Xanax 1mg / Caffeine / Anxiety

[billstrong1969]

I've been on Xanax 1 mg tablets for about 2 years and I've found that my anxiety will start to set in once I get to work unless I take one in the morning when I wake up.  I am also a regular coffee drinker and here lately I'm starting to think that the caffeine is counter acting the effects of the Xanax.  I get constant headaches thru out the day and when lunch approaches I take another tablet otherwise the anxiety will come back.  My anxiety effects the upper left side of my chest (tightness, tension, feeling it in my nerves running up the back of my neck).  As a matter of fact when I stretch it feels SO GOOD and I could just stay in that position.  A neck or back massage would be ideal but being at work makes that hard.  Now I realize that I have probably become pyhsically addicted to the Xanax and taking it now is more "preventative" rather than "as needed".  If I don't take it it'll trigger the above symptoms and the anxiety will ultimately set in.  At first I thought it could be the coffee; but I specifically remember years ago before I ever got on this stuff that I didn't have to take Xanax every single day, hardly ever.  I'm so tired of "HAVING" to take this everyday but I realize I just can't come off of it at this point.  What do I do and what are some thoughts out there?  Please respond.......Thanks much.

billstrong1969

[29sillygirl]

I agree with Greenlydia.  Time for a talk with the doctor.  When I took Xanax I was on .5 mg a day and so the switch to klonopin was not too bad as I recall.  But it has been years, so a gradual taper is in order.

I am on 1 mg of klonopin and have used for years, (alto as Greenlydia has said, all benzos are really best for short term relief), there are exceptions.   Hope you and your doctor can agree on an appropriate treatment plan.  

[RubyWitch]

You have built up a tolerance to the Xanax and essentially what you are doing now is taking it to stave off withdrawal symptoms. Xanax is meant to be used as a SHORT TERM (4 monts or LESS) on a DAILY basis. After that, unless you increase the daily dose, it has lost it's affinity. It is doing nothing for your anxiety. (Bet your doctor didn't tell you that, eh?)
Now you are taking a second dose at lunchtime because the feeling of withdrawal is pretty nasty, isn't it? It could also be "rebound anxiety" your feeling. Ask your doc!
I personally don't think the coffee is an issue in this at all. My advice, take it out of the equation all together.
You need to get in to see your doctor and let him/her know that after two years on Xanax, you've had to increase the dose, which, by the way, you should never do without consulting your doc first.
If you and your doctor decide that you need to continue with some type of benzo for your anxiety, discuss a long acting on like Klonopin. You can take Klonopin for years without ever having to increase the dose and while ANY benzo is a bear to get off it, Xanax is the Grizzly of the lot.
Talk to your doc!
Just make darn sure they know that you're going to have to taper VERY slowly off the Xanax after two years even tho your dosage was "only" 1mg. It is VERY potent stuff! You can do a cross over switch to the Klonopin by very slowly stepping out a minute amount of the Xanax and replacing it with the Klonopin, but this process can not be done in a weeks time. A fair guess would be at least 6-8 weeks.
Please let us know how you're doing, OK and know that we are always here if you need to talk!
Peace
Greenlydia