does zanax help bipolar and ocd

[michelle25]

does zanax help? i have bipolar, ocd and anxiety. when i saw a therapist they suggested that zanax isnt the right thing, but thats what seems to help me the most. they gave me wellbuterin and trazadone to sleep. dont like the trazadone. to hard to wake up, if it works. ive been on paxil and lexapro also.  can zanax make any of my mental problems worse?

[AshleyBaker]

Hi Michelle...I'm bipolar. I take lamictal, zoloft for the bipolar. Ambien as needed for sleep. My mania seems to come at night the most and sleep is an issue. I was prescribed xanax for the mania as well. I'm very hyper. In the beginning, I was told no too. But when my new doctor saw how hyper I was first hand, he didn't have any problems filling the prescription. I also suffer from anxiety attacks. Thus, I was having one in his presence.

The 1st doctor I saw, I asked for xanax because everyone in my family takes it....it works for them....why not me. He said NO because it's addictive and because it can make depression worse. The 2nd doctor (2nd opinion, which I suggest to get) had no problems prescribing it. I'm so calm now...some people comment on how smoothly I handle things (sometimes) and ask me how I do it...LOL...I have to laugh internally, if they only knew.

So the bottom line, xanax DOES help with OCD and the manic part of bipolar, however it can make the depression worse. Ask your MD to put you on a low dose....also, do you need it every day? If so, be aware, it IS physically addicting. I tried to come off mine once and I went into withdrawals.

Best wishes to you!

Ash

[xanweaner]

Is it possible for you to find another psychiatrist? If your Dr. won't work with you, sometimes it's best to get a 2nd opinion. Feeling like a zombie is awful - I took trazodone once for sleep - I had a hard time breathing through my nose - caused sinus conjestion.
Good luck..

[michelle25]

I went back to my regular doctor yesterday and he gave me refills on what the psy. put me on. wellbuterin and traxodone. i dont like the trazodone because if my anxiety is high, i still cant sleep then the next day i feel like a zombie. But he wont change it and wants me to try again for a while.

[xanweaner]

What medication do you currently take to regulate your bipolar disorder? Do you take a mood stabilizer in addition to your AD?