Can i take benzo for the rest of my life?

[sleepmonster]

I think i asked this before....but can't remember...because i'm now very foggy and lethargic because of xanax.

Anyway i'd be glad if you help me even if I'm asking same question twice.

I was diagnosed having panic attack so my family doc prescribes me xanax and small dose of valium. it's from 1.5-1.7mg per day up to situation now.
i take it on needed basis, if i'm not anxious i don't take them.

people say benzo is evil drug, very addictive, can't get out of it easily.
But i already regularly took them over 1.5 year. and can't still live everyday life without it.

Besides panic attack it helps me in very many ways.

I'd like to take it for the rest of my life if it's needed. Wait a minute i think i wrote a question about quitting it.. or about its side effects...
i don't care about them anymore. Forget about my former questions. I admitted fianlly I NEED this.

Even if i could quit this, i don't want to.

So...

Is there lethal or severe problem anyone experienced after long-term use? i mean lifetime long term use.

i don't plan to live long. I don't plan to live healthy life. now all i want is a bit of peace in daily lives, if i can get it from drugs, i don't care.

Can you advice me guys? Can i take this for life time use?

[Paxiled]

You also should wonder why you've been prescribed two different benzos at the same time -- not a good idea generally.  As to whether you can take any medication for a lifetime, the answer is yes, but as to whether it will harm you or not, the sad truth is, very few researchers are looking at this question in a serious way.  All human trials are short-term, so we are completely ignorant of long-term harm of the drugs we take until people use them long-term, and even then the research is difficult to do because psychiatrists work alone and reporting of adverse events isn't enforced.  Hospitals are much better at this than individual practitioners working in their isolated corners.

[nursegirl6572]

You're kind of all over the place with your post.  The only thread I found where you're asking about long term medication was in the addiction forum, regarding pain medication:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/Is-it-OK-taking-painkiller-every-day-for-a-long-time/show/1958640#post_9182330

I would encourage you to talk to your doctor about your concerns, and the way you feel about your life.  Also, let your doc know if you're having trouble remembering or concentrating, as the combination of the benzo and narcotic could be causing some issues.

Good luck to you!

[remar]

I'm sorry to hear you won't be living a healthy life and you don't think you'll live long. That sounds like depression to me. Have you ever been diagnosed with that?
The answer to your question. Of course I'm not a Dr but many people have taken benzo's for long periods of time with no problems. With others, they can quit working or they may need bigger and bigger doses.
Have you talked to your Dr about a long acting anxiety med like Klonopin? What about an antidepressant? Those meds can help both depression and anxiety and many people can take them for years.