Side effects of Alprazolam (Xanax)?

I have been taking Alprazolam since January for anxiety (0.25mg tabs as needed, I usually take it about 3 times a week), and have noticed some changes in my behavior. While I seem to be less anxious, I notice that I have become very irritable and that it does not take a lot to anger me. There have also been times where I can be doing absolutely nothing, or be in class or at work, and suddenly feel like I am about to cry (sometimes I have), and have an overwhelming sense of despair. I noticed that none of these symptoms seemed to start until after I started taking the medication. I asked one of the pharmacists at work if these are common side effects, and he said ONLY in cases of withdrawal. The longest I went without taking a tablet since January was about 2 weeks, and that was to see if these symptoms would taper off, and they did not.

Any ideas as to why I am experiencing these possible side effects? I appreciate it.

[nursegirl6572]

The symptoms you report could absolutely be side effecfts of the Xanax.  The emotional lability is a common side effect, as well as feeling irritiable.  Do you feel that the xanax has helped your anxiety?  Have you addressed the issues surrounding your anxiety?  Have you ever had any depression? (the two often go together for a lot of people).  If so, how was it treated?

Are you in any therapy?  If not, I suggest that that would be a great starting place to help you work through some of these feelings.  Also, perhaps discuss with your doctor the possibility of trying another medication for anxiety.  You could easily try Ativan, as it is another short-acting benzodiazepine, suited for "as needed" use, like you use the Xanax.  You may have better luck with that.  Something to discuss with yiour doctor.

Best of luck....let us know how you're doing!

[ladyblue22]

I can not imagine that this is from Xanax. You are on a very low dose and only take it 3 times a week. This med dose not stay in your system for long. It is a quick fixer for your anxiety at that moment of an attack. Some doses I have seen are way above 0.5 or 1.0 and 3x a day. Myself I was on 0.5 3x a day and i was fine, now i only take it as needed.

[greenlydia]

It's possible, but higly unlikely, that you have an intolerence to Xanax. You are on such a small dose and take it so infrequently, I think you may have an underlying issue going on. That you stopped the Xanax for two weeks, but the symptoms continued, gives weight to that theory. Xanax is completely out of our systems in 4-6 hours but for those two weeks you still experienced symptoms of irritability/anger, a feeling that you may begin crying, (and in fact, did) and a sense of despair. These symptoms are more classic to depression than anxiety and I have to wonder if you've possibly been misdiagnosed.
I don't think you are experiencing side effects of the alprazolam, and you certainly  are not having withdrawal. I would urge you to revisit your doctor to discuss your diagnosis. Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand and when you saw your doctor, the anxiety may have been the primary symptom he saw.
I think it would be well worth looking into this deeper.
Peace
Greenlydia    

[nursegirl6572]

I must have missed the part about the symptoms persisting after 2 weeks of you stopping the Xanax.  The posters above are right, that leads me to think that the Xanax ISN'T responsible.  If the symptoms occurred at the same time you are taking the Xanax, then it would make more sense. I have to agree that perhaps you are dealing with some depression...and like I asked you above...I was curious if you've ever been treated for that?  

Let us know!

[Paxiled]

People do have odd reactions to meds, and then the emotional symptoms can imprint on those of us already prone to conditioned thinking.  I had a paradoxical reaction to Xanax, where it made me more nervous and gave me new phobias.  After I stopped, that stopped happening, but being a phobic person I didn't lose the new phobias because of my conditioned thinking.  I agree that the infrequency of how you use it and the low dose shouldn't produce either a withdrawal or such a response, but we're not you, you are.  If your instincts say it started with the med, then it makes sense as an experiment to stop the med and see if in a month these symptoms are all gone.  It just might not be your med.