatever the cause, it sounds like some kind of medication adjustment is needed to bring your friend relief. Best wishes, Milo
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, I'm just so tired anymore. I can't figure out if it's my illness or the 6 or more grandkids that are here everyday or both.
I was caught up in this thread. My husband had a nervous breakdown 5 years ago after a spinal injury. He had to start seeing a phychiatrist and that nearly destroyed ME! He had him on so many drugs he was a walking zombi. This went on for months.Then my husband tried to kill himself by taking an overdose of valuim. The doctor said he didn't think it was on purpose. Get real. He took 10 10mg. valuim pills and would of taken more if he had them. I finally told my husband he needed to get rid of the pills so he could think again. He did. He still takes some for depression but now he doesn't need to carry a piece of paper with all of them wrote down and when to take them. My sister-in-law just went throught he same thing too. After a year of it, her husband told her it was the pills or him. She is now pill free and happy. So my feelings for Phychiatrists are not favorable. They told my husband his problems stemmed from his childhood. Not the fact that he could no longer work and support his family or the injury he had to his spine. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!
My sister was crying all the time. She is 42. She was so depressed and she didn't get joy out of anything anymore. But this all started rather suddenly. Her doctor put her on paxil and hormones. She is doing much better. I believe the change in her hormones was the ticket. Could this friend of yours be on medicine that may of caused this change? After my urostomy, I cried for a year. The change in my apperance was very hard to deal with. Did she have any issues like that? I really hope she gets the help she needs. She certainly has a good friend. Be there for her. Cindi and Thomas are the wise ones here, I just sit here and listen to good advice. But this touched home and I do hope she gets better soon. I'll remember her in my prayers.
Take care Cindi and Thomas. I hope you hear from Angelica soon. Please say hello for me and give her my love.
God Bless,
Kerrie
I realize drug addicts and alcoholics can get cranky to say the least but that was getting hard to read. I hope the good guys and gals that left come back and continue helping as you were. Working with addicts,I find they are often overly sensitive and easily take things the wrong way. They already have an insecurity problem, usually a financial problem, physical problems and low self esteems because of the stigma of addiction. I believe people become addicts for a reason. Their body needs something it is not getting and the person harmlessly self medicates and it later becomes addiction. We should look for why we are addicts in the first place, are we self medicating for pain, stress, grief etc, and work from there. I am no expert just another addict like everyone else on this board. Good luck to all. I do believe in God and I will be praying for everyone in our situation.