xanax

[robbie178]

Can taking 2 - 2.5 mgs of xanax every make you feel exhausted. I have no energy everyday. I'm either depressed out of my mind because I am not drinking or its the meds because I am taking it for anxiety but I am not really anxious all the time. Just tired. This gut I'm seeing wanted me to take 4 mgs for my anxiety.He says its the anxiety thatsmaking me tired or shall I say excruiatinly exhausted. I had blood tests and nothin showed. So whatever going on is in myn head or the xanax.

[robbie178]

You are the first person that I have met in recovery that heard of post acute withdrawal syndrome. I am disturbed that my dr'sdo not know about it. I have been very honest with my Dr's about my drinking but since I get really anxious when I go to see them and my BP is always elevated by my anxiey they always harp on the anxiety and want to medicate me. How much do you know about PAWS and can symptoms last for months at a time everyday. I am on 2 mgs of xanax .05 mgs four times daily.

[robbie178]

I went to meetings everyday my first three months and then stopped going because I started to feel sick. My energy level was so made I couldn't get myself to go to a meeting. I am going to ask my dr today about getting on a good anti depressent. But then I am thinking that I may be suffering from this Post acute withdrawal syndrome that causes kind of the same feelings that depression and anxiety cause. I am so confused. My concentration is very made ever since I stopped drinling. I am not focused and have trouble reading, watching tv etc. The weird thing is that if I was to start drinking again my energy level and concentraion level would return to normal. Very strange. Would you know why that is.

[ibizan]

I know about PAWS for day job is substance abuse counselor for 23 years and sober/clean 24 yrs!went to a seminar on it years ago and it made so much damn sense for ppl who had drinked/drugged for years and were miserable with depression and anxiety upon quitting!Many doctors don't know about it...the average med school student takes a sad amount of low continueing education hours in addiction and many times faced with it and unknowing!Both of u need to google PAWS and read about it....see if the symptoms match urs!

[robbie178]

Being educated in addiction could you tell me why I would start to feel normal again if I started to drink. I always relapse because of the feelings of agitation, fatigue etc. I read up on PAWS. The thing that I am concerned about is that it seems that the symptoms of PAWS come and go and with me the symptoms are not lifting. The only thing that keeps me from not drinking is I do not want to let the few people that care about me down and I guess myself down. Then again I did not get sober to feel like I am going to end up in a mental intstitution.

[ibizan]

Because ur body and brain tissue was habituated to alcohol and u felt normal under the influence.Addiction is a kind of brain damage.in normal brains a neurotransmitter called glutamate is released when a person xperiences desire.its a go sign.Counteracting glutamate is another neurotransmitter called GABA(gamma-aminobutyric acid)which acts as a control switch that keeps glutamate from overwhelming the brain....and  us.The desire to drink is dependent on the balance of GABA and glutamate in the brain.It is theorized that excess drinking screws up this balance bigtime!when we see a drink..or really think about it...GABA is allegedly overwhelmed by glutamate-urge wins over not drinking.The brain then gets flooded by dopamine..our king plesure chemical which opens the floodgates of the desire to really drink!I was told in inpatient in 1983 that it would take 2 years for my thinking to become normal....whatever that is!:)I had a miserable time with anxiety and depression and back then the docs would not give us anything..even non-habit forming anti-depressants or anti-anxiety agents!I am so glad u ppl 2 day can avail urselves of them...remember u did not get this way overnite.....and recovery and the healing of ur brain tissue from all the drinking is a TIMELY process!and all the screwed up chemicals have to re-balance themselves......it feels so weird i know....but drinking will only return u to the vicious cycle......u r riding out a helluva storm here.....but xanax will do more damage in the long run...as u r seeing now......like susie q said..there is better out there 2 try!

[ibizan]

forgot...symptoms of PAWS can last up to 2 years in very heavy drinkers.......i have seen folks alleviate it within 9 months with a variety of good rx's......
Zoloft,Celexa,Effexor,Paxil..each individual has  2 find out what will work for them!and no xanax!i see it create a lotta hell for recovering folks!