xanax addiction

[Doris102]

I have been on xanax for many years,never thought for a minute i would get addicted.
my panic and anxiety attacts are awful, i cant function without xanax.
the doctors kept me on this drug all this time, i know i have to get help.
i am starting to count my pills now,this is so awful.
last week i was running low,asked my doctor for more,he rufused,the pharmacist
filled it.
the doctor was so incinsitive,told me to cut back.how can i cut back,when my body craves it.
i am now taking 1 mg ,the directions say to take 1 every 6 hours...what a laugh...
i take 1 about every 3 hours. when i get company or have to go to the store.(ETC)
i have to take another one,sometime i take 1\2, but it last only about an hour.
I recently lost my husband of 33 years,I am so heartsick and lonley.its just me and my 2 dogs.
i have 3 grown sons,they dont know how to cope with me.i am also a grandmother of 4.
how did i get myself in this mess???? when i talk on the phone,i get so nervous talking,i have to tell them i have to go.
getting to nervous to talk.I dont know how much longer i have in this world of ours.
but i would like it to be somewhat normal. idont know how to kick this awful addition.
I need HELP NOW !!! I should have done something about this years ago,
I didnt, so now im in limbo and want off this up and down roller coaster im on.
PLEASE !! CAN ANYONE HELP ME ?????

[sadinmichigan]

First of all I can't help but notice that you constantly say you CAN"T do it!! You have to my friend..I know the loss of your husband is terribly painful but no amount of xanax is going to help that..Since you can't get them filled for 8 days you are going to have to cut them back...I'm not sure how you should split them up But honey..You are going to have no choice..Have you sought some sort of greif counseling?? If your Dr. gives in to your increasing need of xanax..he is doing you no favors and truthfully there will never be enough..I wish so badly I could take away your pain,,you are slef medicating and for that pain there will never be enough meds...You CAN help it!! and you CAN do it!! start by telling yourself that..Please know that i care..but you are the one that has to really pull it together in yourself and start to do this..

[Doris102]

i just counted my xanax.!!!! i have enough to last me 4 days.
my refill isnt due yet. i called the pharmacist,he  told me they cant refill  for another 8 days.   WHAT  AM I TO DO ..???
i know my doctor isnt going to let me have more. i talked with him 2 weeks ago.
he told me then,,i have to cut back.that i am over using...I cant help it..!!
my body is crying out for at least 5 per day...i cant sleep,because i lay and tremble
and every nerve is jerking. i cant function at all.
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT AM I GOING TO DO.

ever since i lost my husband,my mind and body has been a wreck.i miss him soooooo
much.    WHAT TO DO. WHAT TO DO.

[cubfan70]

Doris DO NOT take klonopin to get off xanax!!! I was taking 16 xanax a day in the height of my addiction and when I told my doc I wasn't remembering days at a time, all he did was put me on klonopin which were WORSE!!! not only did I have blackouts, but for some reason I would CRAVE opiates and go to any lengths to get them. I was totally out of control. I SWEAR those pills are a HORROR story all by themselves. I'm so sorry about how you are feeling, but as we all know, we're using these drugs to "feel better" and they only make it worse and they cause so much more heartache and trouble when we get addicted. I will check in daily to see how you are doing. Good luck, I'll be here if you need me. Peace

[Sajonna]

Doris,

I feel for you on the loss of your husband.  Really I do.

In the early 80's I was assaulted and beat up badly.  I started to have panic attacks.  I did not see a shrink until 1984 when my dad died suddenly. The panic attacks really set in then.  I was Rx Xanax and it saved my life.  I never abused it.  I only took what was prescribed.  I also saw a shrink regularly to talk about things. I was able to use the Xanax for a short time (.50 mg 1-3x a day as needed for panick attacks).  Somedays I did not leave the house so I didn't need to take them.

In 1988 my mom died suddenly (these were all natural cause deaths too--but neither parent was sick from a disease.)  Panic attacks set in again. This time I could not leave the house at all.  I went to a different shrink and they insisted that I take .50mg 4x a day.  This made me too tired. I asked if I could take them as needed like before. They said they work better if I take them round the clock. I switched shrinks.  Went back to the original doctor.  She laughed at that prescription.  She told me in no way was I ever to take that amount round the clock of this drug.  I respected her. I told her I was very depressed and could not leave my house without anxiety.  She put me on an anti-depressant for about 6 months. But she also told me "It is normal to feel depressed after what happened to me".  She insisted if I were to keep taking the meds I would have to see a psychologist.  So I did for about a year.  After about 6 months the shrink insisted I go in for a hormone test.

Come to find out, it was my hormones all jacked up. One of my ovaries was not working and the other barely functioning.  Plus I had another female problem going on.

So don't be so hard on yourself for taking this medication Xanax.  Perhaps you just have not found the right doctor to treat you.  

Were you getting the Xanax from a regular doctor or a psychaitrist? Please go talk to someone. Losing one's husband is a big loss.  

And please do not just quit those Xanax.  I was told never to do that if I was taking them round the clock.  In my case I was always able to go several days without any.

Hope you get help soon.

xoxox
SJ

[christos24]

I was once addicted to xanax as weel, unroescribed and takigna roudn 4 mgs at a time. I did that along wtih opiates for a good two years and decided to go to detox and clean up my life. My suggestions sis to get ona  long alsting benzodiazepine, such as clonazepam, which i used, or valium(diazepam), there are a few otehrs but these are the amin two used in this sort of thing. In getting off xanax it is better to use a long lasting benzo and at least feel comfortable and be anxiety-free. Clonazepam is pretty stronga dn ina f ew months with the help of a doctor you should eba ble to ween of benzos completely I was defintely able to and with very ltitle discomfort. Everyone sis different so you amy react differently but this is my experience with xanax addiction. I am also on a suboxone maintenance treatment plan for oxycontin and heroin abuse and addiction. Both clonazepam and suboxone have been life savers in regaining my will to live. I had given up hope and now i am happier and healthier than I ever was before.

[ladyboop]

Doris,
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                Lady