Posted by gilbert on February 22, 2002, at 10:35:08
In reply to Re: Is Addiction to Xanex really harmful?, posted by Alan on February 21, 2002, at 17:39:58
I have relied on xanax for years and it has worked however I have had to increase my dosage....and I became very dependent or addicted the words really don't matter if you can't go without the med for 8 hours at a time then your in trouble. I am and have always been very pro benzo use because xanax literally gave me my life back. I am now in the process of going off xanax and very slowly and some days are pure hell. Keep in mind I have detoxed from alcohol 3 times and cocaine abuse twice and xanax has been the hardest by far to stay away from while reducing. I have always respected and loved Alans posts but would have to say that everyone reacts differently...being on the drug is no problem going off is another issue completely. Also xanax interferes with deep sleep or r.e.m. cycle so after years of use you actually screw up your sleep patterns. I slept like a baby for two years on xanax...the third year my sleep became very errratic. I also would best describe my long term benzo use as being quite dissonnected over a long period of time. I no longer had any spiritual feelings and was unable to produce any....for some this may not be a problem but for me working a 12 step program was a huge detriment. I became personlly disonnected from family and friends and had a almost too casual approach to situations that required true feelings or emotions. This is of course just my experience many many many have not had this and are quite happy on benzos. The long term dulling effect on my life also put me into my first real depresssion. Panic sucks, benzos work, sometimes they stop working and they are like all drugs side effects do occur with every drug nothing is harmless. Proceed with caution if you nedd img to sleep in 6 months than if you need 2 mg in 2 years and by year 3 if you need 4 mg.....than you will be in the position I am in. The panics are worse now coming off xanax than prior to going on xanax so use it wisely. If you can maintain the same dosage over a long period than go for it. I on the other hand once again proved to myself that almost any mood altering drug no matter how helpfull becomes aproblem for me.
Gil
poster:gilbert
thread:94969
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020222/msgs/95091.html