Xanax for Anxiety?

LegacyUser

Hi. I would like to get some feedback from anybody who has used Xanax, (Benzodiazepine) for Anxiety and your experiences with the drug. I know this is not a medical board and i'm not asking for advice on whether i should obtain a prescription. I've been to my GP and he has said he will write me a prescription for Xanax that i can take as needed in certain situations where i feel anxious.

Let me give you some background ........

I have suffered with mild to moderate social anxiety for 13 years (31 year old Male) and have in the past taken many different SSRI's to try and combat the anxiety but as i now know, SSRI's don't work very well for Social Anxiety and the side effects are quite bad considering this medication is supposed to have minimal side effects.

I stopped taking SSRIs 4 years ago and really started looking after my health, going to the gym 3 times a week, cycling to work, playing 5 a side football once/twice a week and eating a healthy diet and i am very fit now and will always look after my health but the anxiety i feel on a daily basis persists and i isolate myself from people most of the time just to keep the physical symptons and obsessional thoughts at bay. When i'm around people for long periods this is what happens to me and i end up mentally drained.

I got heavy into drugs in my late teens into my early twenties and i know that this has comtributed to a change in my brain chemistry which in turn has exacerbated the self concious thoughts i feel daily. In work i get very stressed and people pick up on it. I'm an open book and can't hide my anxiety when i'm stressed and i just need to be alone then when i get home to try get myself into the right frame of mind to face another day.

I'm rambling a bit now but my main reason for writing this is because i am seriously looking into getting a prescription of Xanax that i can use when i am facing some very stressful situations like meeting new people or going to meetings in work. As fit and hrealthy as i am, i've hit the wall and don't get any relief from the constant anxiety i feel from being around people. I've been told by a couple of people that i look nervous and it kills me to hear this. It really eats away at my self esteem when i think that other people can see right through me.

I know i over analyse things but the fact is that something like Xanax might give me some relief when i need it most. Is there anybody who takes Xanax for Social Anxiety and if so what are the Good and bad effects and is it addictive. I know i wouldn't abuse is as its a Benzo and i've heard some stories about how Benzos are addictive but i think i'm smart enough to use it only as needed if it could help my anxiety.

Any views on the Subject of Xanax welcome. Thanks for Reading.

Gordon

UnReg08 wrote: »

I've been to my GP and he has said he will write me a prescription for Xanax that i can take as needed in certain situations where i feel anxious.

When will he do this?

is it addictive. I know i wouldn't abuse is as its a Benzo and i've heard some stories about how Benzos are addictive but i think i'm smart enough to use it only as needed if it could help my anxiety.

Why did you not ask the doctor about this?

Overheal

All I can say is I have seen the side-effects of prolonged use of xanax and the results arent pretty. The substance is addictive. She must have tried to come off it every month (landlady I used to have - was on them for years and years) and she would always be incoherent, loopy and would admit to hallucinations and all the rest. It was a wonderful chore getting her to take her next dose if you do take xanax be very mindful about using it only when it is absolutely needed, it can quickly become a comfort-drug.

In fact given your heavy drug use history I cannot recommend it at all.

I have to assume whatever quack doctor she has keeps prescribing it just because she cant function during the phase-off. thankfully its not my concern anymore, I'll be honest.

JuliusCaesar

UnReg08 wrote: »

I know i over analyse things but the fact is that something like Xanax might give me some relief when i need it most. Is there anybody who takes Xanax for Social Anxiety and if so what are the Good and bad effects and is it addictive. I know i wouldn't abuse is as its a Benzo and i've heard some stories about how Benzos are addictive but i think i'm smart enough to use it only as needed if it could help my anxiety.

So if you have doubts about Xanax - which make no mistake, is addictive - why not cure the problem instead of masking it with drugs?

http://www.routledgementalhealth.com/9780415954037

CBT is available free on the HSE. Waitiing lists are not usually prohibitave. Look at Irishh Council for Psychotherapy, CBT Section or babcp.com for ACCREDITED therapists.

Talliesin

Some people question whether xanax is addictive, suggesting that the difficulty some experience in ending use of it is due to the original anxiety it was treating.

It does seem that it probably is addictive. Of course, many very useful drugs are also addictive. Personally at one point in my life I used xanax and was glad to have that option. I have not used it in around ten years.

If you decide to use xanax, keep your doctor informed about how much you are using, and what situations you find it more necessary in. Keep an eye on your behaviour yourself, especially if you begin to find there are things you can't do without it.

LegacyUser

Hi,

I think that the Xanax could really work for you, I too suffer from anxiety. I was prescribed Lexapro, which I was really relucant to take, but my Doctor said, it was time to let him take control. It was the best decision I ever made.

If your Doctor is worth his salt, he's not going to allow you to get addicted to it. Its not a medication you can buy over the counter, and he should be very cautious about prescribing it to you, in moderate doses.

I say go for it mate.

Gordon

This thread is only for people that have used Xanax as per OPs post. It is only for people's personal experiences with it. Anything else from now on will be deleted.

Tuvok

I have used Xanax on and off for the last 10 years - 30 years old now. I have suffered a lot with social anxiety and I have found that this has really helped me when going into social situations such as meetings at work. I only use it when going into a situation that will cause me anxiety rather than for general anxiety. I don't find it addictive as I only take it from time to time. The idea of it is to break the cycle of anxiety so that you can function normally. If I didn't have this then I would have had to give up my job as I wouldn't be able to carry out my required duties.

If you decide to take it then just take the smallest dose possible (I take 0.25mg) and this should ease things. It takes about 30 mins to start having an effect. You may feel a little bit spaced and tired and it usually lasts for about 8 hours or so. The effects may differ for you so try it out first at home to see how well you can function with it. I carry 2 tablets with me at all times in my wallet. They could stay there for weeks without me needing them. I find that often just knowing that they are there if I need them gets me through anxious situations.

I see that you took Lexapro but it had some side effects. I took Lexapro too and it may me more anxious then previously. I am taking Seroxat at the moment and that does the trick for me - I don't really need Xanax any more now. Maybe you should talk to your doctor about trying a different anti-depressant as there are others that may work for you.

littlefriend

I'd say you should get the prescription. Keep in mind that it may be addictive if it is abused so don't abuse it.
I used zanex a few times maybe 8 or so years ago. I never had any problems when I stopped taking it. More recently I had some more serious depression/anxiety and I was prescribed valium along with an anti depressant. I had no side effects at all that I am aware of from valium.

A couple of years ago I had a pretty major breakdown and the thought of ever feeling like that again really freaks me out. From time to time I go through phases of being panicky for a few days/week or so. Once that feeling starts, I begin to worry about losing control again which, in effect, means that I am panicking about the possibility of panicking if that makes sense. I find that if I know I have a valium to take IF I have an anxiety attack then I can wind myself down until I am relaxed again. I don't necessarily have to take the pill just knowing I could if I needed to is just a little safety blanket I have. I'm probably not explaining that at all well - I'm sorry I'm a little tired.


One thing I will say to you is this - anti anxiety pills are not going to cure you. There is a book w/ a cd called "when panic attacks'' - you should read that. Also there is a homeopathic remedy called 'aconite' which is really good too. I'm sure you are aware also that meditation is supposed to really help an unsettled mind - I haven't gotten around to trying it myself yet. Please do not isolate yourself - I did it for ages and it's fairly difficult to get back out there.

Anyway, I hope this is of some help to you - your doctor can be a great help to you but it is your mind and you will have to work out how you can make it ok.
Best wishes

Overheal

Overheal wrote: »

All I can say is I have seen the side-effects of prolonged use of xanax and the results arent pretty. The substance is addictive. She must have tried to come off it every month (landlady I used to have - was on them for years and years) and she would always be incoherent, loopy and would admit to hallucinations and all the rest. It was a wonderful chore getting her to take her next dose if you do take xanax be very mindful about using it only when it is absolutely needed, it can quickly become a comfort-drug.

In fact given your heavy drug use history I cannot recommend it at all.

I have to assume whatever quack doctor she has keeps prescribing it just because she cant function during the phase-off. thankfully its not my concern anymore, I'll be honest.

I have Xanax tablets for stress caused by doing exams.Before I had my panic attack in study week.I had been only getting 4 hours of sleep a night.The xanax helped me to sleep better.Apart from that,they were not much use.The stress relief was very mild.I however had no more panic attacks after getting my prescription.

How Strange

I've taken xanax before for situations where I would be very anxious. I find it amazing for calming me down. However, I can see why it would be very addictive. You don't get the hungover feeling afterwards.

I try not to take it too often. In truth I only have it for flying but now I have some in my pocket and try to get through that situation with the reassurance that I can take it if I need it. The reason I'm so cautious about taking it is as I've said there's no hangover afterwards so it would be very easy to become reliant on it.

kittensoft1984

I am taking xanax at the moment.

The doctor gave me 10 of them to take if and when i needed to take them.

Im sure your doctor would have told you the same.

I have only taken one of them so far and I have found it great for relaxing and helping me sleep!

They are addictive so be careful about how and when you take them but they will help you.

board om

tbh xanax always tend to knock me out. even if i only take half of one i would be out for the count 20 minutes later. i never found them addictive, but thats not to say they arent. they definetly dont have the side effects you would get from an SSRI. but i would much prefer diazepam (valium) for anxiety. i find it relaxs me without causing me to start falling asleep everywhere i go. and another thing i found was after you have taken them for a while you might find you dont need them as much as you did in the begining. personally i found from taking xanax or diazepam when i was anxious that after a while i learnt to deal with the situations that made me anxious, so i needed them less and less. its like this, i would get in a certain situation that would make me anxious, and because i was anxious i couldnt think straight so i couldnt deal with the situation properly. then when i started taking xanax or diazepam, if the situation arose that would normally have made me anxious, the tablets slowed me down and relaxed me and that let me deal with the situation rationally. after doing this for a while i figured out how i was actually supposed to react in that situation, so then when i stopped tasking the tablets, i still knew how i was supposed to deal with it and i was fine. now i havent a bother on me.

there is no harm in getting them from the doctor as long as you
1) Only take them as you need them and not just because you can,
and
2) Dont take more than you need to, just take as much as is neccessary to relax you. you will know how much that is after using them a few times. what the doctor prescribed me i used to only take half of. there is nothing worse than falling asleep at you desk in work.

good luck with it.

Aspiration

Deleted User wrote:

I have Xanax tablets for stress caused by doing exams.Before I had my panic attack in study week.I had been only getting 4 hours of sleep a night.The xanax helped me to sleep better.Apart from that,they were not much use.The stress relief was very mild.I however had no more panic attacks after getting my prescription.

I was exactly the same. During college the 2 weeks prior to any exam(s), I'd freak out and would do running all nighters every night. I used to study until about 4, drive down to the beach, study until about 7, drive home, have a shower, and up to college to the library for another few hours study and then repeat the cycle. And it wasn't like it was a cramming thing either- I used to study every week and knew what I was doing- but for some reason exam situations just made me freak out. Eventually, I was brought to the doc and he put me on Xanax. Personally for me, I found it great. I was still freaking out - at the end of the day, it doesn't rid the situation that makes you anxious - but it did calm me down an awful lot so when I was studying it was productive. Like the other posters, I was advised to use it only if and when I needed it.

I found starting on the lower dosage helped too. I was on 250mg first to see how it affected me but then moved onto 500mg. If you keep on top of things, I think it can be beneficial.

ronbyrne2005

Took .25mg several times a day for several years. Helped with anxiety, panic and excessive negative ruminations. Easy enough to taper the dose and come off them over a few weeks/months. Have you done any CBT for the social anxiety? If you have VHI/Bupa you can do a course over several weeks to treat this problem , you'll always probably be slightly anxious but I would avoid xanax and other Benzos unless it's a crisis situation or behavioural/psychological interventions don't work. Theres a 20 cd box set for social anxiety you can buy, you listen to one each night and address all negative thoughts you had each day, its supposed to be good, costs a few hundred new but can be bought 2nd hand on ebay/amazon or downloaded from internet.
If you can work full time and exercise/go to gym regulaly I don't think you are bad enough to become reliant on benzos. Try the psychological stuff first , theres a good group programme for social anxiety in the mater hospital one evening a week.
Xanax should be restricted to people who can't leave house to work/exercise/ visit friends or are in signifcant distress most of the day/every day.

StandnDeliver

took xanex when i was stressed,and couldnt sleep.It worked big style but i found myself using it alot so i stopped.Now when im stressed i meditate,use deep breathing excercises etc would you consider them as a method to relax you?

Susannahmia

I have been suffering from stress related anxiety and some mild depression this year to a point where I ended up not handing in one of my dissertations and failing a few exams. I was perscribed xanex and it was good at first. Like it made me feel really calm. Scarily I really liked how it made me feel but it killed any concentration I had left. Oh and yes it is very addictive!

Kind of pointless since I needed something to help me calm down enough to get some work done:p. I took them sometimes anyway because they made me feel good about not getting anything done but they did not solve my problem at all. I noticed that after taking them, maybe even the day after I was really absent minded too and was forgetting words.

I did not take much at all because I was really scared of getting addicted, I was taking 3 or 4 a week tops, but after a short while I cannot really notice the effects anymore.:( I still have half a pack there but as I have decided to just repeat one of my subjects next year the stress and anxiety is nearly gone.

nothing

I first got xanex about 3 months ago, and if you don't take it all the time chances are you won't get addicted. I only take it when my anxiety is particularly bad (also have social anxiety). I only take it when I know I'm going somewhere that will trigger my anxiety, which isn't too often. I find it's effects very good, calming, at least to a point where I won't have a panic attack.

April Raine

Aspiration wrote: »

I found starting on the lower dosage helped too. I was on 250mg first to see how it affected me but then moved onto 500mg. .

Microgrammes not milligramms. 250 milligrams of xanax would be serious overdose

LegacyUser

Thanks for all the replys. Some great insights and advice there and i have taken it all on board and decided to see my GP tomorrow morning and obtain a prescription from him.

I'm looking at it like this ......

I suffer with really bad anticipatory anxiety when i know i have an important meeting coming up or a big social event etc. This can last for days or weeks coming up to the event and the constant worry make me feel physically sick and even going to the gym doesn't help to get my mind off the upcoming event. No matter what i've tried in the past i can't help obsessing about things and if i know i can take a Xanax if needed during the stressful event i probably won't suffer with as much worry coming up to the event which can only be a good thing. I really do get seriously freaked out in my head and my stomach does be turning 24 seven and my health is going to suffer bigtime longterm if i don't find a way to keep myself relaxed coming up to events.

Yeah, i can hold down a job and go to the gym but i'd never dare strike up a conversation with someone at the gym. I find it a struggle just approaching the counter when i need to pay to use the gym. That probably sounds weird to a lot of people but thats the way it is and it isn't getting any easier as i get older. I'd like to think that just having the Xanax with me might relax me a little.

I'm just at the point in life now where i'm stuck and i can't get a grip in things and am looking for ways to get some relief. I wouldn't wish the way i feel on a daily basis on my worst enemy. Its no way to live and my heart goes out to anybody who suffers with this crippling condition. People who are naturally relaxed really don't know how good they have it.

Aspiration

April Raine wrote:

Microgrammes not milligramms. 250 milligrams of xanax would be serious overdose

Yep, apologies i meant micrograms not milligrams.

OP, that's good that you have decided to go to the doc. Most of us on the thread know how it feels to be so desperate it feels like you just need something to relieve the situation. If you do have any other concerns, you should direct them towards the doc. Best of luck, and if they're not meant for you i hope you find other means to rid the anxiety

stcatherine

I too suffered from anxiety end of last year on top of depression and like others have said I was given xanax and again I could see how they could become addictive.

One thing you could ask your GP about is Betablockers, My Gp perscribed them for me on top of the SSRI and I have to say they work amazingly well on anxiety.

I beat my anxiety in the end with a combo of the SSRI the beta blocker and a method called "The Linden method" which I have to say actually probably saved my sanity. I rarely had to take the xanax once I began to understand my anxiety.

I can give you more details on it if you like, Just PM me