Anxiety/Agorapobia/Panic Attacks/Xanax

[smellycat1986]

Hi, My name is Jordan and I've had a couple of posts on this site already. Im 23 and I have agoraphobia/panic attacks.

My question is this: About three days ago I started taking Alprazolam (xanax) I was hesitant to take it at first, but I did and I felt great after taking it. Now before I started taking it I could not leave my house because I was so scared to have a panic attack while being out, and not being close to home where I feel comfortable. Today I went to the doctors with my child with my gf, I went to the mall and I also went to my friends house and stayed there for quite awhile. Now if you knew me you would think that I was lying, because I havent gone basically anywhere further than a three block radius in about 2 years. (im very serious) There is not enough room for me to tell you about everything but basically I would like to know has xanax ever helped someone with agoraphobia this much? I just can't believe it, it almost feels like it wasnt the drug that helped me. I felt like it was just me, and that I needed some kind of security (example: I know I took the drug before I left, so I thought that the drug would not let me have a panic attack) I have had agoraphobia off and on for about 7 years. Sometimes I would be ok and be able to have somewhat of a normal life, and sometimes I would be cooped up in my house for along time, because of fear of leaving because of the feeling I have when Im not at home. I just can't believe that Xanax has allowed me to be able to do this, when I have only been on it for three days.... I would really love to hear anything anyone has to say, and I dont care if its good or bad.
Jordan Malyon

[sierrasong]

I am also one of the ones who have had a positive experience with Xanax, never needed to increase my dosage due to tolerance and have been able to ramp up and down as needed.  I started taking it about 15 years ago and was on .25 qid (4x a day) for about a year.  I stopped taking it (don't remember having any withdrawal problems) on a daily basis with no problems, and now take one with my antidepressant (Remeron) at bedtime.  I used to feel like a "loser" as you said, Susan, and would say that to my doctor.  He knows that I don't take it at other times unless absolutely necessary and so he says, with affection, "You're a still a cheap date!"  I am hypervigilant about taking meds and he knows it so he's told me not to worry.  After 15 years with him, I finally think he probably knows what he's talking about :-)  Xanax was/has been a lifesaver for someone like me with panic/agoraphobia/GAD.  I got to Europe (10 hour plane flight) and had the time of my life.  I never, ever thought I'd be able to do that.  And yes, I earned a black belt in therapy at the same time...the combination was what did it for me.

So, as you can see there are times, such as before an airplane trip where I start taking it PRN (as needed) for a week or so (usually just one or two .25 per day for the anticipatory anxiety) and when I reach my destination I just don't take it at all.  

I think, like anything else, there is great potential for abuse of this drug and many others.  It all depends upon the patient, the doctor and so many other factors.  

Good luck!

Marsha

[Susan1944]

I've taken xanax as needed for over twenty years. I started having anxiety during a divorce in 1985 and never got over it. It HAS been a lifesaver for me, I have NOT increased dosage. I vary the dose on how I'm feeling or what the situation of the day is going to be. What I hate about it is I have a habit of taking .5 to 1.mg at bedtime. I feel like such a loser doing this and have found that a little sublingual Melatonin with it SOMETIMES allows me to take .5mg. I don't think I could sleep with .25mg UNLESS I am back on my yoga regimen. Yoga is so amazing, so powerful, that after you do it daily for less than one week you notice a tremendous improvement in your quality and depth of sleep. I am just lazy and keep slacking off yoga.
Two years ago I visited my grandchildren and I spent almost an hour racing (walking) across the pool with my granddaughter as fast as I could. That is the One and Only time in over twenty years I fell asleep right away - no meds. My daughter said, "see? I told you you just need to exercise."

[Suzyq0826]

After trying an assortment of different medications, Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac my doctor put me on .25 of Xanex about 6 years ago. After a year he upped it to .50 and then 1mg which I've been on ever since. I don't take it every day, only when I feel it's going to be one of those days...which I can always tell pretty early in the morning. I never have had an withdrawal symptoms, and I've gone weeks without taking it, usually when I am on vacation and totally relaxed. I get anxious when my prescription starts to run low, but that's because it is my security blanket. Even when I don't need it for awhile, I do need to have it with me. I think everyone's tolerance level and tendency towards addiction are different, but for me...it's a lifesaver and a miracle drug.

[CONNIEGRAGAN]

Try valium, it doesn't do all that. It works great on panic attacks and you don't have to take more.

[charliehorse]

Just be careful with this drug.  I have dealt with anxiety my entire life, went through a year of agoraphobia also.

I became addicted to the Xanax very quickly. I had so much constant anxiety, even when being awakened from sleep. This was 20 years ago when Xanax first came out....my doctor told me it was a miracle drug.  When you deal with severe anxiety you want so badly to believe this is true.
I had a grand mal seizure (sp?) due to skipping 2 doses.

What helped me most was therapy, 3 years of it.  I did require help to withdraw from the drug.  Dr. put me on Paxil which helped a great deal...the anxiety became manageable, I went back to college, got a great job and became very social.  But I still had to work on the anxiety...it lessened tremendously.

I have taken no medication now for 5 years and do fine. NO therapy for 15 years.  I still manage the anxiety with breathing and positive thoughts.  Exercise help TREMENDOUSLY...it helps release the built up tension and nervous energy.
I accept that I will always have the anxiety, but it does not control me now.

My muscles do stay tense and I catch myself holding my breath often.  But I just do what I need to do to take care of myself in  a healthy way.

Please be careful with the XANAX.  I realize it probably has short term benefits...but it's sad to when you desperately need it...and more of it, and more and more of it.  It caused me to become more depressed.

[lwestc]

Hi there to those anxious about taking xanex(generic-Alprazolam). I have taken it for about 10 years for PTS and general anxiety. About 10 years ago I had a bad reaction to Lariam(an anti-Malarial med), which created massive anxiety for me. I was so bad that I couldn't think straight or function- I was one big anxiety attack and I had no idea what was going on. At the time, I had a very fast paced job that required major concentration and attention to detail. Xanex made it possible for me to continue working. I started out with .25mg once or twice a day as needed. I stayed at that level for years and eventually just took one at night. It has been an absolute life saver for me. About three years ago, my doctor raised my med level to .5mg. That is "point" 5mg not 5mg. I was able to control my anxiety with that low level, and have continued to do so. Occasionally when I was at the .25mg dose level, I would forget to get my pills refilled, so I would go a day or two without it. At that time, I had no withdrawl symptoms. I have noticed at the .5mg level that when I run out or am almost out, I do get a bit anxious, but not anything I can't handle.

There is alot of negative press about these kind drugs, some of it from people who haven't even taken them, or who have taken them along with other drugs, so their experience will be different from your experience. If you are seeing a psychiatrist who is familiar with your case and that doctor prescribes it for you, I wouldn't hesitate to take it. It really will help, and when you are ready to try handling your life without it, your doctor will help you taper down so that you won't feel uncomfortable.

[Jessl]

I have agoraphobia and took Xanax. It is a wonder drug...at first. It allowed me to get out and about with my boyfriend and even down the coast for a holiday.  Its effects start to deminish as your body quickly develops tolerance to it and you have to keep taking more and more to get the same effect and keep away withdrawal symptoms. Its a great drug occasionally, and I mean no more than 2 - 3 times a week. Your body quickly develops a dependancy for it. I know this because, without being told all this, I went on it as a regular drug (.75mg twice a day) and soon found out the bad side. I am now having to be withdrawn of it by taking high doses of valium. Xanax is a drug to be wary of. I advise you read the "Just prescribed Nivaram (same as Xanax) need advice please!" post below and read  RCA7591 comment. It will give you the info you need to know.