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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Pluto on November 22, 2006, at 6:36:18
Hi
I am taking Xanax 0.5mg twice daily along with 40mg of Prozac. Fine, but some days are still really tough for me. I feel like taking extra 2 or more Xanax will help me instead of self medicating with Alcohol. My question is:
Can I take 2 or 3mg of Xanax in a bad day, then suddenly go back to the regular 1 mg daily schedule? Or if I up the dosage so highly, should I need to taper? Will there be any problems in such an aggressive approach? I have found if there is a bad day, the next day is not going to be that bad. But the bad day destroys me to spend more time in bar.
Your opinions please
Cheers
PLS
Posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 6:51:34
In reply to Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by Pluto on November 22, 2006, at 6:36:18
PLS,
>Can I take 2 or 3mg of Xanax in a bad day, then suddenly go back to the regular 1 mg daily schedule?
I do that all the time with clonazepam, a similar med like Xanax. No need to taper if it's just a few days now and then.
/Mattias
Posted by Pluto on November 22, 2006, at 7:13:21
In reply to Re: Xanax: Upping and downing....? » Pluto, posted by tensor on November 22, 2006, at 6:51:34
> I do that all the time with clonazepam, a similar med like Xanax. No need to taper if it's just a few days now and then.
>
> /MattiasMattias,
Thanks. I don't need few days, but just when I need it most. Definitely not more than a day in a week. I think most of the blues is caused by my enalapril. (I take 10mg for hypertension and have heard it can cause mood swings)
Cheers
PercyLS
Posted by valene on November 22, 2006, at 10:41:26
In reply to Re: Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by Pluto on November 22, 2006, at 7:13:21
I take Xanax 1.75mg. daily and once in a while I go up by .25mg. for a day or so here and there. I find that it does help and no need to taper as long as you do not stay at the higher dose for any more than a couple days. Best if you just increase by a very small amount and if that does not cover the anxiety, add on another small amount, IMO.
Posted by bassman on November 22, 2006, at 12:09:54
In reply to Re: Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by valene on November 22, 2006, at 10:41:26
I take Xanax and have found that even increasing the dose for a week and then going back down causes no problems. But usually I increase the dose no more 1-2 times a weeks. I don't find any problem-except I think I'm more likely to experience panic the next morning; maybe. For what it's worth, I've read that for the most sensitive individuals, a constant dose of Xanax for two weeks may cause some dependence-but I'm not going to find out. Other references seem to think there is dependence more in the months range...
Posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2006, at 12:23:00
In reply to Re: Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by bassman on November 22, 2006, at 12:09:54
I remember a doc who insisted I take .5 of xanax when I took low doses .25 a few times a day. I went up for a week and then dropped back down. No problem at all. Love Phillipa
Posted by emme on November 22, 2006, at 12:54:03
In reply to Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by Pluto on November 22, 2006, at 6:36:18
I personally find Xanax to be a friendly drug. I can basically do whatever I need to dosage-wise on an as-needed basis. I may need 0.5 mg one day, zero the next, 0.25 another day.
emme
Posted by blueberry on November 22, 2006, at 17:28:12
In reply to Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by Pluto on November 22, 2006, at 6:36:18
I am super sensitive and have had little trouble going up or down on xanax whenever I needed to. The last time I took it was in 2005. But when I did take it, I took maybe 1.5mg a day for a week, and then .25mg twice a day for a few days, and bounced all over the place depending on what I needed for the day. Personally I have found withdrawing from paxil or withdrawing from zyprexa to be much worse than withdrawing from xanax. Just a simple dosage change with paxil or zyprexa is much nastier than a dosage change with xanax.
Posted by Phillipa on November 22, 2006, at 19:36:42
In reply to Re: Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by blueberry on November 22, 2006, at 17:28:12
Oh I agree!!!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by rphstudent on November 24, 2006, at 18:57:15
In reply to Re: Xanax: Upping and downing....?, posted by Pluto on November 22, 2006, at 7:13:21
Perhaps changing the enalapril to another anti-hypertensive might be a more constructive solution. You should talk with your PCP/cardiologist about this possibility as there are many other, unrelated antihypertensives that do not share this side effect.
>
> > I do that all the time with clonazepam, a similar med like Xanax. No need to taper if it's just a few days now and then.
> >
> > /Mattias
>
> Mattias,
>
> Thanks. I don't need few days, but just when I need it most. Definitely not more than a day in a week. I think most of the blues is caused by my enalapril. (I take 10mg for hypertension and have heard it can cause mood swings)
>
> Cheers
> PercyLS
>
>
This is the end of the thread.
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