xanax

how much is considerd  abusing  it..im prescribed 4 mgs aday for pantic..am on percosets too..when im on the opaites i only take 2mgs aday in divided doses..and by the time i go to bed im on the 1/2 life  of them  PLEASE TELL ME  WHENS TOO MUCH????????????????    THANKS      JAMES

[MrGreen]

I was on 3mg a day and that was considered a high dosage. Think you can work it out from there. Just means the higher you get on the stuff the harder the come down. Plus if you get hooked it will be harder to come off of. 4mg you use now. But in time that will do nothing for you. Then you might reach for another one. Way it can work at times. Been there and done that.

[greenlydia]

First of all, you are NOT "abusing" it if you are ONLY taking the dose your doc prescribed. Abusing it would mean you are taking MORE than prescribed. But 4mg of Xanas is a pretty hefty dose. And as MrGreen has stated correctly, the longer you take it, the longer it's going to take you to w/d from it, especially at the dose you're on. But Xanax will lose it's efficacy in a few months, and if you're still on it, all you will be doing is keeping the w/d at bay.........it will be doing NOTHING for your anxiety! I would strongly urge you to see your doctor as soon as possible and discuss with him/her getting onto a different anti-anxiety med. There are many out there that will work just as well as the Xanax, but will not lead to tolerence and are much, much easier to w/d from.
You didn't say how long you have been taking it, but when your doctor switches you to another med, if he tells you to just stop taking the Xanax, then I urge you to run, not walk, to a different doctor who understands the hazards of an abrupt stoppage of Xanax, which is very dangerous. Please don't wait any longer.......you are going through a hell you don't have to!
Please let us know how you're doing, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia  

[cj29]

Both Mr Green and Greenlydia give excellent advice here.  As long as you are taking what you are prescribed you are by no means abusing it. It does tend to lose efficacy over time and there are other benzos like Klonopin that are used for longer durations of treatment.  Whenever you come off of this ensure it is SLOWLY and in consultation with your doctor because as greenlydia says it can be dangerous to come off too fast.  Also, by talking it through with a therapist, you will gain the knowledge about how you think within the anxiety/panic cycle and thus will be able to thrive with it. It takes understanding combined with hard work but it is very 'doable.'  Keep us posted!