I've seen alot of topics about Xanax....

[Alleykatt34]

I guess I will start with a brief summary of my anxious life.  I have always felt anxious and depressed for as long as I can remember.  After having my first child in 1991, I knew I had to go to work to help us (my hubby, daughter and I) have the life that we wanted.  So, after a few short job experiences I landed a good job at a bank.  While working one night I had a horrible panic/anxiety attack, thought I was dying, having a heart attack or something.  I set down my headset and immediately went to my supervisor, I told him that I was experiencing something bad.  He sent me to the nurse.  She made me call my family dr. and told me to leave right then.  I was completely freaked out.  I refused to roll down my windows, even though it was a beautiful day outside, this I remember....funny, I can't remember alot.  I did get to the dr. ok, and for about 6 months he took care of me, paxil, zoloft, and prozac were among the few meds tried at first.  Then he told me he couldn't handle me anymore, all this time I was on short term disability.  So he refered me to a horrific dr.  I had expressed to her that there are times I feel suicidal, but haven't acted on them in the past couple years....I had tried to commit suicide in the past.  She immediately stood up and told me if I didn't commit myself to the mental hospital that she would, and I have no say in it.   This was 1995...I spent 5 days in the hospital didn't see the dr. the entire time.  On the 5th day, I was told I could sign out AMA, so I did.  The dr. called me and told me if I ever told anyone that I wanted to commit suicide again, that she would immediately commit me...I never saw her again.  So, now I am seeing another psych..he has been great.  Although, I have had a couple suicide attempts, self injury, mania, depression, he always would make it better for a short time.  I have still decided to stay with the same dr. as I don't want to start all over.  

Ok, that got longer than I expected.  On April 1, 2008 I was at the supermarket with my 2 boys, (11 and 12) I was at the pharmacy picking up my meds.  Next thing I know I was waking up in an ambulance only long enough for her to tell me, my boys were ok.  My daughter was at home.  I don't remember ever being in the ER, I was told that I had a seizure and coded while they were doing testing on me.  I believe it was an MRI.  I remember waking up in the hospital.  My EEG came back irregular, but they said it was the full brain and not a specific  spot, which makes them believe it was from the Xanax I take.  Apparently, (I don't remember) I was trying to make my meds last longer and had cut down alot on the Xanax.  Other than xanax, I take Seroquel (900 mgs). Right now, I am only on the seroquel, dilantin and xanax.   I was told that I went from about 6 mgs. a day to something around 3mgs.  I know this is a high dosage of both meds, but I am feeling alot better than I have in a long time..except not sleeping to well. I have ambien coming to me (I have to get my meds through the mail now).  Anyway, I was in the hospital for 4 days, after tons of tests the only thing that came back irregular was the EEG.  So, I was told to see my family dr.  which I did...he didn't do a thing.  He told me to see my psych.  So, I called and they got me in the next day.  He didn't do a thing.  Just told me that he can't do anything except moniter my meds and such.  He told me he would call the neurologist and see what he reccommended.  So, I waited and waited.  Finally I called him, he said I need to go to the neuro..so I go May 30.  8 weeks after discharge.  Right now, I am taking 4-5 mgs. of xanax per day, taking one in the morn, one to two in the afternoon (I just dropped it to 1) and 2 at night.  They are 1mg. tablets.   I am terrified to go to the neuro.  I have horrible tremors, shakes, whatever they are called.  I have been dx'd with paranoia and agoraphobia as well.  I have been on disability since 1995.  Whenever I have asked my dr. to let me go back to work he says I'm not ready.  I just wonder if I'll ever be ready.  Should I just accept the fact that the seizures were probably caused from the xanax?

Anyway, sorry this got so long.  I guess it feels good to let it out.  My husband is a wonderful man, but just doesn't understand.  

Thanks for reading,

Alley

[Alleykatt34]

Thank you so much for commenting on my post.  I agree that I need to see the neuro.  I also agree that I am on high dosages of the meds.  I have expressed my concern several times with my psych, but he tells me he has quite a few patients taking up to 8 mgs. of Xanax a day.  I was blown away!!  I did speak with the psych on call at the hospital and considered going to her, she said she would wean me off the xanax and it would take at least a year.  I am still up in the air if I want to change drs. or just be a little more stern with mine.

This wasn't the first time I had cut my xanax dosage, so I guess I just didn't know the stregnth of it.  Scary!

Anyway, thank you so much!

Alley

[xanweaner]

What a sad story, Alley...
I'm in no position to give you a medical opinion on this, as your condition needs to be handled by a neurologist who can rule out seizure disorder.

I hope that they can determine the cause of your seizure, but it does sound like they already are suspecting it was from an extreme tapering on xanax. You were taking a very high dose at 6 mgs., but it's beneficial that you're now down to 3 mgs.

The Seroquel can also cause tremors, too, so that needs to be addressed with your psychiatrist. He/she should rule out tardive dyskinesia.

I wish I could offer you more, but I just wanted to wish you the very best.  
Take good care,
xan