Posted by Snoozy on April 19, 2003, at 19:18:59
In reply to Rekindling dependency to Xanax?, posted by Temmie on April 19, 2003, at 18:39:49
> Hello friends. In addition to recent post(s) about sleep problems, I’m writing in search of info/feedback related to rekindling a dependency on Xanax. As noted elsewhere, I have chronic depression with PTSD. I believe my MD said “major depressive disorder,” but in any case, this is accompanied by anxiety. In the early 90s I had an Rx for Xanax on an as-need basis, but when I moved to a different state, I was not able to get this Rx renewed. The MD in the new state referred me to a treatment facility for detox. Silly me. I thought – with daily therapy, regular visits to the pool, walks in the woods, etc., the experience would be akin to a Golden Door sort of retreat. Of course it was much uglier than this. Despite encouragement to regard myself as an addict, I never took the Rx to get high, or other than prescribed. Which leads to questions today ....
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> In the last couple of months I’ve been given a new Rx for Xanax on an “as-need” basis. I’ve limited this to 1-3 daily, and on many days, did not use it at all. But then ... this new relationship I'm in got a bit tumultuous, and I also used Xanax to help with sleep problems. For three or four days or more, I was probably (didn't keep track) using six or more daily. Now, having gone without any Xanax at all for a couple of days, I’m feeling a bit jangley. :-( The membrane in my mouth feels thin, and I have that metallic sort of taste of blood in my mouth. I am also – struggling with feeling – normal, calm, and “in my skin.” Believe me, I’d feel better with a pill (.25, by the way), but I’m fighting against the need ....
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> My doc said I’d be okay with Xanax so long as I didn’t use it for a week or more. (Why didn’t she say that at the outset?) I wonder what I should do .... I am hanging in there – jangled feelings and all – and using Seroquel for sleep. Ack. I hate to bring this up to my MD because I’m afraid of the Rx being yanked, and Xanax is so helpful when interviewing ... dealing with presentations, etc., at work.
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> How does one know when enough is too much?
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>I've seen others write it here, but I'll say it too. There is a difference between being addicted to Xanax vs. being physically dependent. If you're calling in fake Xanax prescriptions, that would probably be an addiction. But when you take Xanax long-term, your body does become dependent on it, in that if you stopped taking it suddenly you would feel pretty awful. I think that's true for everyone who takes it long-term. If you're pretty much staying within the guidelines of what your dr prescribed, I don't think that would be addiction.
If you've been taking it for a while, you really want to taper and not go cold turkey. (I cut my daily dose in half and I did it incredibly gradually and was ok).
Is it the same dr who referred you to detox that you are currently seeing? And is your rx for .25mg tabs?
*This is totally my opinion*If you've been taking it for a while, you might want to take a small amount now and then continue with a withdrawl schedule.
I know it's a nasty thing to go through. Good luck.
poster:Snoozy
thread:220726
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030417/msgs/220732.html