Anxiety Meds and Doctors Choice

I have had much debate with several doctors over my treatment with anxiety and panic attacks along with insomnia.  I have been on Xanax for about five years now minus 2 pregnancies in between.  I have tried all kinds of medications and anti-depressants nothing has worked with out giving me worse side effects or needing to take more medications to correct those side effects.  Xanax has ZERO side effects for me and kills two birds with one stone for me.  I can take it at anytime and not feel drugged or hungover the next day.  I can function fully and stay alert as I have three small children and need to be since husband works out of state for three weeks out of the month.  My question lyes with my doctor.  He is constantly pushing different drugs my way when the Xanax works fine (which I understand is not supposed to be for long term use) but I am not depressed in any way shape or form and mood altering drugs have sever reactions with me. He has also stated to me that if I continue long term use of the Xanax by the time I am 45 my memory will cease to exsit ( I think this is drastic, as my memory is one of my best attributes, I can remember things back to when I was 3 years old). I finally gave in to my doctor a few days ago and tried a drug called Seroquel 100mg.  I could not talk, walk and I was hallucinating.  I took only 25mg at 11pm and did not wake till the next day around 5pm.  My three year old daughter had to call my mother when she woke and tell her she could not wake me (I guess you could only imagine what my parents thought on their way to my home).  I called the doc and told him and he said fine don't take it try Busbar or Beta Blockers or Neutron.  I did alot of research on these drugs and found I would still have to take more drugs on top of these to control other symptoms like the insomina, and some mess with your heart and blood pressure when I have a perfectly good working heart no need to mess with it. It has been two days and he still has yet to give me anymore advice, and most doctors will not prescribe Xanax for long term.  I am at a loss here and want to know if I am in the wrong here or what I am to do, I really need another opinion on what is best for me and my family for me to cope with this.  I have been rushed to the hosptial numerous times from attacks that my children had to watch and this was with my taking my medication.  I also wanted to note that I have decreased the amount that was prescribed to me because I thought it was to excessive (I was on 2mg 3x a day, because I trusted the doctor that gave it to me when I first started using the drug, I soon realized I was not the same person and demanded he lowered to a safer dose for me, so now I self regulate on a day to day bassis and have been for over two years now with no problems).

I take daily:
Nexium 40mg
Estradoil 1mg
Phenogran 25mg as needed
Xanax (Is prescribed for 1.5mg 2x day) I take Xanax as needed when I have an attack and for three to four days a week at night to help me get sleep.  I can still wake in the middle of the night if one of my children gets up and not altered in anyway from it so I can tend to them and still go right back to a deep sleep.

I would really love a Doctor's point of view on this situation PLEASE!  Sorry for the length I just thought some background would be helpfull.

[greenlydia]

I DO give your doctor SOME credit in trying to get you to use something besides Xanax, but the bottom line is that he is STILL cranking out the scripts for it. Which makes him a MORON in my book.
Xanax should be used for no longer than four months on a daily basis. After that time, it has basically lost its efficacy and is now doing NOTHING for you except to stave off withdrawal symptoms. You've been on this for 5 years at a pretty hefty dose for this drug. Do you have ANY idea the hell you're going to have to go through to get off this medication? Just read some of the posts here about what folks are going through to get off Xanax. I hope it scares you into realizing what your "Doctor Feelgood" has done to you!
For anxiety/panic you should have been put on something that is "long term" like Klonopin, which carries it's own set of problems, but can be taken for years without losing its efficacy. Your doctor screwed up and in the process "screwed" YOU!  
My advice is to get into therapy with a psychiatrist or psychologist and figure out WHY you have anxiety and deal with THAT rather than keep popping pills to mask your problem. This course of action SHOULD have been suggested to you FIVE YEARS AGO!
You stated that you felt your doctor had originally put you on too high a dose, which you found excessive and you realized "you were not the same person." Guess what? Even at the dose you NOW find "acceptable" has made you......"not the same person." It's just that now you've been on this junk so long, you no longer know who the "real" person is anymore. You are living life with a veil over your head and you think THAT is now normal.
I urge you to get into therapy, deal with the real issues behind your anxiety and get off the Xanax. If not for yourself, then do it for those kids of yours!
Peace
Greenlydia  
        

[Paxiled]

Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a general practitioner?  Neither knows squat about meds, but at least some psychiatrists know about dosages.  Now here's my question:  all of these drugs are difficult, all have side effects, all are nasty to quit.  What is the long-term danger of Xanax?  I'm just asking, I don't take it, I just don't know.  I take klonopin, and it's nasty to quit, too.  So what's the difference if Xanax works for her?  But the seroquel, that's an anti-psychotic.  Yeah, it'll sedate you, but it's also big for weight gain and diabetes.  All these drugs are trouble, the question is, which is worse, the drug or the anxiety?

I agree, therapy is always needed, but seldom works.  

[greenlydia]

The difference is that Xanax was NEVER meant for long term use. NEVER. It is meant for short term use of 4 months max or on a PRN basis. It is no longer working for her in the capacity in which it was originally prescribed.
The long term "danger" of Xanax is that it will, sooner or later, turn on her. It will begin to produce the very symptoms she began taking it for, and no increased dosage will control the panic. It's called tolerence withdrawal. I know, personally, of what I speak.
Yes, all benzos must be withdrawn over time, tapered on an individual schedule, all ARE difficult. Some are just more difficult than others and I believe Xanax is at the top of that particular list.
The debate about therapy will never end...............
Greenlydia  

[LadyLuck77]

Well Greenlydia...obvious to me you have not had a very good experience with xanax at all to say those things.  My panic attacks are under control and if you read correctly you would see where I said I self regulate, meaning I may take .5mg at night to sleep and if an attack comes I have taken at most 1.5 mg to over a period of time to stop it.  I also stated I am quite aware that Xanax is not intended for long term use but can be with the right people, every person is different.  As also stated I have taken myself off of the Xanax 3x before by myself with no withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms NOT ONE, because I did exactley what I was told and to gradually decrease over a period of time.  I know that this may not be true for other people but as I said before not everyone is strong willed or the same in how meds effect them.  I have tried every drug except the two others I listed in original post and NONE have effectively worked for me.  Xanax is not masking anything and I am not getting the drug from a general doctor, I see a psychiatrist.  I have asked about all different types of therepy and went for awhile and was told I no longer needed to go, but the attacks never stopped.  I have been having them all my life. So its not the xanax causing them. I have enough sense to know when to use breathing excercises to bring me down and other means before as your words "popping pills" like I am some kind of drug addict which is really offensive, you don't even know me.  And if you have been doing any kind of research on xanax there are no side effects while taking unless you have an allergic reaction to the drug.  The only bad thing about xanax or other benzos are the withdrawls, but I have never had a problem with coming off xanax, other drugs yes but not xanax, which is why I did not want to change it cause it did work as I needed it to when I needed it to.  I think people with addictive personalities should be carefull of drugs like these but not everyone is like that and that should be at the doctor's descretion not coming from someone who does not know me or is not a doctor themselves.

Sorry that you have such negative thoughts on all meds for anxiety.  And for the record as well I have had friends who have died from taking Xanax but only because they abused it, and I do know the signs of that well.  So thank you for your concern but I think I will leave it up to an actual medical doctor or psychiatrist.

[greenlydia]

Well LadyLuck, for 10 YEARS I had, what I thought, was a good experience with Xanax, just like you. I felt fine while I was on it. Like you, it didn't mess me up, I was able to fuction well, I had two kids and a full time job. It never left me feeling groggy or drugged and it kept my horrid anticipatory anxiety at bay and worked extremely well to control my panic attacks. I also decreased my dosage for the same reason you did. My doctor originally put me on 10mg/qd and that was too much, so I tapered myself down. But one day, not very long ago, it turned on me and I was diagnosed with tolerence withdrawal. I have since been in the battle of my life to w/d from it.
I don't understand where you got the idea I was against ALL antianxiety meds. If YOU read correctly, I NEVER said that. I DID say that all benzos carry their own set of problems, which is true but does not mean I am against their use. If I WAS, I would never have suggested to you that Klonopin might be a viable alternative for you.
That you were able to w/d from Xanax before without any problems is great. Some people ARE able to taper without experiencing the really horrible symptoms of w/d. I'm very happy that you are apparently one of those folks. As you have stated, which is the truth, is that ALL benzos must be tapered slowly, on an INDIVIDUAL BASIS, but for you to suggest that "not everyone is as strong-willed" (as YOU, I assume) is a real slam to the people who are finding the w/d process to be a nightmare. I take offense to THAT! Anyone with a real desire to get off benzos, and most particularly Xanax, must have a real desire and with time, a strong will does develope......but everyone IS different and not everyone can do it on their own or as easily as you.
My reference to "popping pills" was not, as you took it, directed ONLY at you. It applies to any and all of us who think pills are the answer to our problems.
You accused me of not doing my research into side effects of Xanax. Where in my post did I state ANYTHING about side effects? I stated the standard prescribing protocol and the dangers of not following that protocol.
Xanax CAN be used very effectively for LONG TERM use IF, and ONLY IF, it is used PRN. NEVER on a qd basis.
If I misunderstood your dosing, I apologize.
The mere fact you are on this forum questioning what you should do rather than talking with the psychiatrist you're seeing, speaks to some problem in that relationship. If you want a doctors opinion, you need to go to the other side of this forum and submit a question to one of the MD's over there.
I stand by my opinion that getting to the root cause of your anxiety, and there IS one, will serve you better in the long run than taking medication.............yes.......MASKING the symptoms of your real issues.

You wrote:
* I think people with addictive personalities should be carefull of drugs like these but not everyone is like that and that should be at the doctor's descretion not coming from someone who does not know me or is not a doctor themselves.*

I couldn't agree with you more. And if, for some reason, you think I've branded you as a person with an "addictive personality," then you REALLY need to reread my post, as I never said or ever implied that. Also bear in mind, Ms.Ladyluck, that NOBODY on this forum knows you and finally, I NEVER presented myself as a doctor! If you were under the impression you were writing to an MD, then that was YOUR misunderstanding.
Peace
Greenlydia    

[redsunset787]

So why will Xanax or any of the benzos fry a brain any more that Effexor or any of the SNRIs or SSRIs?

redsunset

[greenlydia]

Neither type of med will "FRY" your brain if they are used correctly.
The post with LadyLuck was basically about the dosing and withdrawal of benzos, which can be difficult. It had nothing to do with a med "frying" anyone's brain!
Peace
Greenlydia

[redsunset787]

Is it any more difficult to withdraw from benzos than from SSRIs or SNRIs?  Effexor for example is very difficult to withdraw from.

redsunset

[greenlydia]

Personally I believe it is, but it's all very subjective.

[Paxiled]

They're all hard to withdraw from, or can be, but benzos can actually kill you if you don't withdraw properly.  They can cause seizures.  That's the main difference.

[bastet56]

Have you tried antivan or klonopin? As for xanax - you are a big girl and can read all the info on this drug yourself. It does not wear off after 5 yrs for all people nor does it 'fry' your brain. As for memory problems, if you have kids and are taking care of them and a house and all the other things in your busy life, you are bound to forget things. I would talk this over with a psy doc and also try therapy to find out if there is a root to your anxiety. You might have a chemical imbalance which would make therapy helpful, but not a cure. I see no problem with xanax as long as taken as directed. You realize that when you quit you will go thru withdrawls, that's part and parcel of any psych med. I have had experience with all 3 and have been on xanax long term under a psy doc's care. Everybody has their own opinion but realistically it's your and you dr's choice. Good Luck  and now watch it hit the fan!

[LadyLuck77]

Well I have been on just about everything, Effexor, Ativan, Klonopin you name it, I have tried it. I have been seeing a psychologist for years and have been in therapy.  I have never had a problem with withdraws which is what I was reffering to "greenlydia" I was never suggesting that everyone was like me.  I do though have problems being overly sensitive to effects of most medications no matter how simple they are.  I can't even take most antibiotics without some pretty serious problems.  Xanax for me has been one of the only drugs I have ever been on that has never given me any problems whats so ever, even when I decided to get off of it I had no withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms ZERO.  What I meant by a strong willed is depending on the person and a person to realize that it has a lot to do with the mind and reprograming it to function with out the use of the drug, most people are not strong enough to just keep fighting through it they just go back to using a drug.  By all means most of the withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms can be fatal and they are definatley physical, I am not arguing that at all as I stated before I have had friends that have died from withdrawl (withdrawal) side effects, but it had alot to do with their underlying problem which was depression which only made it worse.  Which is what I meant by being strong willed.  When you are depressed you do not have the will power to fight through it.  SO to everyone I think my question was legitimate in seeking more advice.  I wanted to know if anyone else had problems such as I have had.  After speaking with my psychologist again he has agreed that changing me is not a good idea considering all my past history and is continuing me on my regement of Xanax as before.  So good luck to all!

[Ariom63]

All I am saying id Effexor was a PURE LIVING INFERNO to come off of...let alone being on it.  Talk about feeling like you are out of control and certainly no help with anxiety.  That is how I felt about it....certainly all med are not going to work the same for everyone.  

As for other medications...I am not a doctor...just personal experience with having GAD for the past 8 yrs....if a medication helps one person let them take it.  

I agree most doctors prescribe anti-depressants when it comes to anxiety....and I am so tired of hearing they go hand in hand....they don't for me.  I am a very happy person.  I do not suffer from depression...so they need to find something that perhaps isn't short term but long term..and for now it is on the line of Klonopin, etc.  

[Paxiled]

I had a chronic depression, but I was always able to function.  I went on Paxil for panic attacks, but in between I was fine.  After withdrawing from Paxil, I now suffer from morbid depression, terrible anxiety, and worse panic attacks.  Aren't psychiatrists just so helpful?

[Ariom63]

That is why I have always said that anti-depressants are good for those who suffer from depression of course and they do help a bit with anxiety.  But my doctor believes a benzo is needed to help keep the panic away.  he did mention that when withdrawing from any anti-depressant for alot of people it does get worse.  hang in there and I am sure your doctor will help you!

[nora006]

Dear Ladyluck
this is a question I'm sure Ryan will be able to help you with when he gets back on the forum.

I'm not particularly fond of the black or white thinking when it comes to drugs. People have so different experiences.
For instance I know a 96 year old lady who has taken valium for over 40 years. The Gestapo came to their house one day during the war and took her husband and sent him to Auschwitz. He never returned. Valium gave her the ability to function normally, be a mother to her children and have a somewhat normal life. Her memory is still excellent.

Nora

[redsunset787]

"""he did mention that when withdrawing from any anti-depressant for alot of people it does get worse."""

Did he mean worse forever, like it changes your brain forever?  Or did he mean worse for a period of time?

redsunset

[Paxiled]

I'm a very extreme case, but I didn't say that, Ariom63 said that.  I don't personally believe that.  That is a pharmaceutical industry claim so they can keep people on drugs and avoid responsibility for the bad effects of medication.  A book that opened my eyes is called The Antidepressant Solution by Joseph Glanville.  Most psychiatrists only know what pharmaceutical companies tell them; actually, virtually all of what we know of drugs comes from studies published by pharmaceutical companies or financed by them, so it's very hard finding unbiased research.  But nora006 is right, these meds affect people very differently, so you can't predict how you'll react by how someone else reacts.  That's why you need a psychiatrist who knows this and listens.  And they're extremely hard to find.  I'm three years into this now because mine was a hack; if I had the one I finally paid for away from health insurance this wouldn't have happened to me.  It's all very individual.

[MrGreen]

You know what bugs me. When I go to the doctor and he takes out a book and looks up tablets. That's a bit like getting on a plain and the pilot walking by reading a book on how to fly a plain. They all have copies of the same book over here. I have seen it in more than one place. Hospital, doctors and clinic. You tell them how you feel and they open up their little magic book. Only once did I meet a doctor that didn't need to look up any book or any computer before he asked me to take medication. I found he was the first doctor I ever fully trusted.

Getting back to the original post. I find it is case of trial and error. Seems to be how most doctors work. The medication will either help you or go against you. If they hear it is going against you, they will want to try you on something new. I also found it hard to get my own doctor to believe that I only suffered from anxiety. It is like depression must go hand in hand with anxiety. Or else they have loads of anti-depressants they just want to off. No matter what I said he told me I had depression. Exfexor put me through the roof. Took me so high I had no control over my whole body. That is all anti-depressants do to anxiety sufferers. We need medication to calm us down. Not bring us up.

Was on xanax too for about a decade. It one day done nothing for me. That was the start of a battle to get off the xanax. In my mind the exfexor and the xanax bounced off each other. But following that was a nightmare. Then hospital. It was there they got me off the xanax. The doctor was anti-xanax. When we write bad things about xanax we are just writing from experience of having used them and felt the withdrawls too.

Come the end of the day the choice will fall down to the doctor and the patient. He is still giving you the xanax for now. By reading what we are writing you will at least know what to expect should he stop giving you the xanax. Because that day seems to be nearing. Just hope things aren't as bad for you as they were for a load of us and wish you good luck too.

[jtssteph]

I had a similar experience with two psychiatrists who despite the fact that I had had really good results with benzodiazepines, they didn't believe in them because they were addictive and caused more problems than what they helped. So, what did they do to try to calm me out of my mania, and relieve my horrid panic attacks? They gave me seroquel. It was supposed to "calm me down". Well, it surely did that. To the point of being  on the couch unable to wake up to take care of my three children. Then they increased the dose, and that's when I began a two year cycle of throwing up all day. Every day. I kept asking the Dr. if it was the seroquel. She insisted there was no way that that was the drug causing the vomitting. Well, after 3 years of being bent over a toilet retching, numerous I.V.'s for hydration, a pic line with Zofran to quell the nausea I finally said, NO MORE. I went off seroquel cold turkey 2 months ago. The very next day I had stopped throwing up. For the first time in two years. Called and told my doctor my "miracle" and she insisted that I cut the pill in half and continue to take it. My husband made me take it, and I've never retched so hard and for so long in my entire life. I've never been that ill. I told my husband I don't give a **** what happens, there has got to be a drug that does not make me sick as a dog.

So, fast forward, I just went to my new psychiatrist a couple of days ago. I told her about my experience with seroquel, and she agreed that there is something in the pill that I most likely am allergic to. She asked what works for my panic attacks. I told her Ativan. She agreed with me that that was a really good drug for panic attacks and to bring me out of mania.

I think the doctors are just so concerned that they don't make drug addicts out of us, that they will shove 20 other non-narcotic alternatives in our face regardless of the endless list of side effects that accompany every one of them.

Not everyone is a drug addict. It's about time the doctor does what's best for the patient and not the pharmaceutical company.

[redsunset787]

"""That is all anti-depressants do to anxiety sufferers. We need medication to calm us down. Not bring us up. """

Thank you.  I copied that paragraph and will give to the University psychiatrist when I see him in 11 days.  I told tha exact same thing to the pinhead female psy I saw the other day trying to find a doctor closer to home.  The university is 70 miles away.  I am 72.  My husband drives me now but I could not drive that far if he were not here.  So, I guess benzos are the only drug that will calm down and take the knots/jumping in my stomach and allow me to get some sleep, also relieve the anxiety attacks.  I seem to be getting the anxiety attacks only at night now  Is that the case?

redsunset

[MrGreen]

Benzos are to relax you. Bring you down. Anti-depressants are to make you happy as such. Bring you up. But a few SSRI's work for anxiety as well. I take remeron. Known as zispin over this side of the world. That works well for anxiety as well as depression and can be taken with a benzo. Though has the normal side effects, for most people, of weight gain and nightmares. I haven't gained an ounce on it. But if you suffer from anxiety alone I do imagine that a lot anti-depressants would put you through the roof. Make your anxiety worse. Because it is lifting you up. If you are already up because of your anxiety, you don't want to be lifted any higher. Tablets can bounce off each other at times as well. Making the effects of the tablet a lot stronger in some cases and with it the side effects as well. Certain tablets might not be given with other tablets. For that one reason. Or a doctor might make a mistake, as a lot of them seem to do, and give you two tablets that he shouldn't. Can happen. I believe the exfexor I was given bounced off the xanax. No doctor. But the effects of it after I took the xanax, which was three hours after the exfexor, send me to hell. I was in bits. Trial and error. That is what I say doctors go on.

[Paxiled]

ssris work for both anxiety and depression, insofar as having more serotonin available will affect both problems.  Benzos are always temporary, while ssris stay in the body and continue to work long term.  The problem is, this clinical description has nothing to do with how any medication will affect a particular person.  I mean, we're dealing with the brain here, which nobody understands.  And the term addiction is so often misused.  We're all addicted to food and water, too, right?  That doesn't mean we shouldn't take them.  My theory is, if you're tolerating something well and it's working and therapy didn't work or natural remedies didn't work, then who cares if it's addictive?  So is breathing.  All these drugs can be hell to discontinue, or they can be a breeze, it depends on the person.  I guess the lesson of this thread is that patients have to less patient with their doctors.  

Mr. Green, loved the story about doctors looking up pills in books.  It's beyond me how anyone would set up a system that's so flawed.  Most of these clowns are just out and out quacks, and the ones who aren't get categorized as "out of the mainstream" and ignored.  It's just amazing.

[MrGreen]

I agree it always important to let people know that none of us are medical experts at all. Even we get a copy of the book I see all those doctors reading. ( LOL ) We are just sharing our experiences. Remoron was the first ever anti-depressant that done something for me. Was tried on a load and always had the same effect. I could hardly move I was that high. But it was explained that Remoron blocks off some anxiety receptors in the brain. I was told this by the doctor without the book. He was either well rehearsed or he knew his stuff. But I felt myself trusting him more than any other doctor. Hence I agreed to try the remoron. Knocks me out at night. Man. But you can wake three hours later and be wide awake. Maybe I just need a copy of that book to put me back to sleep. LOL.

[LadyLuck77]

I think Mr.Green made a good point we are not medical professionals at all.  But we know what works for us and we have tried.  And also to Mr. Green I have came off of Xanax twice, I had no withdrawls from coming off of it.  Maybe because I have a lot of will power and am able to convince myself that if I don't need the drug (any drug) and go on.  I know most people suffer horrible withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms but I am not one of those people.  I do on the other hand have horrible side effects to drugs while I am taking them, not coming off of them.  

To jtssteph: I feel your pain on the PIC line and the Zofran drip, I had both when I got diagnosed with Hyperemessis.  It was awfull and I would not let your husband nor your doc make you take something that makes you sick.  Glad you finally stopped and got better.  Trust your own instincts.

I think people should not bash other people for what medications they are on.  This forum is for people who are looking for advice, help and support.  They do not come here to get insulted or bashed, people should keep this in mind.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

[Monica70]

I started taking Seroquel (25 mg, once per day at bedtime) a few months ago and I was telling a friend of mine today (who is terribly anxious and on the verge of a nervous breakdown) that I wish I had been on Seroquel since I was a teenager. It's like the missing link that my brain needed to make me better able to handle situations.

I described it as:

Before I was on Seroquel, I'd flip out, like jumping off of a cliff--head first--if something went wrong. Not only that, the stress of my anxious situations would linger with me for a week or two.

Now, with the Seroquel, I still get upset, but I don't jump off cliffs anymore. And the stress doesn't linger with me. It rolls off me. I'm actually the most calmest I've ever been in my entire life. I feel great and I feel great about myself.

[LadyLuck77]

That is great! I am glad seroquel worked for you, it knocked me on my butt lol! I just could not function on it.  

[angel_gyrl]

About 4 yrs ago my Dr. took me off of Xanax, gave me Librax, Seroquel, and small doasage of Valuim.!!.. Told me to take it first thing in the am!... So, i got up at 6am ....took it after shower...by the time i had my 1st clients arrive at work i had gone thru about 8 bottles of water, and when i opened up my mouth to speak i couldnt even get the words out!! My mouth was so dry, my head was floating and spinning inside and i felt like heat was coming thru my skin!!.... After a few days of that i lowered way down on dosage, continued the valuim and ultimately ended up back on xanax. I even had a psychiatrist tell me specifically that seroquil is NOT what i needed b/c i am not bipolar or even depressed. He said it has tons of side effects! (weight gain, nitemares... just to name a few of what i had.... who wants to sleep if all your having is nitemares??)...

(BTW my Dr looks at that little book too!!.. ugh that BOOK!!).... i FEEL like i could have written one of those w/ all the different meds i have been on and off over the past 20yrs. And, still going back to benzo's as the only thing that has worked for panic/ anxiety for me!!...  I was on Citalopram w/ the Xanax which the citalopram was supposed to help anxiety... but, i am thinking now that it was counter effecting the xanax like the person's experience from above... Too bad the psychiatric appt. costs so much and they only talk to you for what 15mins tops? and, just pull the notepad out immediately to write more scripts.

I did have good results with klonopin. And, i want to try to at least switch off the xanax and try the klonopin again if that will work for me...Or take the Klonopin w/ xanax as needed as i ween off???  Their is so much stigmatism on xanax. Just that can cause anxiety in itself!!.... All of the real abuse and people who take it "recreationally" makes it so hard for people that it actually works for. At least i personally get that from some family, friends, etc. I try to keep my business to myself for just that matter!

I do appreciate this open forum though where we can all express ourselves openly. The biggest lesson on this one i guess is to treat each other with respect. And, realize that what works for some is just not the same case as for others! ;]

[MrGreen]

I wonder if certain tablets work in different ways for different people depending on what you are taking the tablet for. I mentioned Remoron. I suffer from anxiety. Most people who would take Remoron would get it for depression. Most people suffer weight gain. I never so much as put on an ounce in weight on the tablet. We read how one user had no trouble coming off xanax. I suffered when I first couldn't take xanax, after 10 years of taken them. That why it is important not to reccomend medication based on our own experiences. We all differ as we see. Medication works in different ways from user to user too. From good to bad. Hence I always say it is a case of trial and error as far as medication goes. It will work for you or against you. Might take a few goes before you get the right medication for you.