I just want to be calm...

[xstalkrx]

very mild cocaine use has left me with an awareness of my heartbeat in my abdomen that is causing me anxiety.  I JUST want to be able to lay down and not feel my heartbeat in my abdomen.  I can feel it beating without touching it.  I can take my pulse simply by laying down and feeling it beat.  Cardiologist did an echocardiogram and it was normal.

I have obviously quit recreational cocaine use.

A GP put me on lexapro but I have yet to start taking it...for fear it will just make me worse.  I just want to be CALM and COOL...cant I be prescribed something for that?

[Jade59]

I am one of those people who has taken a short term benzo since 1980!!  First Ativan, now Xanax since 1995.  I just take it at night for sleep and maybe a little bit for something like a dental appt.  I thought it had stopped working, but last July, I stopped smoking cigs and weed and once the withdrawals were all over, which took me about 2 solid months, the Xanax seemed to work okay for me.  I must say, however, I do start to feel a little shaky by nightfall and I attribute this to the Xanax.  I am going to post to Ryan at some point to find out how to transfer to Valium safely now that I've weaned myself down from 2mgs at night to 1mg.  We'll see.  

Btw.....I do know that Ryan gets his info from the Merck Manual and Merck Index so I feel pretty good about his advice.  

I hope he responds to you too, I am curious to see what he says

Take care hun.....

[Slappy3243]

Ryan certainly seems to know a lot about pharmacology. My google comment was just a joke by the way. It was just meant to show he a lot of information, but so far, no long-term studies to back it up with. I admire him for training to be a psychiatrist, but as of right now, he isn't one, so I tend to listen to my doctors and other doctors whom I have contacted in regards to the issue.

On a side note, I find it funny that SSRIs are meant to be used long-term, but there are really no long-term studies to show their efficacy past a few months or so.

Oh and yes, we are still friends. :)

-Adam

[Slappy3243]

I actually hopes he can post the information I asked for and actually prove that Xanax cannot be used long-term. This way, I won't be misinformed and I can tell me doctors that they are wrong. ;)

Also, I am not scared of getting "owned" on a message board. I am just trying to help. I just don't want people to rule out Xanax for long-term treatment when it could really help them. It has helped me for sure. It has helped another poster for over 18 years.

He seems like a very knowledgeable guy and I respect that. However, I personally respect the conclusions of random studies and opinions of doctors in regards to health issues. I will never tell somebody they NEED to take Xanax XR for the long-term. I just want them to know that it is an option and I among others and living proof.

Ryan, I am certainly not trying to call you out so please don't take it that way. I do respect you and all of the information that you bring to the board. I just happen to disagree with you on one issue. Sorry.

-Adam

[Jade59]

No, we don't want to fight either and I'm sorry to laugh, honest.  

Ryan is studying to be a psychiatrist and knows tons about pharmacology, but he really doesn't need me to stick up for him.  He does a good job for himself.  

Friends?

[RubyWitch]

................girls just wanna have fun.............

OK. I'm done, too.
But Slappy will be "well done!"

OMG, someone stop me!

[Slappy3243]

LOL guys. I am not challenging him to a duel or anything. I am just living proof that Xanax can be used long-term term without increasing the dose. There are also other members here who have used Xanax for a quite a bit longer than me without increasing the dose.

Sorry, but I disagree with him and I am not scared to show my opinion since all he brings to the table is his opinion as well. I even posted links to studies by doctors showing that it can be used long-term. He then states that it can't be used long-term because of this and that but he isn't a doctor nor has he ever provided a link to a study that specifically shows that Xanax cannot be used long-term. It seems like he is merely making inferences based on the information he has gathered from the drug. I can sit on google all day if I want and get all the information he gets about the drug as well. I think I asked some valid questions that he should hopefully be able to answer. If he can provide me with valid studies that prove I am wrong, then so be it, I will be wrong, it doesn't bother me. But after speaking with several doctors on the matter, they disagree with him as well in regards to using Xanax long-term.

It seems like you guys are either scared of him or think what he says his 100% correct all of the time and what he says applies to everybody. I thought we are all here to help each other? I am certainly not here to fight with anybody.

-Adam