Am I at risk of addiction

Question

I got a prescription from my dr for xanax at .25 mg due to anxiety over family illness and financial circumstances.   I previous got a prescription annually just to take for certain anxious situations and probably took 1 .25mg a month at best.   
Now I have been taking the .25mg script for about 3 months.  Have flip flopped with different dosages, but the highest was at .125 mg 2 x daily.   Now I have taken none for some days, or .125mg some days probably averaging one every other day, or maybe 5 of out 7 days.
I don't have panic attacks, just anxious feelings flare up and I reach for the pills for relief.   With such a low dose, should I be concerned about addiction?  My dr wants me to take an antidepressent but tried zoloft and couldn't stand it.  So only the xanax at the moment.   I don't drink alcohol generally, but might have 1 drink on a day I don't take xanax.
Thanks for any input

Angel958 · Answer

In order to get further input I would suggest you also put your question to one of the specialist benzo sites (************ is an excellent one) but at the end of the day people can only give you advice based on their own experience. We are not doctors.

There are other ways to deal with anxiety apart from benzos - CBT, meditation,breathing, yoga etc.    I also found beta blockers helped immensely, they are non-addictive.  Maybe even an anti-depressant for a period of time like your doctor suggested.

It's important to be aware of the dangers of benzodiazapines though and   good luck with whatever you decide to do.

gloglo48 · Answer

Thanks for your input.  I am going to do my best to stay away completely.  Some of my family members think I should take it if it helps, what's the difference from any other medication that you must take for any other medical condition is what they say.   They have a point, but so do all the people here saying stay away from xanax.  Conflicting and confusing.  I doubt there are any alternatives at all that wouldn't be habit forming, so God knows what people do that suffer anxiety and have nothing good to help them.

Angel958 · Answer

I think that's a good idea gloglo.  See how you are without one at all.

If you start to suffer badly (which I doubt you will if you have gone 5 days already without one), the suggestion would probably be to either taper from your last dosage of Xanax on a stable dose.  This can be really hard as it is short-acting and you can have interdose withdrawals.  A lot of people ask their doctor to cross them over to Valium which would be at a higher dose and taper from there as it is longer-acting and less interdose withdrawal.  This is all a bit of a nightmare - I know, I have done it - and can lead to withdrawal problems for quite a long while after.

So if you can avoid all this, it would really would be better for you to count your blessings and never touch a benzo again!

gloglo48 · Answer

I was comfortable with taking the low dose before going onto this site.  So am trying not to take any.  5 days now haven't had one.

Angel958 · Answer

Yes all benzos are addicting but Valium is longer-acting as opposed to Xanax which is short-acting. Am not too happy to hear you have to take another Xanax to get rid of the anxiety as that sounds as you could be getting dependant if you are taking it regularly and then you can have problems.

gloglo48 · Answer

So far I'm o.k. but I do have anxiety and it goes away if I take the xanax.   So no wonder it's addicting.  Is Valium addicting?

Angel958 · Answer

Yes I think you are exactly right. I definitely agree that on a low dosage and on an as and when basis I would probably have been okay. The doctor had no idea. I am just devastated I have lost a year of my life and everyone around me has suffered just because the doctor over-prescribed.

allmymarbles · Answer

The problem with doctors is that they are not chemists. Yours gave you a screwball dose possibly because he mixed it up with valium dosages. If I remember correctly .5mg. Xanax is equivalent in potency to 5mg. valium. No big surprise that you suffered withdrawal. Also he put you on a maintenance dose, that is, you took the same amount every day. If he had put you on an "as needed" basis (and with a reasonable dosage) you probably would not have had any problem

Whenever a doctor gives me a prescription I double check before filling it. They can be very careless. For instance, they never seem to look for interactions.

Angel958 · Answer

This is a very interesting thread.  I must be one of the really unlucky ones.  Xanax 2mg-3mg a day given me a year ago for a panic attack, dreadful time trying to reduce it after 7 days, more panic attacks, really ill and the doctor put me on 22mg Valium reducing to 2mg over 12 days and then I jumped.

Have had a year of awful withdrawal symptoms and just about recovered apart from some anxiety and pins and needles.

I now know that 2mg-3mg Xanax is quite a high dose - Prof. Ashton equates it to 40mg/60mg Valium.

I guess .25 or .125 is not so much and for that reason you did not get dependant perhaps although I have read on the benzo sites of others having problems on even low doses of Xanax.

Glad you are okay though.

allmymarbles · Answer

I think people are warned not to stay on it too long because of the medical profession's preoccupation with addiction. For people like you and me, I doubt that it matters at all. My doctors are very careful and have no problem with my staying on Xanax.

gloglo48 · Answer

Interesting.  3 Years on the same dose as needed.  That is encouraging.  For me, though I take a low dose, I want to have them when I need them, but want to be careful not to end up with an addiction.  I believe I am fine now, but have read not to use xanax for a long time.  It's been only 3 months with the low 1/2 pill but I do take them wherever I go, "just in case" and want to feel ok with that.
Mcr001, not picking on you, and it is great that you can go without for days at a time, but 10 years is a long time.  I have heard though, many people have taken them for years.  If you have no problems, then seems there would be no need to stop and some of these fears maybe aren't warranted?  
Guess alot of factors weigh in on this issue.  The only thing I can say I have used for years is alcohol, not alot, and not at all while taking xanax.

allmymarbles · Answer

If you are not addicted, why has your dosage increased so dramatically? I have been using Xanax for three years, always as needed. My dosage has not increased at all, and the drug works just as well now as it did in the beginning.

gloglo48 · Answer

Well this is interesting.  You have using for 10 years which might say to me you could me addicted, but by not having to take it sometimes for 4 days, really is amazing.  Most of the posts are scary about the addictive nature of xanax and I would say if you can not take them for 4 days, there can't be an addiction???   Perhaps it just depends on the person.  
I actually would say I take them for stress as well as anxiety, if there were another safe med for stress I would want that instead, unless of course it is more addicting.
I have to wonder if those of us that are older, aren't as concerned about an addiction as we don't have a whole lifetime ahead of us to worry about it.   Does that make any sense to you?
Thanks for your post reply.

hydro___fool · Answer

The dosage you are on is low, but it can become very addicting.  For this reason I would try not to take them.  I used to do the exact scenario you are describing and before you know it I was hooked.  Took pills with me everywhere (just in case) and whenever things go stressful I took a pill.  That's where they led me anyway so I dont want to see you make the same mistake.  I still keep some but 30 of the .25 can last me 2 years now.  The LESS you take them the better you will be able to deal with issues at hand.  They simply seem bigger while using Xanax more regularly.  That's is what I noticed at least.    Please be safe.

Mcr2001 · Answer

Finally something I know alot about.  I have been on Xanax for 10 years starting with the lowest dosage and now up to 1mg every 6 hours as needed.  Xanax is a necessity medically for me and I think that is why I never became addicted.  If used properly Xanax is wonderful.  I go 4 to 5 days without at some times but there are times when it is needed.  Tread lightly because it is addictive but don't be afraid to use it because it can help immensely.  Any other questions feel free to message me

Wobby65 · Answer

I took Xanax for years, prescribed for panic disorder; I took it occasionally, as needed, and when the panic disorder became less severe, I stopped taking the Xanax without a problem. I had no withdrawal symptoms, and I have never had any "cravings" for it. It can be highly addictive, so you're wise to be aware of that, but it sounds like you're on top of it. 

I was also prescribed Zoloft for anxiety and depression, and it nearly killed me, literally - it completely stopped all serotonin production in me and, because serotonin aids the intestines in contracting normally, I developed an intestinal obstruction. Because I was in my 30's and healthy, my symptoms were initially dismissed as gastritis...10 days later I landed in the hospital and was informed that 12 more hours and my intestines would likely have perforated. It's a very rare side-effect but a very serious one, so I would caution anyone taking Zoloft to talk to their doctor if they develop digestive issues...better safe than sorry!!

oldie · Answer

i should have said: 'when they try to stop from much higher doses then we take'

oldie · Answer

I started at .25 many years ago, dropped it, started again but always AS NEEDED. Four years ago I took .25 three times a day to experiment. That is the recommended mininimum dose for old folk. In five days I was hallucinating and had suicidal visions. But the med has served me well . I'm up to .50 at times now and trying extended release. I have no worries about addiction. I begin to think that the fearful ecperinces on the forums are from symtpms people feel WHEN THEY TRY TO STOP. 
I see no reason to stop my low, as-needed dose.

gloglo48 · Answer

Thank you for sharing.  It seems like I shouldn't worry too much but you read these posts it makes me wonder.  I have social anxiety and I always worry I'll be required to speak or have attention brought to me which I hate, hate, hate.  So I take my .125 when I go where I think that could happen.  If I didn't have them, I would not go.  Now have to look for a job and I will need my .125 even for an interview.  Does slow down the brain a bit, but hopefully I can at least speak.  I experienced an interview was I was 18 years old (now 63) and I was not able to speak.....too nervous, voice cracked, and oddly enough I got the darn job!

allmymarbles · Answer

You and I are doing exactly the same thing. My prescription is for .25 mg. and I usually try taking just half. I do not take it every day, but sometimes two or three days in a row. Neither you nor I are at risk for addition. We both take small doses and we take them erratically, not on a maintenance basis. I find Xanax very helpful.

gloglo48 · Answer

It is half of a .25 so therefor .125 mg.  Not alot at all.  Half of lowest dose.

akitagurl12 · Answer

Hi,
me & xanax used to have a love/hate relationship, so I may have some input for you:)  However, did you mean 125mgs OR 1.25mgs?  I am familiar with 1.25 and i don't think it would be possible to take 125mgs, but i just wanted to make sure before I anwser.