My husband gets crazy on xanax

[crazywife]

My husband is prescribed 1mg every 6 hours as needed for panic attacks. He is bipolar and a recovering drug addict.  He has given me his bottle to monitor his dosage but it is making me crazy.  He takes 2 and then asks for more and when I tell him no he goes crazy until I give him more, once he passes out he doesn't remember it at all.  What is the max I should give him before he can overdose?  Also any suggestions on how to deal with this?  

[missy812]

yeah probably a good idea to call his doc office to let them know what's going on. Because of the privacy laws, maybe it'd be better for you to just go w/him to his next appt... If he doesn't have one soon, I'd call and make an appt for him, and you guys can go together.  It might make hubby mad, but hey - at least everything will be out in the open.
Good luck w/everything.

[crazywife]

Thanks, I have his bottle and have only given him 2 a day as prescribed for the past two days, he seems to have gotten back to himself.  When he has not taken so much and is "sober" so to speak, he realizes what has happened...apologizes, and things go back to normal until next month when refill times come and its like his inner addict comes out and rules his life for a few days even though that is not what he plans or wants....so I think I need to talk to his Dr and see if we can do something to prevent this all next month.  

[mr.lucky66]

Xanax is a bad drug and it sounds like he never should be given it. Xanax is for panic attacks but studies show that the rebound from xanax can cause more panic in some.

[sid3]

yeah he is abusing the pills. xanax  is one of the more potent and shortest acting benzo. He is sadly really creating a big problem for himself. The wds from benzos are absolutely horrific. They also go on for months and months. It takes the bain a long time to heal from the pysiological damage benzo abuse causes. It sounds like after only four days into the refill he has already proven to you that he is way out of control. Definately call the Dr. He may not be able to discuss things due to privacy laws, but you are cetainly permitted to inform the Dr about the severity of the problem. I have been taking ativan, the benzo just beneath xanax in terms of potency, and I can tell you from experience what a nightmanre they are to come off of even after just taking them as prescribed. Most commonly, xanax is prescribed at .25 4x a day. IMO you husband is obviously taking a large amount. Thee really isn't a high from benzos so to speak, as they are more of a downe due to the fact that they are tranquilizers. Although everybody reacts differently to different meds. I hope you are able to get him some help, and some for yourself as well. Please be safe, as your posts suggest that when under the influence of too much xanax, you husband sounds very unpredictable. Good luck in your struggle. I hope this will work out for you and your husband.

[crazywife]

Thanks, that's a good idea, too bad its the weekend, come on monday!

[GA Guy]

You can call them, and I honestly think you should. They will probably not discuss his situation with you, but will be glad to have the information. They will probably tell you whether or not to continue giving him the Xanax.

[crazywife]

Can I call his doctors and let them in on the situation?  Will they discuss his meds with me with all the privacy laws these days?  I know him well enough to know that they are def making him worse but I'm sure he's getting a nice little high off it and therefore is convincing himself it is helping

[GA Guy]

There's the problem. I can bet his psychiatrist would go nuts if he knew he was taking benzos with his bipolar disorder without consulting him. I cam also bet your husband "inadvertently" failed to mention to his family doc about his bipolar medication. This is very dangerous.

[crazywife]

he's been to in patient before for street drugs and thinks since he is prescribed this he is fine. He has this sense of entitlement to take as much as he wants, from my past experience there's not much I can do to get him in if he isn't willing right?

[twolve]

I agree with CATUF. One of my friends was doing xanax daily and he tried to quit and ended up having a Seizure on Christmas Eve in front of his whole family. He might have choked to death if his GF wasn't smart enough to keep him from swallowing his tongue. Xanax is very scary stuff.

[crazywife]

No, his psychiatrist prescribed him something else so he got this from the family doctor.  

[crazywife]

Yeah he does run out early and he goes with out, he is much more calm with and "normal" without them.  This is only his second refill, last month he took like 10 and was being aggressive so I flushed the rest of his bottle, now its day 4 of this refill and he's about half way thru his one month script

[crazywife]

Thanks, an outside point of view can really put thing in perspective

[SophieShine]

Sounds like addiction to me...Please listen to Ga Guy.
Best of luck to you. Sophie.

[CATUF]

i'd get him into in-patient rehab.

benzos are a bear to get off of and it takes a long time for brain chemistry to return to normal.

CATUF
1565

[GA Guy]

His dosage is right on the bottle. 1mg is one pill. Not 2. Plus, it's supposed to be as needed. If his anxiety is to the point that he needs dosing every 6 hours, then he needs to be on a longer half life benzo like klonopin or valium or the perfect solution is to get him off benzos all together and treat with a nonaddictive anxiety med. He's abusing the medication and you're helping. You need to talk to his doctor and get his meds adjusted. There's a good chance that the benzos are kicking up his bipolar and making him manic. Does the same doctor that treats his bipolar give him the Xanax?

[missy812]

He could probably take up to 10 Mg per day, or maybe more if he has a tolerance, but it's not recommended, or a good idea. Doesn't he run out of his pills early?  If so, does his Dr. just prescribe him more?
He needs professional help badly.
When he acts like that next time, take him to the ER.