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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
xanax restraint
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.
xanax restraint
by Pete396, Feb 01, 2005 12:00AM
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
Pete396
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Feb 02, 2005 12:00AM
, Feb 02, 2005 12:00AM
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.
Member Comments (1)
by UNKNOWN SOLDIER, Mar 25, 2005 12:00AM
Please advise me a way to get over WITHDRAWL. 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.
by planetmars, Mar 28, 2005 12:00AM
To: unkown soldier
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!
