xanax restraint

My wife and I purchased a brownstone 9 months ago, and lived there through it's (near total) gutting and renovation, It' 98% done and about two months ago,  as the full measure of my responsibility as building owner and lanlord (yes we require 2 tenants), and the astronomical cost  in both money and time yet to be spent that making this place the "dream house" we want it to be began to sink in, I started having some severe panic attacks, Through good psychotherapy these attacks have now morphed into moderate anxiety and depression spells which occur seemingly at random and last for a couple of hours at most on more than half of the days of the week  At the onset  of the panic atttacks my internist prescribed both Zoloft (.5mg/1x day) and xanax ( .5 mg up to 3 times a day as needed). I had a really bad reaction to the Zoloft (super-duper panic attacks) and therefore was (and still am) hesitant to get involved in taking an anti-depressant which requires many weeks to start working. I don't feel that I am a depressed person by nature. The xanax on the other hand was immediatley effective (after only 1 dose of.5 mg/day) and really helped take the edge off of the anxiety.  Not wanting to become dependant at all, an not really needing it every day I stuck to taking one dose of .5 mg/day from 2-4 times a week as needed, and it's really did the trick as I work through this healing process.  Today, after after taking my daily.5 mg dose (the second dose this week) the xanax stopped working as effectively as it had been. Was this just a fluke or do I need to take it every day for it to  be most effective? Am I showing indications already of addiction even though my intake had been on a curtailed schedule that been going on for only 2 months? Thanks for your advise
Pete396

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Pete...396, you are using xanax in exactly the right way from my p.o.v.; intermittently,not too often, and with a view to short term usage.  don't worry re xanax not working the same each time.;   there  is a different level of underlying anxiety each time.  Just don't be tempted to keep on upping the dose..that is what can get you into trouble.

[UNKNOWN SOLDIER]

Please advise me a way to get over WITHDRAWL (withdrawal). I have been on Xanax for almost 2 yrs and now I am trying to kick the habbit. I have a very stressful life and just got in a lil deeper then I wished to but I am trying to go with out them completely. I have had extreme symptoms. Headache, nausea, shaking, ect.... Is their no end to this thing they call WITHDRAWL (withdrawal).

[planetmars]

You probably shouldn't go cold turkey...your symptoms are exactly what happens when you do.  Siezures are also possible.  Consult your doctor, you should be gradually weened off of them!