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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jackster on June 9, 2002, at 1:45:44
I've been on 200mg tegretol and 1mg Xanax (+ 40mg Paxil) per day for panic disorder and have been doing well. I was just below the effective level for tegretol, and so went up to 300mg. About a week and a half later, I started having waves of anxiety for no apparent reason. I talked to my PDoc about it - and theorised that perhaps the increase in tegretol had caused the levels of Xanax to decrease - and I was effectively going through Xanax withdrawal. My PDoc looked surprised and said he'd never heard of it, but perhaps it was possible. Later I looked up on the internet, and found 3 websites that confirmed my suspicion. Has anyone had this effect?
Something else that confuses me is that tegretol is actually recommended for Xanax withdrawal on this website: http://www.benzo.org.uk/gershman.htm
Surely it would actually aggrivate it then?
Any advice welcome!
Jackie
Posted by Iago Camboa on June 10, 2002, at 15:28:22
In reply to tegretol and xanax - advice please, posted by Jackster on June 9, 2002, at 1:45:44
Hi Jackie,
Unfortunately I know virtually nothing about 'tegretol' (or should it be 'Tegretol'?), so this contribution of mine may be of no use to you, but I saw the new medicine 'Xanax XR' (by Pharmacia & Upjohn), indicated specifically for the treatment of panic disorder at the very high (by old plain Xanax standards) 'mean maintenance dose' of 4mg-6mg/day (sic), and thought you might like to read the fabricant's notice about this new drug [please notice that the chemical composition of 'Xanax XR' (in French 'Xanax retard') is the same of old 'Xanax' (i.e. 'alprazolam'), only its release within the body is completely modified in this new variety].
Unfortunately again I couldn't find an English version of the text below, so the following link refers to the document *in French*:http://www.kompendium.ch/data/fi_f/fk05301_.htm
Kind regards,
IagoP.S. Excuse my curiosity, but why should you like to end up with the Xanax which is itself indicated both for anxiety (0.5mg-4.0mg), for depression (0.5mg-4.5mg in a very recent insert of Xanax XR I myself own) and for panic disorder (0.5?-6.0mg)? If I were you I'd rather diminish the Tegretol and augment the Xanax... Unless you need to augment the Tegretol for some other reason...? I.
> I've been on 200mg tegretol and 1mg Xanax (+ 40mg Paxil) per day for panic disorder and have been doing well. I was just below the effective level for tegretol, and so went up to 300mg. About a week and a half later, I started having waves of anxiety for no apparent reason. I talked to my PDoc about it - and theorised that perhaps the increase in tegretol had caused the levels of Xanax to decrease - and I was effectively going through Xanax withdrawal. My PDoc looked surprised and said he'd never heard of it, but perhaps it was possible. Later I looked up on the internet, and found 3 websites that confirmed my suspicion. Has anyone had this effect?
>
> Something else that confuses me is that tegretol is actually recommended for Xanax withdrawal on this website: http://www.benzo.org.uk/gershman.htm
>
> Surely it would actually aggrivate it then?
>
> Any advice welcome!
>
> Jackie
Posted by Jackster on June 11, 2002, at 4:05:22
In reply to Re: tegretol and xanax - advice please, posted by Iago Camboa on June 10, 2002, at 15:28:22
Hi Iago
Thanks for the information. I've been on much higher doses of Xanax in the past (4mg) and hate the feeling of constant tiredness it gives me. The tegretol is to augment the Paxil (which pooped out after a few years) which it was doing well until I upped the dosage. I've decided to come off the Xanax completely before I increase the Tegretol again.
It was interesting to hear about the Xanax XR - I couldn't find any other information about it. Does it feel any different from normal Xanax?
Kind regards
JackiePS Are you French? Have you been watching the World cup? (Coupe de Monde?)
> Hi Jackie,
>
> Unfortunately I know virtually nothing about 'tegretol' (or should it be 'Tegretol'?), so this contribution of mine may be of no use to you, but I saw the new medicine 'Xanax XR' (by Pharmacia & Upjohn), indicated specifically for the treatment of panic disorder at the very high (by old plain Xanax standards) 'mean maintenance dose' of 4mg-6mg/day (sic), and thought you might like to read the fabricant's notice about this new drug [please notice that the chemical composition of 'Xanax XR' (in French 'Xanax retard') is the same of old 'Xanax' (i.e. 'alprazolam'), only its release within the body is completely modified in this new variety].
> Unfortunately again I couldn't find an English version of the text below, so the following link refers to the document *in French*:
>
> http://www.kompendium.ch/data/fi_f/fk05301_.htm
>
> Kind regards,
> Iago
>
> P.S. Excuse my curiosity, but why should you like to end up with the Xanax which is itself indicated both for anxiety (0.5mg-4.0mg), for depression (0.5mg-4.5mg in a very recent insert of Xanax XR I myself own) and for panic disorder (0.5?-6.0mg)? If I were you I'd rather diminish the Tegretol and augment the Xanax... Unless you need to augment the Tegretol for some other reason...? I.
>
>
> > I've been on 200mg tegretol and 1mg Xanax (+ 40mg Paxil) per day for panic disorder and have been doing well. I was just below the effective level for tegretol, and so went up to 300mg. About a week and a half later, I started having waves of anxiety for no apparent reason. I talked to my PDoc about it - and theorised that perhaps the increase in tegretol had caused the levels of Xanax to decrease - and I was effectively going through Xanax withdrawal. My PDoc looked surprised and said he'd never heard of it, but perhaps it was possible. Later I looked up on the internet, and found 3 websites that confirmed my suspicion. Has anyone had this effect?
> >
> > Something else that confuses me is that tegretol is actually recommended for Xanax withdrawal on this website: http://www.benzo.org.uk/gershman.htm
> >
> > Surely it would actually aggrivate it then?
> >
> > Any advice welcome!
> >
> > Jackie
Posted by Iago Camboa on June 12, 2002, at 5:45:05
In reply to Re: tegretol and xanax - advice please, posted by Jackster on June 11, 2002, at 4:05:22
Hi Jackie,
And for me Xanax was a 'wonder medicine' instead, restauring for me all my former energy, killing the feeling of constant tiredness Valium/diazepam gave me during a few years and allowing me to low in 50% the amount of my AD medicine, clomipramine (Anafranil) - from 225mg/day to 112.5mg/day) and, even at that new dose (of one half) boosting its AD effects and maintaining these results for almost 7 months now from the beginning of this new regimen...
If someone had told me about this 'dramatic' improvement in my life before I began to take it I wouldn't have believed it possible: I just began to take the Xanax supposing I was doing no more than substituting a benzo (diazepam) by another similar medicine (alprazolam). This looks like a remarkable instance of an 'anti-pooping out' of an AD, but it actually is not: I only now use two ADs (the old TCA and the new Xanax, the Xanax working both as a powerful anxiolytic & not less a powerful AD with almost no sedative side-effects).
About the new Xanax XR, I only use it at bedtime at the same dose I used before but without having to divide that amount by two takes (at bedtime & at the middle of the night), which was very unhandy and very annoying to say the least. During the day I use good old Xanax as before without any changes. The chemical substance is the selfsame one in both products as I'd told you.Of course I have been watching the World cup. As an European, I am a fan of soccer. No, I'm not a Frenchman. I came from Portugal, a small W. European country located between Spain and the Atlantic. I only gave you a French link (so to speak) because I found no English equivalent. But we both being so different in our preferences regarding the Xanax, it's no more any important at all. Good luck in finding your perfect medical combo!
By the way, on what country are you based? Your posting-time looks familiar to me. Don't tell me we are neighbours... Let me guess. You are an Irish young woman, red-haired, 29 y.o., married, two kids...Hit water? Never mind, I will try & do better next shot!
Best of luck,
Iago
> Hi Iago
>
> Thanks for the information. I've been on much higher doses of Xanax in the past (4mg) and hate the feeling of constant tiredness it gives me. The tegretol is to augment the Paxil (which pooped out after a few years) which it was doing well until I upped the dosage. I've decided to come off the Xanax completely before I increase the Tegretol again.
>
> It was interesting to hear about the Xanax XR - I couldn't find any other information about it. Does it feel any different from normal Xanax?
>
> Kind regards
> Jackie
>
> PS Are you French? Have you been watching the World cup? (Coupe de Monde?)
>
Posted by Jackster on June 13, 2002, at 4:38:06
In reply to Re: tegretol and xanax - advice please » Jackster, posted by Iago Camboa on June 12, 2002, at 5:45:05
Hi Iago
Not even close! Wrong hemisphere - I live in New Zealand. I spent a couple of years in England and watched a bit of football over there. There are a lot of ex-Englanders living here and the World Cup is very popular.
Good luck to Portugal getting to the second round. (I didn't think your name sounded very French). Thanks for your info on the Xanax.
Regards
Jackie> By the way, on what country are you based? Your posting-time looks familiar to me. Don't tell me we are neighbours... Let me guess. You are an Irish young woman, red-haired, 29 y.o., married, two kids...
>
> Hit water? Never mind, I will try & do better next shot!
> Best of luck,
> Iago
>
This is the end of the thread.
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