Panic/Anxiety

[Ruthi71]

I've been dealing with anxiety since 1984.   A small dose of Xanax, not very often, worked. I'm slim, eat well and am very active great-grandmother. Two years ago a family situation put my panics into high gear.  They've now been resolved.  I've had 2 psychiatrists and 2 Dr's say they can't help me as I'm not depressed and sleep well.  I took all their prescriptions (SSRI's) which made me sicker than I could handle.  Xanax is the only thing that helps take the edge off.  The panic hits when I awake from a sound nights sleep. I'm on 4 mg from that time until Noon.  The afternoons and evenings are fine. Then it starts all over.  No one can figure out this pattern as yet.  

I had a disruptive childhood and later years with abandons and rejections.  My therapist says this is my problem but we haven't been able to "fix" it.  Those people are all dead and gone and I don't  think of them.

I'm thinking that I may be going thru withdrawals every morning, since I haven't had any Xanax for 18 hrs.

I've seen an MD/OB/GYN .  She deals in women's health, preferring natural supplements (mostly amino acids). Ten of those did nothing for the panic.  I'm now on 5-htp, 100 mg at bedtime and 100 a.m.  Still need the Xanax.

Any helpful suggestions.  I will not take Valium or Klonopin or any other drug to try and detox from Xanax.

Thanks,  Ruthi

[Ruthi71]

To all who answered -  My serotonin is low and the 5-htp is supposed to raise it.  I've been on it for a month and notice no difference in the morning.  Had anyone else taken 5-htp and how long til it might work?  Also take Gaba in the a.m. which is to elevate your mood, no change there.

It's so frustrating.  My primary care Dr says I am a very healthy person, BP, cholesterol, etc., but it's in my head and he can't help me there. He prescribes my Xanax and has sad if it works, take it.  But it doesn't calm me like it used to.  I'm in a small town with few Dr's.  I see a therapist, I enjoy talking to her but we don't see to be making any progress.

I have tried to cut back on the 6 a.m. to Noon dose and take .5 mg twice in the afternoons and one at bedtime.  I really don't want to go over the 4 mg. day, it would just make it harder to get off,   I thought keeping it in my system over the 24 hrs. might make a difference, it doesn't. I may have to increase my dose in order to slowly detox.  Really don't want to do that.

I just tough out the a.m. and look forward to the afternoons and evenings when I feel fine.  I do have a wondeful life with a very sup[ortive husband.  I just want to relax and enjoy it.

The answer has to be out there but I can't find anyone to help me find it.

Ruthi

[Michiganbabe]

The same for me.It is the worst when I get up in the morning. I am also on Xanax. I take 2 a day at .25 mg. My doc also started me on Zoloft. I take one a day. It's almost been a week since I have been on it. I see a little bit of improvement, but not much. I thought also at first it was so bad in the morning because I had not had a Xanax all through the night. But then I tried taking one before bed, that didn't help either, so I stopped doing that.
Mornings are the worst. Afternoons and evenings are usually good.
Please note on here if you get it figured out. I would really like to know.

[Jennifer375]

I have to agree with you Ruthi,, it does sound like a withdrawl reaction. At first I was going to ask if they only came first thing in the morning, because it could be a simple sleep disorder, but with the reputation xanax has for being hard to quit due to side effects... Im more inclined to say you know better than I what your experincing.

Have you considered weening off them? I doubt it has anything to do with childhood issues either at this point, that seems a bit far fetched if you dont think about them anymore. Sounds like the cures turning into a problem.

I hope you find a solution but please share if  so, others could use the follow up here.

*bows with respect and apprication*