Xanax Addiction-Phobia..Depression

[Trayanne]

Hello..I am new to this forum and wanted to know if I could obtain some advice. I have been taking Xanax 0.5 mg approximately 6 times per day for 3 years. They were perscribed to me for panic and anxiety atacks. Prior I had been taking anti-depressants (Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft) for 13 years and stopped and that's when "Anxiety & panic attacks began" I believe now that it was probably withdrawals since I had never had a panic attack prior.
For the past year, I have become very depressed. I no longer leave my house, have a hard time driving, will not go into a store (I send my 15 yr old twin daughters in), I have no motivation or desire to do anything, have severe insomnia, have horrible migraines that last for days, heart palpitations whenever I stand up....so I lay or sit down a lot because I'm so freaked out my feeling the flutters & palpitations. I cry a lot because I feel so inadequate...feel as if I've gone completely crazy. Three years ago I was ambitious, motivated, would spend 2 hours on my hair & make-up, loved to go places with my kids...loved to shop and the thought of leaving now makes me literally sick. I feel as if my life is gone...the pills have destroyed me. My dr. is aware of the addiction and now wants to put me on Wellbutrin XL (which I haven't picked up) it clearly states this med shouldn't be taken with Xanax. I'm so afraid of taking another pill. I have just began cutting them in half & logging how many I'm taking a day & what time. It seems as though they are lasting 2 hrs. before I have to take another.
I gave a kidney to my sister 10 years ago so only have one and I don't want to continue taking pills. I'm 37 years old and feel like I'd rather die than to live like ths & let my kids see me this way.
I would appreciate any advice.
Thank You!

[workinghard]

I'm sorry to hear about your situation.  I have been taking Xanax and Wellbutrin for a panic disorder for several years without a problem.  i have never seen an indication that hte two should not be used at the same time.  My wife is an M.D. and has also told me that she is unaware of any problems between the two.

[FLaddict]

I have also never seen a specific interaction between the two.. My doc had prescribed me the same combo at one time.. I only took the Wellbutrin for a week though I didn't like it.. and I rarely took xanax to begin with.
At this point you have quite a tolerance for the benzo xanax.. If you are taking a total of 3mgs per day. that is a good bit. Will your doctor switch you to something with a longer half life like valium and then you could get your dose down with the asssistance of you doctor.. Long term use of meds like xanax cause depression in alot of people.. 3 years would be considered long term.. Getting on a lower dose of benzo could really help you.. but going on something longer acting would help the switch..

[Trayanne]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. It's been very hard to talk about this with anyone. My husband says "I just need a swift kick in the axx and get back to reality...you are weak minded" so it helps to talk to others who know what I'm dealing with. After reading your reply I looked it up again at www.drugs.com and it did state interactions between the drugs alprazolam (Xanax) and Wellbutrin XL but did not state the two could not be taken together. This is what it stated below:

MONITOR: Excessive use or abrupt discontinuation of benzodiazepines and other sedatives after chronic ingestion may precipitate seizures in patients receiving bupropion. Conversely, bupropion may antagonize the central pharmacologic effects of sedatives. Bupropion can cause agitation, anxiety, and insomnia and has been shown to decrease the sedative effect of diazepam in healthy volunteers given single doses of the drugs.

MANAGEMENT: Although sedatives may be prescribed to treat agitation, anxiety, and insomnia associated with bupropion use, patients should be alerted to the possibility of an increased risk of seizures during excessive exposure to these drugs. Patients should not attempt to alter the dosages or discontinue the medications on their own without consulting with their physician. The use of bupropion is contraindicated in patients undergoing abrupt discontinuation of sedatives.

So again, thank you. I will call my dr. on Monday and let him know I'll have my son pick it up for me and at least try it. Can you tell me about the side effects you have experienced on Wellbutrin & also Xanax?

Take Care

[Trayanne]

Thank you for the information. Was there something specific about the Wellbutrin that you couldn't tolerate?
My dr. has perscribed Ativan for me to take at bedtime and when I spoke to them last week they said they thought they should call in a new perscription for the Ativan to help wean from the Xanax...I declined because I'm having a hard enough time with the Xanax and am afraid to keep adding.

You mentioned switching to something with a longer half life like Valium... would that be in addition to the Xanax or stopping the Xanax completely and replacing with Valium? I do have a bottle here that he perscribed a few months ago but I only took one. I've had my dr. for over 10 years and he's always been wonderful but at this point I feel I'm not getting the help I need. Maybe I'm not asking the right questions. I just want to get up in the morning and feel alive.

Thank you for taking the time!!!!

[FLaddict]

I meant switching so that you did not feel you had to take it every 2 hours.. xanax has a really short half life.. valium having a longer one would be a good one to take and then be able to taper down a bit to help with the depression.. Ativan does have a longer half life than xanax so talk with your doctor about which one would be best for you. I just feel if you feel like you need them that often then its probably not the right one..also switching could help get the amount you take per day down which would then lessen the depression.
Wellbutrin made me racey, speedy, and I felt like I took a whole bunch of Sudafed or some cold medicine.. It gave me headaches as well. So it wasn't for me.. Out of all the antidepressants I had ever been on Lexapro was probably the best for me.. But I stopped all meds like that about 60 days ago.. In the end being on them made me feel like a "numbed" version of myself.. I knew despite the fact that I was no longer having as much anxiety or occasional depressive episodes that I felt like my brain was different.. It did help me at one time.. but I decided to go a different route and try a nutritional supplement based regiment for my "nervous depression" It is all amino acids and supplements combined with vitamins.  It has helped me alot. I am really glad I tried it.. I think it changed me for the better.. I am also 45 days off of pain pills. So I feel good mentally right now.
The book I read was called END YOUR ADDICTION NOW.. It is about dependence in general so it even has a section on drugs like xanax and anti depressants since in therory taking them make you dependent on them. Also drugs like ritalin and adderall (adderrall).. It was very informative and helpful. There is another called "The Mood Cure" that is also really great.. Maybe you should check it out.. may help you too..
I hope this helped some.. If you have any other questions just post.. I am off to bed. Hope you have a great weekend.

Stephanie

[Trayanne]

Stephanie,
Thank you for the information. Congratulations on 45+ days...that's wonderful!!!

I will talk to my dr. about the other options you mentioned and also look for the books. I need all of the constructive info I can get right now.

So far I have only taken 2mg of the Xanax today and my goal is not go over 2.5.

I will be going to the drs on Tuesday or Wednesday which will be my first time out of the house in two weeks...so maybe I'll look for the books then.

Thanks for the help it means a lot.

Take Care,
Tracy

[tammyk_40]

Hi, have you heard of an extended release xanax? I know FLaddict said something about a longer lasting benzo. I have never tried it, but I saw it on a website. You really only have to take it once a day. They have .25 mg., .50 mg.,1.0 mg., 2.0 mg., and a 3.0 mg tablet. Its called xanax xr. You can google it and find out more about it.

[Trayanne]

Thank you....I will look it!

[tobybear]

Sorry I put the wrong name in.  I am still new at this. I meant to say Traysnne. Sorry.

Tobybear

[tobybear]

Hi, my husband has been diagnosed with anxiey and depression for 20 yrs. He takes prozac and valium. He sees his Dr. and stays home. For years he would't leave the house.  Then he started listening to relaxation tapes from the Midcoast Center. A program he heard of on T.V.  Anyway, the relaxation tapes helped him so much that he started going out of the house as long as someone was with him.  To make a long story short, there is hope and help for you. See the Dr. about the right kind of meds. and also relaxation techniques do help with the anxiety.  Remember there is help out there, I hope you are able to overcome this.  God Bless

Tobybear

[Trayanne]

Hi Tobybear,
You literally brought tears to my eyes. We all know there is help out there...sometimes it just seems so far out of reach.  You made me smile and I do have faith that I will overcome this....because this is not who I am...it's the pills making me feel this way. I'm 37  & have 19 & 18 yr old sons, twin daughters 15 & a 3 mo old grandaughter that my 19 yr old son has custody of & take care of her so I have to overcome this for them.  Is the Prtozac & Valium helping him?
God bless you & thank you for the encouragement.
Tracy                      

[tobybear]

Hi Trayanne, Yes the prozac and valium have really helped him.  When he first got sick he was afraid to take anything but valium.  It took 5 years of different medicine to finally get him on prozac.  Our only problem is that we live in a small town and all his Drs. keep moving to bigger towns.  He saw one Dr. for 5 years., then he left town, He saw another Dr. for 10 years and she really helped him to overcome his fear of leaving the house. The next Dr. was his favorite. He was always honest with him and didn't put up with any bull.  He doesn't like his Dr. now. But he is doing so much better.  He just doesn't like to be left alone all the time.  So I don't work, I stay at home with him.  Which is how I can honestly tell you that there is hope for you and really try some kind of relaxsation tape.  It helps everyone.  I use them when I get too stressed out. I am on day 2 of withdrawals and am looking forward to listening one.  God Bless you and your wonderful children.

Tobybear

[Trayanne]

Hi Tobybear,

Your husband is blessed to have you. I know at times it's difficult to care for others who are dependant upon you. Just make sure you take time for yourself as sometimes through it all we lose track of ourselves while putting everything & everyone first. We have to continue to have faith and pray for strength, health & happiness in or lives.

Tracy

[Trayanne]

I hope everyone is well. Your stories have touched my heart. I look forward to logging on to this forum and reading the wonderful things that many are doing to get their lives back and the support and genuine care that you show for one another....it's a beautiful thing. I'm so thankful to have come across this site.

I finally left the house yesterday..my girls were so happy (poor girls 15 on summer vacation stuck in the house with their mom who's lost her mind). I stopped by my drs office and they had a bag of the Wellbutrin XL with the receptionist with my name on it. I don't know why I'm so nervous to take this pill. I guess side effects just really make me paranoid.  I'll start taking it on Saturday...when everyone is home. I'm calling to schedule an appt. with my dr. to see if I can switch over to Valium and begin a taper from the Xanax. Leaving the house yesterday...I ended up losing track of how may I took on top of 2 ativan last night...still haven't slept.

Bless you all!!!
Tracy