Xanax long term weird effects

[maniee]

I have been taking Xanax for over a year now. I take it to sleep (having had sleeping prolems for years and tried all sorts of sleeping drugs like halcion and imovane, i realised it was the anxiety that stopped me from sleeping so i chose xanax to relieve it). Only with time the dose increased rapidly to 1.5 mg every night (1mg to start off, 0.5 after 30 minutes). It's been 10 months now. In february I had a non-related operation (successful full excision of a dermatofibrosarcoma in my back) but the stress of getting over it made my xanax intake double at times.

For the past couple of months i've reduced back to 1.5 every night, with the odd 0.5 a couple of times a week during the day.

Last week I started feeling weird. I had a dizzy spell thrusday and friday, and felt exhausted. Ever since I've been feeling lightheaded and exhausted. I am also stressed and depressed for no reason. My mind is a blur, I have short term memory loss. I sometimes feel confused or cannot find my words. Absentminded. Overall I feel like I'm burning up. This may be unrelated but I also have sluggish digestion, and a general low level of resistance (frequent colds, coughs etc..).
The feeling I have had for a week is that of withdrawal and anemia combined with extra aniety. However I got tested and I am not anemic.
It is difficult for me to work or function normally with all this.

The odd thing is that for 2-3 months now my xanax intake has been the same. I thought I had some sort of balance with my 1.5mg and never felt any side effects for 10 months (a part maybe for the memory loss) but it seems the xanax has taken its toll ?

I am trying to pinpoint the problem here. My doctor said it could be the xanax and that I should reduce. As I am anxious I am looking for answers to explain all this. Is it the xanax? or something else? I would much appreciate your opinion on the matter as it is causing me a lot of concern.

Thank you for your time

[xgalagirl]

I have been on xanax 1mg for three years now and recently I have become absolutely terrified because I am only 29yrs old and believe I am losing my mind. I experience the constant sensation that I am floating and am unable to think with intelligence. As a full time student I need to get my brain back; I used to be very intelligent and had a 4.0 GPA, now I can only hope not to fail a class. Sleep does not come and I am paranoid most of the time and as a result, sadly,I am unable to obtain relations with family and friends. I was once described as the perfect girl with looks, brains, riches and personality; now all I am is a prisoner in what I thought was my dream house. Everyday is a fight for my sanity, I am a good actress pretending I have my s*it together; how much longer I can go on without breaking I really don't know. I have tried everything natural to get off xanax; spending thousands of dollars with no success. The fact is no xanax no sleep and no sleep means I freak out, of course p-docs are no help and perscribe anti-psychotics that make me hallucinate and worsen my bi-polar condition, so I have only xanax to rely on. Ultimately I am very lonely and scared. I am just wondering am I losing my mind as a result of taking xanax? Has anyone had experiences like this?

[gigi777]

hey! if u get this,in your last post u mention rebound withdrawal bein short-term...i am in the grips of panic attacks n what feels like heart seizures trying to taper off HIGH xanax dosage..did u find it to be temporary and short term? that will be the best thing i have heard yet..i have to get off this..and i really don't want to go to an in-patient center..considering ER...have psychiatric appt in 3 weeks(no insurance.little money,best i could do) i am really scared i won't make it till then..u mentioned non narcotic alternatives? any inparticular?..i am doin my own research ,but u sound informed..thank u!!!

[gigi777]

is there anything legal anyone has taken to help them come of xanax?..i am seeking professional help, but with no insurance and little money... the quickest appointment i can get is a month away and xanax is eating me alive...my personality is changed..i have tremors sometimes..i have the creeps..slow digestion..no memory...my ears ring when i can't find it(for i have never obtained it legally..unless u incluse iffy online pharmacies)xanax is less and less affective..but i simply do not sleep without it to the ponit of hallucinations..i am losing my family and friends..i need help,but want privacy..i am even scared to talk to the therapist..i live in central/tampa florida..any references?websites?
wonder if dreemland is ok..that post concerned me..this chemical is dangerous...please beware that it is only for short term use..if that..

[jack_a]

i have had panic disorder since 1981 but in those times nobody new what it was , doctors just past it off as somthing pyhsical , i started taking zanax 1996 0.5mg twice a day , at first they helped a little not a great deal they only ever last a couple of hours , since that time i have tried to wean of them about 5 or 6 times its near impossible, last couple of years i'v been having a lot of weird feelings, memory loss , confusion , hallucinations,now i'm in the process of booking myself into a detox center , last resort.

[beezy]

Greetings,

I was just reading and it seems that benzodiazepines are of real worry and rightfully so.  I was on huge amounts of klonopin, xanax, valium and ativan and got off them with no worries with my doctor.  The greatest help is to express your concerns with your doctor.  There is nothing to worry about or feel ashamed.  You have done nothing wrong.  Even if you are taking more than prescribed, which most all of us with mental illness have done, your doctor is your path to freedom.  

That said, I have had the pin ***** feeling and restless legs.  Restless Leg Syndrome is a hot topic recently and much research is being done.  It is genetic so others in your family might have it.  There are new non-narcotic medications for this that really work.  There is a chance that your symptoms are related to short-term withdrawal called rebound.  Xanax is a short acting benzo lasting just a few hours.  After that period of time, your nerves rebound back to baseline and above giving several effects including restlessness, anxiety, and sensations of touch (like pricks, or insects crawling, etc.).

I am not a doctor, but sometimes an experienced patient knows too (and maybe better dare I say it).  These topics don't get much play at appointments.  My opinion is that the patient is afraid of being deemed an addict and the doctor is so afraid to be a facilitator that it becomes a less productive conversation.

[mrdumas]

Dude. Did you ever consider dumping the Xanax and trying something natural?  For starters how about exercising every day. Nothing fancy just walking, biking, swimming, etc. Whatever appeals to  you. You should also try Melatonin. It works for me. It tends to give me "vivid dreams". But that can be fun. Others have had success with Valerian. These are OTC supplements.  No MD necessary.   Good luck to you.

[KittyMeghanLeah2]

SOunds like a lot of withdrawl symptoms going on.. or yeah like the MD forum doctor says "overdose?"  Either way it is going to be painful.  :( I know I wish I could make it not that way.  I'm coping with my own Klonopin addiction. :(

[hapecamper]

I just have feelings that something is wrong and cannot figure out what it is. Sometimes I feel like I am here but I'm not if that makes any sense. I guess it more like I feel like I am in a fog and having a hard time getting out. I have just cut down to .125 of alprazalam today. I hope that after I am completly of the alprazalam I will feel better. I am just tired of feeling like this.

[fightorflight]

hello. what other things do you have going on which are hard to descibe. i have a problem where my cog functioning and memory are temporarily impaired for several days, and it devastes my work and
relationships. i am curious to hear what symptoms you have that are har to describe. thanks

[hapecamper]

I have been on xanax for 14+ years, .25 3x aday and 0.5 3x a day for three months.I have been cutting down since April, 0.25  every two weeks.I am down to .25 1x aday now. I have been having the same symptoms you have and also having a little creepy feeling every once in awhile. I also get where I will be doing something and for a couple seconds
forget how to do it,also my ears ring alot since cutting down.I have other things going on to which are to hard to explain.

[bella money]

hey u totally agree...u need 2 find something u like doin n keep busy busy busy...at least thats what i do..my problem is that once i take one...its not enough i loveeeee the feeling n if i have 5 ill take them all...i havent taken any in a month...but dont get me wrong not one day goes by that im like damn it i wish i had one...for me it makes me relaxed im more social n since its a addiction only YOU can help urself TRUST me ive been thru hell & back detox,overdose,n when u hit that point in ur life it's just not worth it,not sayin stop takin jus try to cut back..oh and if u dont take any 4 awhile than when u do take one its like wow...this is how im suppose to feel...i need to get off this website it makes me wanna take one LOL but 4 all of u on here URE NOT ALONE!millions of ppl have the same problem or worse...sooo take the good w/the bad & smile even when ure sad!good luck =)n remember 1 thing U CAN DO ANYTHING U PUT UR MIND TOO!!!!!!I PROMISE =)MY EMAIL IS
***@**** if u guys wanna talk peace out A town down lol
-BELLA-

[bella money]

hey my advice would be just stop...yea sounds good i know im addicted too...but u cant change that u can only work on it keep ur head up!xoxo

[bella money]

ive been takin xanax for a long time now...probably 5  yrs..not everyday but iam finally gaining more self control,n it dosnt make me drowsy it makes me feel good...some days i just need one is that weird?i know people that take them everyday is that super bad for ur health?what should i do???can i take something else?thanx,bella

[gigi777]

testing

[arealproblem]

I have been taku=ing Xanax for over 20years,the last 10 continuously.
I am a professional and a family man, and I have  a real problem.
Lately I have been taking between 2.5 and 4   .05mgtablets daily.
About 3 or 4 years ago, I beganhaving restless leg syndrome, and abot2 years ago, I began experiencing sporadic sharp pains in my face, like pin pricks.

I am trying to wean myself off, but am having much trouble,and am feeling constantly anxious.At night< I take whatever I can toself medicate myself to sleep. I really have a problem, and am quite concerned and consumed by it.  Any suggestionsor websites would be appreciated.
I do not want tocheck into a detox facility because of my concern for my profession, medical records, and the time element.

Please...someone help me.

Has anyone felt the facial pinpricks or the restless leg syndrome sleeplessness yndrome?

[Dreemland]

Hello,

My anxiety hit me hard about 5 years ago when I moved out on my own for the first time. My anxiety is social. I got over it for the most part except for the one thing that kind of stayed with me through out the last 5 years, my phone phobia. I HATE TALKING ON THE PHONE! I started taking xanax 3 weeks ago and it amazes how many people I actually want to talk to when I'm on it. I call everyone in my phone book & they all freak out because I am actually calling them and talking, LOL. It helps me be me without any shame. I notice the short term memory, but I think I have that anyway from all of my teen years smoking pot. That is the reason I have kept taking it. I actually have rekindled some old friendships by phone in the past few weeks. I have also noticed the need to take more and more of it. I went from taking a quarter of a bar, to half, to three quarters or a full bar if I want to goto sleep and then back to 1/2. I am not sure how long it will last though or if it will have any other side effects. I get real clumsy on it, I drop things, kind of like how you do when you are drunk, but I am a Dj at clubs, so I guess that doesn't matter as far as having to be professional, hahahha. For me it has just been to good to be true and I am actually waiting for it to fade or give me some kind of messed up side effect. I get amazing sleep deep sleep on it. I dont wake up tired like I have for years. I wake up feeling refreshed. I just don't understand why more people aren't on it and why it took me 14 years to go thru street drug after street drug and zoloft and paxil which didn't work for me to find the one thing that does. People say I need to watch out because Xanax is addicting and the comedian in me feels like say, "WELL DUH ITS ADDICTING, CUZ IT WORKS." I have been getting them from a friend for the past three weeks and I am looking to find a CHEAP LOCAL DOCTOR in Tampa who will prescribe me these pills. I already went to the free clinic and they dont prescribe these because of the fact that "they'e an addicting drug", once again DUH!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

One very likely explanation is that your basic anxiety has diminished, so you need less xanax, and the old dose is actually an overdose for you.  The reason I say that is because your symptoms sound like too much xanax, and you reduced voluntarily, and easily, meaning after the operation you had less anxiety to deal with.

[maniee]

ps : I am a 27 year old male