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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on December 12, 2012, at 20:47:51
My psychiatrist's started me on 0.5mg of Xanax b.i.d. for intractable anxiety, with permission to increase to up to 2mg b.i.d. if needed.
I've been taking just 0.5mg at the moment and feel a little tired and slower and dull (mentally and socially).
Does tolerance develop to any of these side-effects?
Posted by Phillipa on December 13, 2012, at 0:17:13
In reply to does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 12, 2012, at 20:47:51
If you mean does it go away I'd say yes. When I started xanax years ago it just leveled out my anxiety so I had more energy didn't get tired. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 13, 2012, at 19:28:24
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax? » g_g_g_unit, posted by Phillipa on December 13, 2012, at 0:17:13
Yes GG, tolorance to the sedative effects develops for the vast majority of people, it shouldnt take more than a couple of weeks in most cases.
Also remember that you are treating a serious, even life threatening illness, so it will be worth putting up with a few minor side effects if it means getting good relief
Posted by g_g_g_unit on December 13, 2012, at 22:31:18
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 13, 2012, at 19:28:24
> Yes GG, tolorance to the sedative effects develops for the vast majority of people, it shouldnt take more than a couple of weeks in most cases.
>
> Also remember that you are treating a serious, even life threatening illness, so it will be worth putting up with a few minor side effects if it means getting good reliefA few weeks? Yikes. I've been falling asleep after my first dose of 0.5mg in the morning .. hopefully it at least eases up a little.
Do you find that Xanax isn't too cognitively impairing once you adjust as well?
Posted by Hugh on December 14, 2012, at 12:34:45
In reply to does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 12, 2012, at 20:47:51
There's a good chance that the side effects will fade over time. There's also the chance that tolerance will eventually set in, so that you need a larger dose to do what the smaller dose used to do. This doesn't happen to everyone. It may not even happen to the majority of people. But it does happen all too often. It happened to me. If the Xanax is working well for your anxiety and doesn't cause any major problems, wonderful. But it's a good idea to be aware of what the symptoms of benzo tolerance and interdose withdrawal are, just so you can be on the lookout in case it happens to you. Here's a list of symptoms from the Ashton Manual:
Posted by Hugh on December 14, 2012, at 15:03:09
In reply to does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 12, 2012, at 20:47:51
> I've been taking just 0.5mg at the moment and feel a little tired and slower and dull (mentally and socially).
If 0.5mg is making you feel this way, try breaking it in half and taking 0.25mg instead. Some people are more sensitive than others to benzos, and can get by on lower doses. There is a chance that lowering your dose suddenly can cause some of the symptoms of interdose withdrawal. The longer you've been taking benzos, the more likely this is to happen. But lots of people on benzos aren't bothered by this.
Posted by jono_in-adelaide on December 14, 2012, at 18:18:57
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax? » jono_in_adelaide, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 13, 2012, at 22:31:18
GGG, most of the tollorance appears in the first week, so hang in there.
I find that xanax is calming without imparing my mental abilities at all.
Posted by Phillipa on December 14, 2012, at 19:19:31
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by jono_in-adelaide on December 14, 2012, at 18:18:57
I guess not suffereing withdrawal as been cutting doses down after 43 years and insomnia is gone & replaced with instantly falling asleep once in bed. Strange as one would think I not sleep. Phillipa
Posted by g_g_g_unit on December 14, 2012, at 19:28:13
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by jono_in-adelaide on December 14, 2012, at 18:18:57
> GGG, most of the tollorance appears in the first week, so hang in there.
>
> I find that xanax is calming without imparing my mental abilities at all.Jono, how would you advise going about scheduling the three daily doses? I'm worried that if I take the last dose around dinner, then withdrawal would set in just before bed .. isn't the active effect of Xanax relatively short?
Posted by Phillipa on December 14, 2012, at 23:40:24
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax? » jono_in-adelaide, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 14, 2012, at 19:28:13
GGG when it worked well for me it was four times a day morning early afternoon, dinner time & bedtime. Short acting usually for me about 4 hours. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in-adelaide on December 15, 2012, at 2:55:15
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax? » jono_in-adelaide, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 14, 2012, at 19:28:13
I'd take one in the morning, one in the late afteronnon, and the last dose half an hour before bedtime.
Xanax has a half life of 12 odd hours, so if you space the doses 8 hours apart, rebound is quite unlikely.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on December 15, 2012, at 19:01:00
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by jono_in-adelaide on December 15, 2012, at 2:55:15
> I'd take one in the morning, one in the late afteronnon, and the last dose half an hour before bedtime.
>
> Xanax has a half life of 12 odd hours, so if you space the doses 8 hours apart, rebound is quite unlikely.Okay, but e.g. dexedrine is listed as having a half-life of 10.5 hours, but is only active for 4 hours, and withdrawal symptoms set in thereafter.
I thought Xanax was a similar case for some reason, and had like a four-hour window of action or something .. am I wrong?
Posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2012, at 19:03:32
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax? » jono_in-adelaide, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 15, 2012, at 19:01:00
Not from my experience but know one poster who is lasts 6 hours for. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 16, 2012, at 17:18:42
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax? » jono_in-adelaide, posted by g_g_g_unit on December 15, 2012, at 19:01:00
Well ggg, I've never heard of the 4 hour window, but if its a concern for you, then try a longer acting benzo, say Valium or Frisium, these have duration of action in excess of 24 hours after you've been taking them for a few days, no chance of rebound there.
If you continue with Xanax I'd take it 8 hourly (in the morning, afternon and at bedtime), if you change to Valium I'd take it in the same way for the first 3 or 4 days, then start taking it as a single dose at night so you adoid the daytime drowsiness etc.
Posted by g_g_g_unit on December 17, 2012, at 4:54:48
In reply to Re: does tolerance develop to the sx. of Xanax?, posted by jono_in_adelaide on December 16, 2012, at 17:18:42
> Well ggg, I've never heard of the 4 hour window, but if its a concern for you, then try a longer acting benzo, say Valium or Frisium, these have duration of action in excess of 24 hours after you've been taking them for a few days, no chance of rebound there.
>
> If you continue with Xanax I'd take it 8 hourly (in the morning, afternon and at bedtime), if you change to Valium I'd take it in the same way for the first 3 or 4 days, then start taking it as a single dose at night so you adoid the daytime drowsiness etc.No, maybe I was mistaken about the 4-hour thing .. I just assumed it had a really short half-life for some reason.
Benzos are weird. The sedation has disappeared, but I felt kind of agitated immediately after dosing this evening and now I feel calmer but kind of drunk and stupid.
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