Alcohol and alprazolam (Xanax) use?

[abarber012389]

Please let me start this by saying I'm not someone who abuses drugs. I don't like the feeling of being high/drunk so I only even take a quarter of my prescribed medication and even then only when my panic attacks are extremely severe, which means I will only take it 3-4 times a year max. Usually much less. However when I take it I NEED it or I would be in the hospital, and have many times. So here is my question- we had a friend in town and had a few beers today. I had about 5/6 beers but it was spanned out from 4pm-midnight so I was never really drunk since that's less than a beer an hour. Stopped drinking around midnight. I woke up at maybe 345 with the worst panic attack in years. Like, I woke my husband and tried to go to the hospital because my heart rate was around 200 and I couldn't breathe/ sweaty, all the typical panic attack symptoms... This lasted a very long time. He was finally able to calm me enough to get my heart rate down to about 120 but that's still high, I can't shake this anxious feeling. I know they always say not to mix alcohol and Xanax but in a situation like this, how long after drinking can I take a bit of it? Thanks for any help

[Paxiled]

I guess I should have said, a lot of people on this site are constantly checking their heart rate.   This is an obsessive behavior, as the heart rate varies a lot through the course of the day.  During exercise, people intentionally try to get their heart rate up to strengthen the heart long-term, and most people just don't go checking their heart rate unless they've had a heart attack.  You also said you've been to the hospital many times because of anxiety attacks.   I guess what I'd ask is, have you ever been in therapy with a psychologist who specializes in anxiety treatment, such as a CBT therapist, who can also teach you many relaxation exercises such as breathing exercises and meditation that might help to lessen some of these physiological symptoms even if they don't end up solving the underlying anxiety problem.  

[abarber012389]

Well, yes of course I wouldn't go to the hospital for an anxiety attack alone. But a heart rate over 200 for almost an hour is very dangerous. Thanks for your advice

[Paxiled]

For this I'd call a pharmacist.  Alcohol often causes anxiety in people prone to it because it causes disorientation much like that we feel when we're anxious.  And remember, you never have to go to a hospital for an anxiety attack -- they do pass, though they feel awful when you've having one.