Is it hard to get a script for Alprazolam?

[cellie3155]

I have been taking Alprazolam for about 10 years.  I take 1 mg before bedtime and occasionally I have to take .5 mg if I have an anxiety attack during the day.  My doctor retired without any notice.  I have to find another doctor, but I have been told by a friend of mine that Alprazolam is a medication that doctors do not want to prescribe. Is this true?  I am very concerned about getting off this medication.  I suffer from anxiety attacks and insomnia.  I know I am not supposed to go off it without a doctor's supervision but I don’t have a doctor now. My husband is going to have a cervical fusion surgery next week.  I have also been in severe pain from a pinched nerve in the lumbar area of my spine for more than a year now and I am not a candidate for surgery yet.  I’m on Neurontin for the nerve pain, but it is not working.  I am underemployed now and there is no work to be found.  Our expenses are more than our income.  I fear being bankrupt and becoming homeless more than anything.  My husband and I are extremely stressed.  I need some advice before seeing a doctor.  Should I try to get a script for Alprazolam or is this a lost cause.  Can someone please tell me what medication I should try to get for anxiety and insomnia if I cannot get the Alprazolam.   It would have to be an older medication that I can afford.  Please help!

[RubyWitch]

Unless your doctor became gravely ill very suddenly, his method of "retirement" without finding another doctor to take over his patients was a really lousy thing for him to do. Xanax is only one of many medications that can not be stopped abruptly and I'm sure there are many people from his practice that are as freaked out as you.
Your medical records will prove that your doctor was prescribing Xanax for you for 10 years. Your new doctor may want you to quit, but they should know that you cannot just cold turkey off Xanax. If they don't........find another doctor!
Klonopin is a good long term antianxiety medication but you can't just stop Xanax and begin Klonopin.........you do have to taper off the Xanax by stepping out a portion of your dose and replacing it with Klonopin and doing that over a fairly long period of time until you have completly replace Xanax with Klonopin. This really needs to be done under the supervision of a doctor.
Many doctors are tightening up on prescribing Xanax and it's been totally banned in the UK. But used correctly, it's an excellent medication and there are many US doctors who still frequently prescribe it.
My husband and I are going through very similiar stressful situations right now..........we also are at risk for losing our home, so I know the added stress of having a long time med denied. Who ever dreamed we'd be going through times like these at our age? I sure as hell didn't.
All we can do is keep on keeping on........
Peace
Greenlydia
  

[mammo]

This is commonly prescribed for anxiety and widely used, more know it as Xanax.  I would make an appt. with a psychiatrist, and go from there.  He will understand, and I personally see no reason why he would refuse to write you a script for it since it's been successful for you. Good luck and take care.