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Failed drug test for marijuana. Will the dr. discontinue my Xanax?

I tested positive for marijuana on a drug test by my psych doc. He has me on Xanax and it has helped so much. I am worried he is going to discontinue my rx. What are the possibilities that he will?
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Avatar universal
Im on xanax busiprone risperdal and effèxor for 2 years now I have several failed drug test now I only have 1 week worth of busiprone effexor and risperidal these meds I absolutely cant go without. Smoking pot was not worth it I have an appt on tuesday im gonna try to get my meds back but it hasnt been long enough to pass a test so they are going by my levels I ranked at a level 4 for thc do yall think if I promise him to quit I would get my meds back? He gave me all my xanax just not all my other meds only a weeks worth please someone help me out I need advice if I come off the meds my husband is threatening a divorce now but he himself smokes pot but he doesnt havè attitude problems as baď as I do please please any advice?
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Avatar universal
yea man nurse girl is right....you have to tell yourself possitive things and not think WHAT IF you get taken off the drug....i smoke pot and have a real bad anxiety problem....its not the right thing to do health wise but i never panic....like sure i sometimes have mental images that come in my head about suicide but they freak me out and i never have the urge to really physicaly try angainst my own life...im telling you this because niether the pot or not taking xanax should make you feel like trying against your life...you should talk to your doc and get to the root of what you are going thru! take care buddy!
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Avatar universal
I was thinking the same thing as Nursegirl.  When I read this, "I just don't know how I am going to handle life without meds if he takes me off them," the first thing I thought was you will handle it like the rest of us.  There is no magic cure for anxiety, and I hate to say it, but chances are, this was brought on by doing drugs in the first place.  So, if you can get a handle on that, there's a great chance that your anxiety will subside as well.  It doesn't sound like anxiety is the root of the problem right now.  And Nursegirl is entirely right...panic attacks have never made me feel suicidal and taking a Xanax is not going to counter those feelings if they surface.  The only thing that is going to threaten your life is not sticking to your program.  I've never suffered an addiction, so I don't know how hard it is to beat one, but try to take it one step at a time.  Those four times you smoked pot, did you try taking a Xanax first to see if that calmed you?  If not, and you're still able to get Xanax from your psychiatrist, try that first if nothing else calms you down.  All smoking pot is going to do is maybe temporarily provide some relief, but likely make your anxiety spike even more once the calming effects wear off.  Also, you already said you're afraid you'll go back to alcohol or drugs, and my fear is that the more you smoke pot, the more you're going to be tempted to turn to alcohol or other drugs.  How long have you been on the SSRI?  If it hasn't been more than six weeks, you will likely see more benefit from that drug once it takes full effect, which will hopefully help both your anxiety and depression.  Good luck with everything; stay strong!
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480448 tn?1426948538
One more thing, your thinking is very "addict" like too, which is concerning.  It's that mindset that you NEED a pill to fix you, or to make you feel okay, or to keep you safe.  Dangerous thinking there, hon.

Have you ever dealt with your addiction in the form of aftercare?  Do you go to meetings?  I think that should be part of your therapy and recovery as well.  An addict needs to be on guard ALWAYS, and I'm just being honest that there are some pretty big red flags going up here.
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480448 tn?1426948538
You need to tread VERY carefully.  You already have an unhealthy mindset, that somehow, if you don't have the Xanax, you won't be okay.

I've had debilitating panic attacks in my life, and I've been in a bad bad way, but a panic attack NEVER made me want to commit suicide.  NEVER.  Xanax isn't going to keep you safe...if you have those tendencies, you have them, Xanax or not.

This statement of yours says it all, and it's a very unhealthy, even dangerous mindset:

"So I am afraid my life will b threatened because if he takes away the benzos."

You need to get very aggressive in therapy learning other ways to cope with panic attacks.  Yes, they STINK, and they're terrifying, but they will ALWAYS pass, and THEY won't harm you.  YOU harmed you.   A panic attack should NEVER be a reason to consider taking your own life.

Here's my advice...I would set a VERY short period of time for you to use the Xanax ONLY when absolutely needed, while you use other tools to get the panic under control...antidepressant, therapy, whatever.  

Personally, I think there is a lot more going on for you than just the panic.  You need to get very aggressive with the therapy, and you need to start RIGHT now changing the mindset that you NEED the Xanax to keep you from harming yourself.  YOU are always in control of your actions, panic attack or not, and if you EVER feel that kind of desperation again, call 911 IMMEDIATELY.

Keep us updated.
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Avatar universal
hey man when you feel that anxious it is important to just remember you are ok to trust your self and no matter how anxious you are just sit and relax fight it as much as possible before taking the med...it is so much better if you only take the meds when you really need it
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Avatar universal
My psychologist is rx the Xanax for me. I think next time I will just tell him hey I smoked and I will take drug test every time I see u to show u I am gonna stay sober because Xanax has help with panic attacks. Nocturnal panic attacks have been the hardest to deal with. I even had a suicide attempt waking up in a panic and a Xanax before bed has totally eliminated them. I still wake up very anxious but no where near the point of wanting to commit suicide. Thinking about that moment scares the shot out of me. I mean dressing up in nice clothes and sitting in the bath after eating 32 Advil pm and waking up (thank god) to ice cold water of the bath. So I am afraid my life will b threatened because if he takes away the benzos. Even waking up or having a day panic attack where I actually have pulled hair out and physically ran around my apt hyperventilating will b threatened.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
I have the same question, why did you have to take the drug test?  What kind of a doctor is Rx'ing the meds?  A psych?  

As far as what to tell the doctor, the truth.  That's always the best policy.  If he's going to insist you NOT smoke pot in order to continue prescribing your meds, that's a sacrifice you'll have to make.  Maybe that would be a good thing to promise...that you value how the meds have heled your anxiety, and you are willing to promise to not smoke pot again.

Make sure with the benzos, that, if possible you're only taking them "as needed".  If you start taking them regularly every day, you will have issues with tolerance and dependence.
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Avatar universal
hey man i know how you feel my first panic attack was triggered after smoking   , my main problem over time was not getting sleep...i got perscribed clonazapam but i dont really take it i instead started to take a hit and go to sleep....you just have to tell your doc the truth of what you have been doing i really dont think he will take you off your meds...i told my doctor that i have been smoking but very little at night....and he asked about how many pills from my pills i had left and i had more than half left...i told him the clonazapam made me a little shaky so he switched it to xanax still knowing i was very lightly using marijuana....so i doubt it unless you constantly fail drug test? but why did you have to take a test??
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Avatar universal
I used to be an ex opiate addict and I smoked a couple of times (4 times) since I got out of treatment 8 months ago. I have had a broken ankle for about a month and a half now and I was rx Vicodin and I have only took 17 of them and he gave me 30. My parents have the bottle because of my past. The bottle is just in their medicine cabinet so I have access to them but have not taken one in weeks. I can prove that to my psych doc by showing him the bottle with the pills in it. I mean I have been off and on benzos for about 5 yrs now and they help tremendously in combo with my depression meds. I am scared if he takes me off of them I will turn to booze or other drugs to cope. I am in the program and have had to start over because I have smoked but if I just take a small hit it subsides my anxiety and I know if I smoke a whole bowl or joint it makes my anxiety sky rocket but if I take one small hit it does help. I just don't know how I am going to handle life without meds if he takes me off them. I bike 30 miles 5 days a week to work, eat well (my mom is a nutritionist), I meditate ( not that good at it yet but I am getting there, and use various other methods of reducing stress and anxiety but even with all the tools I have learned and practice my anxiety is still out of control. What should I tell my doc to keep me on my meds?
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
It's impossible to say, but there's probably a strong possibility he will not Rx the Xanax with the + tox screen.  What kind of doc is Rx'ing the Xanax?  Why were you given a drug test?

Like kick said above, marijuana can exacerbate anxiety and panic, if you are REALLY dedicated to getting your anxiety under control, you would refrain from using anything that could trigger your anxiety, including alcohol.

Good luck, let us know what happens.
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Avatar universal
And most likely, if a therapist sees you're doing narcotics, they're going to be less likely to prescribe you Xanax.  Smoking weed already inidicates you have a problem, possibly addiction, and people who abuse alcohol and narcotics, are also more likely to abuse benzodiazepenes.  
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Avatar universal
OK, here's the thing you guys...smoking weed often causes panic attacks.  If you're really concerned about helping your health and your anxiety, I recommend not putting illegal narcotics into your body.  
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Avatar universal
i dont think he will...but i wanted to ask you when you smoke does it give you minor anxiety attacks rite after you take a hit??? because i have been diagnosed with anxiety but after two months clean i started smoking pot again and i get minor panic attacks for like 5mins after i smoke but then it goes away
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