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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2007, at 13:48:50
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2007, at 13:43:48
Called pharmacy the generic is $l77 brand ifs $263 and they won't do a thing about it I am more than upset!!!!!! Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on March 16, 2007, at 14:33:24
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2007, at 13:48:50
Are you noticing any benefit to the medication? I'm still absolutely hating it!
Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2007, at 14:37:57
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 16, 2007, at 14:33:24
No Jelly and not only that my new let me stress new pdoc who will obviously think I'm crazy prescribed it and CVS is doding our calls on the med. It only generic xanax has never worked for me and I'm also withdrawing from luvox. It's miserable!!!!!Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on March 16, 2007, at 15:16:25
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2007, at 14:37:57
Do you mean you're trying to get the script filled as brand name now? Was it written as "DAW"? I had a CVS mistakenly fill mine with generic once, but I noticed it before I left the store (since the copay was lower than expected), which was helpful. They apologized for the mistake, since it was written in a different state, they weren't used to seeing the DAW in an unusual spot.
They didn't carry the brand name, but called around to all the local pharmacies and found one in the next town over that carried it. I gave them back the bottle of generic. They gave me back the paper script, and told the other pharmacy I was coming.
If your script wasn't specified as brand name, you won't be able to go back now, after leaving the store, and expect them to switch it. You could call you doctor and ask for another script if need be. That's the only way to fix that problem. None of this can be done via phone. I used to work as a pharm tech. No matter what, they just can't take doctor's orders by phone or fax for controlled drugs.
Didn't you say your doctor agreed to give you regular Xanax if the XR wasn't helping?
Posted by jealibeanz on March 16, 2007, at 14:40:08
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 16, 2007, at 15:16:25
And I'm basically panicking right now... out of nowhere, nothing happened. I can't breathe very well, my muscles are tense, my thoughts are racing.
I hate this.
I don't want to call my doctor's office and be the psycho,hypochondriac,drug-seeking, never satisfied, always in our office patient, who's complaining because this new drug that my doctor thinks should help me, does not, and ask for regular Xanax.
I was just there. I just told my doctor the drug wasn't helping. He thought he fixed the problem, and sent me on my way.
If I could actually call and speak to my doctor, I would consider calling, but I can't. The nurses answer the phones. There's one who particularly hates dealing with me (because she's mad at my mother... sad, because her daughter was my sister's childhood bestfriend). She'll blow me off, be rude, make me feel bad, and probably not give the message.
I just want to be able to get through this on my own, or get by for a month or two on this med trial, out of respect for my doctor, and show him that I am open-minded.
But living in daily panic just is a horrible way to live. I certainly can't do this long-term. It's too bad that I have to go through this at all.
Good thing I only have 2 on campus classes and two online. No job right now. The classes are easy. Otherwise, I'd be quitting my job and dropping out of school, which is just not like me at all.
The one thing I have going for me is that everyone at that office loves me (except the nasty nurse, who really has no problem with me, and I continue to be friendly with her in public and at the office, acting like she isn't fighting with my mother). I treat them all with such kindness and respect, which is rare in medicine.
Most patients at least somewhat place there illness on the provider. I don't. I take full responsibility for who I am and what do. My doc and PA are just very nice people who have the ability to give me ways to alleviate problems. That's how I really feel. I smile and make small talk and say thank you to all the staff about 1000 times at every visit, no matter how much anxiety I have, been sleeping 2 hours a night for an entire semester, am extremely depressed, or have laryngitis and can barely speak. It's not their problem. It's mine.
Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2007, at 18:07:33
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 16, 2007, at 14:40:08
Called pdoc and told him how they gave me generic xanax which has never worked for me he ordered 3mg of extended releases xanax for a week that's $74 more as medicare doesn't cover benzos. He said that if after a week it didn't work he would put me back on generic valim as it worked before. So tonight I will find out. What a day. Greg has the district managers number for CVS to call on Monday and try and get money back. The girl thought it would work as for public realations this CVS being a new store. Love Phillipa namebrand this time
Posted by jealibeanz on March 17, 2007, at 3:46:31
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2007, at 18:07:33
So it wasn't written as DAW? If your doctor didn't specify the brand name, I'd say you aren't getting your money back. Pharmacies aren't like department stores. They have to be very careful about dispensing meds, especially controlled ones, and have to account for all that go out. If you return it, they have to dispose of the medication. I'd say they'd be too cautious to give you your money back, especially since they did fill it correctly, if your doctor didn't request Xanax XR brand.
I know, that's not fun to hear, but it's true.
Posted by bassman on March 17, 2007, at 13:31:19
In reply to Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 16, 2007, at 10:44:05
I couldn't agree more. Xanax IR works very well for me and XR just makes me fatigued and has none of the antidepressant effect I think the IR has for me. But it does SOUND like a great idea-take a short half-life drug and put in a time-release formulation...
Posted by jealibeanz on March 17, 2007, at 13:56:28
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by bassman on March 17, 2007, at 13:31:19
> I couldn't agree more. Xanax IR works very well for me and XR just makes me fatigued and has none of the antidepressant effect I think the IR has for me. But it does SOUND like a great idea-take a short half-life drug and put in a time-release formulation...
Absolutely. Sounds wonderful. If you have a patient who responds well to Xanax IR, and needs daily coverage, Xanax XR seems like the perfect option.
This isn't reality, at least in my case. I'm guessing that most people who stick with Xanax XR never tried anything else, so they don't know what they're missing, and they haven't had a medication, which their body is accustomed to, pulled away.
I don't know that this info really gets out to docs. I wasn't successful with Concerta or Ritalin LA either. My doc just looks at me like I'm the oddest case he's ever seen, since the drug companies claim these meds are long-lasting. I seem to be one of the few who just don't metabolize them properly. Controlled release does not work for me, but at least those gave me the initial burst.
Xanax XR is soooo different from Xanax. I wish my doctor would try these meds for himself, and then see what I'm talking about... or just take me word seriously. If it were working well, I wouldn't be complaining!
I really don't think he's trying to wean me off Xanax. If he were, I'd think he'd have the respect to tell me so, so we'd be working toward a goal... not inducing panic attacks and non-stop anxiety.
I'm about to tell him I'm going off all meds, because I'm frustrated. That would really mess me up. The panic has only developed in the past year, since I've been on Xanax. Plus, take away Lunesta, Provigil, Ritalin LA, Clarinex... I don't think I'd be terribly functional.
Posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2007, at 19:24:07
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 17, 2007, at 13:56:28
Jelly guess what the long acting is starting to work it is just more subtle I notice things in me that I wasn't doing before. And we will get our money back as it was basically promised as it's a new store and they need the PR as its in a ritzey district. I've accomplished things I couldn't have done before . I think this is the plan a stable dose will build up slowly more like an ad. And he did say if I need short acting in between I could have it so right now I'm happy and down to zero on the ad's and no more valium either. A smart doc in my opinion especially sinced my anxiety is constant not just burts of panic which I had before menopause. Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on March 18, 2007, at 6:23:39
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 17, 2007, at 19:24:07
> Jelly guess what the long acting is starting to work it is just more subtle I notice things in me that I wasn't doing before. And we will get our money back as it was basically promised as it's a new store and they need the PR as its in a ritzey district. I've accomplished things I couldn't have done before . I think this is the plan a stable dose will build up slowly more like an ad. And he did say if I need short acting in between I could have it so right now I'm happy and down to zero on the ad's and no more valium either. A smart doc in my opinion especially sinced my anxiety is constant not just burts of panic which I had before menopause. Love Phillipa
Oh good for you... probably because hadn't previously been taking Xanax.
Posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2007, at 20:08:40
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 18, 2007, at 6:23:39
Ive taken it before the short acting and the long acting is just different. Think about it this dose is made for preferably 24 hours but my pdoc says twice a day is best. So the med is much weaker as it is slowly released. 2mg might have to stretch to 24 hours or l2. So don't expect a burst of relaxation like the fast release xanax. Love Phillipa ps has never been addictive to me. I've always gone off and on it with ease if only to go to a different benzo. I stopped 20mg of valium to 2.5mg last night. No side effects as a matter of fact slept even better. Love Pillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on March 18, 2007, at 20:14:28
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2007, at 20:08:40
Yeah, definitely not burst of medication.
I don't feel much therapeutic benefit at all though.
Posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2007, at 22:58:26
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 18, 2007, at 20:14:28
Jelly what mg? Mine is 3 twice a day. Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on March 19, 2007, at 4:17:54
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2007, at 22:58:26
I'm taking 3mg Xanax XR once a day.
So you take 6 mg total? Is this your first experience taking a daily benzo, without an AD?
I'm surprised you can handle this much. Are you really sedated? Were you taking Valium before this? I know you mentioned Luvox.
Posted by jealibeanz on March 19, 2007, at 4:27:36
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2007, at 22:58:26
> Jelly what mg? Mine is 3 twice a day. Love Phillipa
That's much more than me. I don't really want my doctor to increase the dose if I call and tell him it's not helping. You can tell whether or not a drug will work. I like very little about this one.
He'd probably increase it to 2 x 2mg Xanax XR. This is why I am not requesting that it be increased. I'm stating that it does not make any difference in my anxiety, whether I take it or not.
I actually have taken 2 x 3mg Xanax XR. Did it help? Ehh... it made me sleep, which is partially what I was going for since I slept little the night before.
I've increased it another time while I was out all day. I can't say that I liked it. I was maybe a little drowsy and less anxious, but it's just not right for me. I think I would need 6mg a day for any real effect. That may freak my doctor out.
I'm going to make a poster for him that says Xanax does not equal Xanax XR!
I was fine at 4 mg Xanax. 4 mg Xanax XR is ineffective.
Posted by sukarno on March 19, 2007, at 14:30:16
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » Phillipa, posted by jealibeanz on March 19, 2007, at 4:27:36
"I stopped 20mg of valium to 2.5mg last night. No side effects"
Valium has a very long half-life and tends to build up in the fat cells. Withdrawal might not be noticeable for 5 days after abrupt discontinuation. Then again, you are taking Xanax now so that should cover for it.
I just reduced my Valium from 17mg/day to 15mg/day (5mg TID) and was fine for 5 days and then woke up yesterday feeling hot and also in a cold sweat..my head felt like a TV camera. hehhehheh... no fun at all though. It wasn't major withdrawal, but I guess since I've been on Valium or other benzo equivalents for the past 16 years, my body is so used to it that any slight reduction results in some chaos a few days later.
I'll probably have to reduce by 0.5 to 1mg per month to be able to get off this stuff.
I wish I had Xanax XR where I live. In theory it should work well, but I can see how for some it might not be very good, since the level will never reach as high a point as immediate-release. However, immediate-release Xanax has been associated with interdose anxiety (anxiety between doses) because it is so short-acting. I used to get panic attacks between doses, especially at night. Night terrors were the worst part of it.
Posted by Phillipa on March 19, 2007, at 19:35:59
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by sukarno on March 19, 2007, at 14:30:16
Same here and believe it or not forgot to take lunesta 3mg with it last night and still had a nightmare so it isn't that med. I'm glad I forgot it what better way to find out? Don't get me wrong I still have anxiety but am doing more. I think the 30years of immediate benzos this long acting will take getting used to . Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on March 19, 2007, at 20:05:11
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » Phillipa, posted by jealibeanz on March 19, 2007, at 4:27:36
Jelly yes six and in the past I've been on much higher benzo doses. Valium, klonopin, chloral hydrate, short acting xanax, ativan. And no more luvox and as I said in another thread forgot the lunesta last night and slept fine. And I am not sedated at all. Love Phillipa ps I have always since day one had a high tolerance to benzos and low to antidepressants. This new pdoc says no ad's for me and that the thyroid is the culprit and getting in contact with the endo as I have some strange auto antibody that gives me Graves(high) and hasimotos( low) at the same time. Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on March 20, 2007, at 4:14:43
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 19, 2007, at 20:05:11
I thought you mentioned both Hashimoto's and Grave's disease before. I just glanced over it, since that made no sense to me, I figured I was remembering them incorrectly.
Have you actually been diagnosed with both?
So, since they are both autoimmune diseases, Hashimoto's is when the thyroid destroys itself, Grave's causes the body to mimic hyperthyroism. It's like the tissue you have is hyper, but being eaten away by the Hashimoto's. Right?
Posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 10:10:28
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » Phillipa, posted by jealibeanz on March 20, 2007, at 4:14:43
Yes the autoimmune hasimotos eats its own flesh as it sees it as an intruder the Graves is hyper usually they destroy Graves with radioactive isotobes. I am totally confused. Love Phillipa ps I have no idea how it's treated.
Posted by jealibeanz on March 20, 2007, at 10:25:34
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 10:10:28
> Yes the autoimmune hasimotos eats its own flesh as it sees it as an intruder the Graves is hyper usually they destroy Graves with radioactive isotobes. I am totally confused. Love Phillipa ps I have no idea how it's treated.
I could be wrong, but I think just "regular hyperthyroid" is treated by a thyroidectomy. It may be the same with Hasimoto's. There are some drugs that can be tried (I have nooo clue what they are.), but I think they aren't very effective, and removing the thyroid is usually the best option.
You have a very unusual case. You need a verrrry good and experienced specialist. The typical endocrinologist is not going to know how to treat this. Make sure you get the best care possible.
Posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 19:29:49
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 20, 2007, at 10:25:34
Jelly don't I ever know it. I am trying my hardest to get the best. Now when I see this new pdoc we will see if the endo made good on his word and contacted him. I do trust this new pdoc. Something about his calmness and always has time for you and the fact that the PHD recommended him for being good with meds. Oh let's not forget the lymes. I truly am complicated. Love Phillipa thanks for caring.
Posted by jealibeanz on March 23, 2007, at 13:11:10
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible! » jealibeanz, posted by Phillipa on March 20, 2007, at 19:29:49
> Jelly don't I ever know it. I am trying my hardest to get the best. Now when I see this new pdoc we will see if the endo made good on his word and contacted him. I do trust this new pdoc. Something about his calmness and always has time for you and the fact that the PHD recommended him for being good with meds. Oh let's not forget the lymes. I truly am complicated. Love Phillipa thanks for caring.
Are you doing OK with the XR now? I still haven't spoken to my doctor about it.
I wonder what his reaction will be when I tell him it's not helping and I want to stop. I don't really want to increase the dose. You can get a feel for whether or not a drug will work. I don't have that feeling with Xanax XR. I think taking more would just making me into a sleepy zombie.
I hope he doesn't suggest Klonopin. I never liked it. It made me uncoordinated and groggy and dulled at even .25 mg. That was the first benzo he ever gave me. 1 mg b.i.d.!
Haha, I have noo idea why he gave me such a high starting dose. When I began Xanax I started at .25 mg t.i.d. Maybe I seemed much more anxious years ago... haha, well I was, at least when talking to him, because I didn't know him very well and was scared to death about talking about medications and anxiety.
I hope he doesn't just let me stop either. Even though I think the XR does nothing, it's probably better than no drug at all. I don't think I've tried a day without it. I don't think I want to. Haha, but that's basically what I'm proposing to him. Ohhh god... he may know me well enough to think that's not a wonderful idea at the moment. I'm not saying my anxiety went away, I'm just saying the XR isn't so great. If I'm on 3 mg XR and I have anxiety, I'd definitely be a nut unmedicated.
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2007, at 20:08:47
In reply to Re: Xanax XR is horrible!, posted by jealibeanz on March 23, 2007, at 13:11:10
Jelly saw him yesterday he took me off the xanax long acting and instead gave me 2mg of ativen four times a day. I had two pills left of the long acting so first dose of ativan will be bedtime tonight Wish me luck cause as you I started years ago on .25 of xanax regular four times a day. By all rights I should be a walking zombie on this with the lunesta. And he said the dizzyness and nightmares were probably from the discontinuing of the ad. And then the endo still hadn't contacted him he firmly believes my problem is physical since the thyroid started this merry-go-round so sent to a friend internist across the street appointment next Friday and the internist is part of the big practice of all specialties this Mecklenburgmedicalgroup.com so he should be able to get in touch with him. He is in a different location. You can google this by adding the www. Love Phllipa
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