xanax. Safe? or not?

As some of you may know.. I have been clean 14 days from hydrocodone.. and my doctor put me on Zoloft for anxiety (helps A LOT). He also put me on xanax... now, i'm only supposed to take them when I have bad anxiety or a panic attack.. but I have anxiety every night from my stressful job and i've been taking one xanax every night (0.5mg) and I know that its a very low doseage.. and I am wondering if this drug is safe to take every night? I am fine if I take a tylenol PM instead of a xanax for a night but the next night I usually want a xanax. Any advice would help. I dont want to supplement one drug for another. [= Thanks for the  help in advance!

[worried878]

i wouldnt take it every night for more than 2 weeks...anything we take to sleep can be very mentally addicting..and xanax as u know can be physically addicting as well...after a few nights alternate and try valerian or melatoin....try not to use it every night

[oceanfamily1992]

xanax isn't meant to be a maintanence, daily drug for very long.  It is also very addictive.  Could I suggest that you mainly depend on the zoloft, which really is a great med for this, and only use the xanax if you have that "I think I'm dying" feeling or something really strong like it.  I get that way each time I reduce my methadone dose, and it feels like I'm being pursued by a murderer and will die. xanax makes that better.

.5 isn't a small dose. .25 is the smallest normally given, though some people will break those in half. The largest dose I've ever heard of is 2mg and THAT is a lot. Considering .5 is a fouth of that dose, that means .5 is something to take seriously.

I have found that the more I use xanax, the less it helps.  That's why I only use it when I truly can't tolerate the way I'm feeling.  God bless you.

[landbray]

Hi
I took xanax for 20 yrs. It was the perfect pill until I needed more of it. My life was a cloud.Dr stopped giving it to me b/c of the addication. He switched me to klonpin . was very different as far as helping my anxiety. It worked but not in the same way. I realized it was allot easier to stop the klonpin then the xanax. Now I am on suboxine and valium. which is less addicting then the other 2.
learn some beathing excercies to calm you at work. limit caffene at work, I know but if your stressed it can make a difference. for me, I shook less.
if it's that bad is it worth it? maybe ask your dr for another anti depressant to sleep at nite to go along with the zoloft during the day. I took pamelor for yrs at bedtime,worked great.
good luck to you
paaddict

[worried878]

xanax may not be ur best choice for sleep...even ambien altho controversial is not near as habit forming.....klonipin (klonopin) is good for daily anxiety but doesnt work well for me to sleep...slow acting....just be safe and use common sense...

[justme__]

Thank you! All such good suggestions... My next doctors appointment isn't for another 3 weeks.. but I am definitely going to bring up the sleeping problems to him and see what he suggests. I tried melatonin once and it didn't work all too well.. but theres always giving it another shot!

[joann1975]

I take zoloft & klonopin and have for a long time...it's helped me with my sleep I take them both right around bed time.

Also, for sleep I would say maybe try melatonin...but I agree that the xanax should just be used for the OMG I'm going to die...my heart is going to flop out of my body on the floor panic attacks! You know what I mean?

You are doing great off the hydro! Congrats on your 14 days!

JoAnn

[Redbluffer]

I was on suboxone for almost 4 months and had previously been on librium, then valium for my anxiety disorder. I now take extended release xanax 2mg in the late morning and it really made a difference as far as my anxiety goes. I really dont feel the effects at all, except my constant worrying and stressing is relieved. Really you dont want to start taking it to sleep, or before you know it youll be dependent then become addicted. I take 5mg melatonin to help me sleep, Im also prescribed trazodone but I cant stand them so I hardly take them. Try the melatonin out, its not going to knock you out but it may help you fall asleep. My friend had a real bad addiction to xanax, and I wouldnt take it if my anxiety wasnt so bad, or if something else would help more. Ive tried every benzo, and xanax is the only one that I can say really helps me, but we are all different so you have to find what is best for you and to make that decision to be very cautious while using. I dont drink alcohol what so ever, having an alcoholic parent swayed me along time ago from that horrible drug, and it is a drug, anyone who is an alcoholic or has lived with one knows its one of the worst addictions out there bottom line. Anyways just be careful about becoming dependent upon it for sleep, I know they help but its not what they are prescribed for in most cases. Good luck, and if I can offer any other advice send me a message, Id be glad to help out. Your friend, Red