what is xanax addiction-special circumstances

i was taking 60mg of valium for four years fo only half the month and another non benzo skeletal muscle relaxer the other half. I was fortunate enough to have a RNP that allowed me to design my own treatment, I did this because I did not want to develop a rapid tolerance to the diazepam and to give my brain and body a break to help avoid addiction if I would've been the type. I eventually had to go to a pain clinic but she kept my "benzo program". I never needed an increase in four years of either med and don't use them up every month for the majority of the time. Now, I wanted to take xanax because of some really tough long running personal issues and I was prescribed 2mg up to twice a day. I see so many people when I research things admitting or being concerned they have become addicted to it. Just so I know what that means in this drug's case...is it a compulsion to use it when you're not anxious or panicy or to zen out or the feeling of rapid tolerance developing so it doesn't feel like your prescribed amount is enough and wanting or actually taking more, or feeling that your brain or body isn't at "the right level" to feel normal regardless of anxiety or panicy or maybe something else I haven't thought of. I have to give up my valium while on it for this new dr to have prescribed it. I

[MrGreen]

Best way to put it is that xanax has a certain tolerance which will fade over time and the user, if he wants to get the same effect as when he first took the tablet, may up the dosage. Which they are not meant to do. There is a certain amount a doctor will allow someone to take. But over a long period time it is not the right choice of medication in my opinion. It can just stop working. Some day down the line. But just because it has stopped working that doesn't mean you can just stop taken it. It is a hard tablet to get off of if you have been on it a long time. It has to be done slowly. To just stop it would cause serious withdrawl (withdrawal) effects. Of which I felt. But others might have good accounts of xanax. People do differ. One to the next. I can only write of my own experience. As others will write of their experiences.

[nursegirl6572]

There are 3 terms that often get erroneously used interchangably, when, in reality, while there are similarities, they are vastly different.

"Tolerance" is defined by a person's body becoming used to a med, needing a higher dose to maintain the same effect.

"Physical Dependence" is where a person has developed a physical "need" for the med, and without it will experience physical, and often emotional withdrawal.

"Abuse" (or "addiction") is a series of maladaptive behavior characterized by misuse to obtain a "high"...often with people doing things out of character to obtain the substance.  An "addict" does NOT take a medication "as prescribed".  

Now, obviously, one can lead to another.  Not every person who starts out taking a med plans on becoming an addict, but it happens.  If you are taking your meds AS PRESCRIBED, without the need to obtain a certain feeling from them...in other words, you are taking them for the reason they were Rx'ed, then you are not "addicted".  You may develop a tolerance, and you may become physically dependent, but it is not the same thing as being an "addict".  Now, unfortunately...whether an addict or dependent...a person still has to face withdrawals, which are a nasty thing...which is why people must decide carefully if certain meds are right for them and worth the risks.

[hmf099]

Xanax withdrawal was pretty brutal for me, thank goodness last time I did it in rehab. I took 4 mgs a day for about 6 years. Addiction can happen to anyone, but I think with this medication, people are talking about withdrawals from getting off the prescribed dose as opposed to getting off an abused dose. I'm an alcoholic in recovery so I have a history of addiction but never abused xanax. Xanax is meant to be used short term, usually 6 to 8 weeks. I guess my dr didn't pay attention to that! My dr increased me from 1.5 mgs to 4 mgs over 2 years. Not good. My advice is if you do decide to use xanax Never stop cold turkey and always wean off under a drs care.

[flob]

i'd just like to add that abuse and addiction aren't interchangeable. addiction can occure while taking a medication as prescribed. infact, it's quite easy...for example the most common directions for vicodin are to take one to two tablets by mouth every 4-6 hours...this is a total of 12 tabs a day...thats more than enough to create addiction (more than just physical dependence) but still use it as prescribed. but this debate is common in the forums of addiction. to clarify what i mean...if i am prescribed percocet to be taken 1 every 4-6 hours as needed for pain, and i take it exactly as prescribed and for pain...i can still become addicted. i can still want to take the med, but continue only taking it as prescribed. i say this only to point out that the risk of addiction shouldn't be diminished by saying you aren't addicted when taking it as prescribed...you merely become physically dependent. there's a difference. it's all rather hazy...but i point out that difference only because i have some experience with it.

i never found xanax to be mentally addicting....but i never took it long enough to develop that type of addiction.

[nursegirl6572]

"if i am prescribed percocet to be taken 1 every 4-6 hours as needed for pain, and i take it exactly as prescribed and for pain...i can still become addicted"

That is an example of PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE.

Just to help clarify why the above example is that of dependence vs addiction....(and I admit that there are hazy lines between these terms, but they still differ by medical definition)..please see the quotes below.



"Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiological disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.


Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug-class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist "



http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/163/11/2014-a

Hope that helps some.

[flob]

perhaps you don't understand nursegirl, exactly what it is i'm saying.

you CAN be addicted  while still using a medication as directed. to imply you can't is to also imply that you can't get addicted to a medication UNLESS you abuse it...and as every knows that is untrue, that means there is a very distinct difference between abuse and addiction.

now these terms are defined differently by different people...generally a definiton such as the one you've presented comes from someone who has never been psychologically addicted to a medication. i'm not going to presume to know anything about you...so i don't know if you've ever had addictions...but coming from someone who has become VERY addicted to a medication while taking it exactly as prescribed, i can tell you that abuse and addiction are not interchangeable terms. you said that they were...i was merely correcting this. also, i'm glad you posted the definition, because it say's nothing about the 2 terms being interchangeable. thanks.