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how does xanax make YOU feel?

I was recently prescribed xanax an am afraid to take it because of all the warning labels. What does it do to you? Does it help you with the panicy feeling, or just put you to sleep. Is it anything like atarax?
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Avatar universal
I take Xanax for anxiety. It helps me very well, but because of the side effects, I stopped taking it.
After an hour after taking I started very strong shortness of breath and severe dry mouth.
I read on https://xanax-wiki.com/from-what-helps-xanax/does-xanax-help-for-anxiety/ that this is not the worst side effects, so I decided to stop taking Xanax.
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Avatar universal
Relaxed and calm. If it was prescribed for you take it. You will be amazed that it works. I take mine at night along with other medications. It does relax me and keeps me from thinking about everything all night. I take a low dose. If I feel an axiety attack coming on I take one in the daytime and keep going.
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Avatar universal
Xanax has no affect on me. No anxiety Meds do. I don't understand this but I have forgotten a time when I had any period of no nervousness or anxiety. Any one else have this issue and is there hope for an anxiety free life because my blood pressure has become regularly too high due to anxiety and I don't want to have a heart attack or stroke at 32. ????
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Avatar universal
Itsmebritt: Specifically what research has been helpful for you to experience an anxiety-free peaceful healing and to be without medications?? I'm sure the entire forum would appreciate comments of what has worked for others besides meds.
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Avatar universal
That's one of the silliest things I've ever heard. It's not "perfectly normal" to have anxiety about everything, Jessica. There is healing, and if you are interested in healing do your research. You can live a life anxiety-free and peaceful, without using drugs. I promise you that.
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14188421 tn?1433293358
Hi Jessica, it's perfectly normal to have anxiety about -- well, everything! -- when you are having a panic or anxiety attack. Rest assured that Xanax won't do anything to your body, such as slow your heart rate. All Xanax does is calm your brain so your mind doesn't freak out. You may be wondering... well, if it does nothing to my body, why do people get drowsy from it? If you become drowsy from Xanax, it is only a side effect from it calming your brain. I have been taking Xanax for years and it has never affected my body. Although during some really rough panic attacks, I sure wish it WOULD slow down my heartbeat! Best of luck to you, and hang in there.
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Avatar universal
I have always felt some kind of shame associated with needing xanax, but i take only what i need and no more.  I have been on xanax for 20 years off and on, right now i take it when needed, the 0.25 i have had gad most of my adult life and as a teenager also. Rough childhood like many others, my mom was bipolor but it was not ever diagnoised and she lived a very sad life.  I also was on paxil for 15 years, took myself off and it was awful.  I just recently went back on but 5mg.  I was on 20mg. I had ovariancancer in 1970 amd was cancer free for 36 years, but then had a revurrance in 2009, doing well wothout chemo.  I serve a mighty god and believe i am in his hands. Would like verymuch to be off all meds but just cant seem to do that.  Xanax takes the edge off and makes you feel better.
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Avatar universal
I started xanax for anxiety attacks due to neck pain/dizziness while spending so much time on the computer. I was given .5 dose pills that I then cut in half.
After 45 minutes to an hour after taking it I'm aware of being more calm and relaxed and it actually relieves the pain in my neck. I don't take it every day, only when I can no longer deal with the anxiety while at work. So far it's helped me greatly.
.  
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Avatar universal
Finally I found someone who suffers like I do! Ive gone to er many times thinking something was wrong and never was! I feel like I'm insane when I explain to my dr what happens I've struggled for 6 years with it its horrible I wish I could live life again and be happy instead of suffering with this everyday!
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Avatar universal
After reading many of these posts, I decided to post up mine.  I had a major 1st anxiety attack at night about 15 years ago and thought I was dying of a heart attack.  I have always been a superior athlete track star/basketball since jr high and always healthy so this caught me totally off guard.  I  tried Paxil after seeing a neurologist who prescribed it shortly after that first episode.  Then later on my Doctorprescribed  sertraline for a few years and it worked great.... I finally weened myself off of it about 18 months ago.  Well this year I turned 60 and after a College reunion and  visiting friends 800 miles from home in Nov, I had a panic attack while sleeping at a best friends place.  Went to a clinic next morning and was diagnosed with a urinary infection.  3 days later and having been put on Cipro I had another attack and went to ER @ 2 a.m. with panic and major heart burn that felt like heart attack.  They hooked me up to EKG and gave me a barium cocktail which doused the fire but I later a day or so I still was having panic attacks.  Then back home I explained to my doc gave and he gave me a different antibiotic and told me to go back on sertraline 50 mg. It only made my anxiety worse so I stopped after a couple days.  Then a week later I tried again but became a zombie in 3 days and actually suicidal...Me of all people thinking suicidal thoughts.  I was sure I wouldn't even attempt it but that was just too off the wall for me.  But the errie feelings were so overwhelming I was at a loss and my doctor didn't know how or what to treat me for. Laying on my pillow it would sound like a helicopters blade pounding in the distance.  He suggested I see a shrink.  Well,  I changed to a much younger female doctor on referral from a good friend in the medical profession.  Told this doctor about my history and she said lets try nexium for possible acid reflux which might be triggering the anxiety and then zanax for whenever you might feel uneasy so I'm now taking 1/2 or 1 tab of zanax which is .5 mg. when I feel I need it.  And it has been absolutely life changing.  I used to get chills, tremers, which started under the ribs and radiated out to the forearms, and my mind would just panic thinking the worst and it was most always about bed time or shortly after I went to bed.  But now going on 3 weeks later with the "take if needed" attitude, I'm so much better and relaxed.  And tonite I felt a little uneasy at about 10 so in preparation I took 1/2 and its like I'm feeling normal again...  took off the edge and ready to "hit the hay".  I know myself pretty well but this mind anxiety was no joke.  But I still wonder about GABA if there is something natural to get neurons to flow seratonin correctly so there isn't the need for pharma drugs?
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Avatar universal
I have mild copd, when it flairs I can't sleep. I lay down and even if I can breath ok, I start to hyperventilate, stomach gets nervous and have sudden urge to urinate. So, I would like it to relax me before bed but I don't want that sleepy, foggy dazed, grumpy feeling the next day. Does this med. do that?

Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
This is an old thread.  Please click on the link and start your own new thread.  Thanks!

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/new_with_new_subject?forum_id=71
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Avatar universal
I just got prescribed it too and im terrified to take it because im not sure what it will do to me, which makes me panic more. I havent been able to leave my bedroom for 4 days now
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
This is an old thread.  Please click on the link and start your own new thread.  Thanks!

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/new_with_new_subject?forum_id=71
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have anxiety when around other people as well. Do you know what causes it? I attribute my anxiety to growing up in a chaotic atmosphere where I was stressed a lot. I always felt others didn't understand and for the most part they didn't. Anyway, it made me anxious around other people. What do you think caused your anxiety?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I've had anxiety and panic attacks for about three years and I just started taking my Zoloft again at 50mg and increasing it to 100mg after one week. I get my panic attacks when I'm around a big crowd and I'm getting nervous about working this weekend when it's going to be very busy and I know my Zoloft won't really be affective yet. I was also prescribed Xanex the lowest dosage and my doctor told me I can take half or the whole thing. I wanted to try taking it before I go into work this weekend but I don't want to make it worse and ive never taken it before so im nervous about it.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Definitely much better to go to a doctor for the Xanax if you feel you need it.  Taking someone else's medication is a BAD idea and can land BOTH you and your friend in trouble.

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Avatar universal
Jessica42009, I have those same feelings, especially the vibrating. I've had tests and they all say I'm fine.  My friend gave me some Xanax to try and I take half a pill when I get those feelings. Sometimes it feel like it works and sometimes I'm not sure. We are both still alive I hope.  It must be in our heads. I'm going to schedule some time with a shrink who can prescribe me this.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
This thread is old.  Please start your own new one so you get more answers:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/new_with_new_subject?forum_id=71
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Avatar universal
I get anxiety but I'm nervous that maybe its not anxiety and I can not get myself to take the xanax that was prescribed to me. My anxiety causes me to believe I have a heart problem (which I don't) but I just can't shake that feeling. If I take xanax I'm afraid my heart will go too slow or stop etc.. Does that feeling even occur when taken? Also I haven't had an actual heart palpitation/freak out panic attack in a while. Just an overall crappy feeling all day long. I'm short of breath, I feel like I'm vibrating and really uncomfortable...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well I went ahead and took my Xanax for the first time and it wasn't bad at all... it wasn't a miracle cure or anything but it just made me feel calm and I could talk to ppl easier.
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Avatar universal
beez,

Those sound exactly like symptoms of an allergic reaction ( know, because two members of my family get those very symptoms as part of their nut and "birch" allergies). But let's assume the folks at the ER were able to rule that out.

Those could also be the symptoms of an anxiety attack. I went through a period where I had them, too, and I had all that you describe plus a little dizziness. Like many with anxiety attacks, I feared I was having a heart attack, and that fear further fed the attack (and helped to "cement" my anxiety pattern for future attacks).

After I suffered terribly through a couple of those, my doctor prescribed .25 mg Xanax. I was afraid to take them, too, as I'd never used any kind of prescription before (besides antibiotics). I used an anxiety workbook to learn about the causes and cures for anxiety, which was a VERY basic protocol that worked quite well for me. After years of  carrying the Xanax around--it was a "security blanket" that, in a way, was also very helpful in my self-help regimen--I finally threw the unopened bottle away.

My wife suffered anxiety from fear of flying for many years and about 10 years ago, was given a .5mg Xanas prescription to take before flying. She took it without hesitation, and since has used it with great success. She is calm through her flight, and very sleepy afterwards!

Hope some of this is helpful. Here is the book that I used:

http://www.anxietycoach.com/panic-attacks-help.html

Take care.
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Avatar universal
I am in the same boat... my Dr gave me .25 Xanax and I haven't taken one either bcus I don't know what to expect with it... I know everyone is different.
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Avatar universal
Im 28 and a stay at home mom for two years. Two months ago i started feeling funny, my arms were numb and tingly, my throat was closing up and i felt like my heart was beating fast. I went to er over and over thinking i was dying. They did all kinds of tests but said i was fine. Than prescribed . 05 xanaxe. I guess i have  stressed so much with watching 2 toddlers that i know get frequent attacks. Is this really what anxiety feels like? I've never had it? ,
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