Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: Rekindling dependency to Xanax? » Temmie

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 ....
>
> 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 ....
>
> 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.
>
> How does one know when enough is too much?
>
>

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.


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:Snoozy thread:220726
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030417/msgs/220732.html