Posted by worrier on July 29, 2003, at 21:25:38
In reply to Xanax, Xanax XR, and addiction, posted by MissouriGal on July 29, 2003, at 13:21:38
> First, some history since I'm a newbie. :)
>
> Diagnosed with PD in 1989. Been on many different meds over the years. Latest prescribed is Zoloft 100mg qd, and Xanax XR, BID. I don't know the miligram dosage on the Xanax XR. And yes, even though it's an XR, he wants me to take it twice a day, not once.
>
> I was taking Xanax .5mg before now. Prescription was 1 tablet TID as needed for anxiety. Well, this was prescribed to me LAST June (over a year ago) 100 pills with 3 refills. I never got a refill on those 100 pills, and I still have 7 of them left. Needless to say, I was not taking them 3 times a day, I just took them when my anxiety levels were maxing out on me. Current psychiatrist was not the prescribing physician of the regular Xanax.
>
> When I saw him Friday, he asked me why I don't take the Xanax 3 times a day, why I just take it when I feel I need it. I'm terrified of getting addicted to it. That's why. From what I've read, you shouldn't really take it long-term anyways... I think the recommended time limit was 8 weeks or less. So, he suggested the Xanax XR, twice a day instead of the regular Xanax 3 times a day. (Come to think of it, I do think he mentioned it still being the .5 mg even with the XR. Can't be for certain though.)
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> Well, my insurance won't pay for the XR, and I don't have $300 to plunk down for OOP expense for it. He said that if my insurance wouldn't cover it, that he'd just prescribe the regular Xanax.
>
> On just .5 mg TID, how much of a risk do I run of addiction on this stuff? Yes, I know I need to take the meds as prescribed, but I also know that it's one of the most abused drugs out there and the addiction rates are high. That's what I'm scared of. I also know that I'm on the next to lowest dosage possible, and to be honest it does work for me quite well, WHEN I NEED IT. If 100 pills have lasted me over a year that would pretty much clue someone in that I don't take it that often. Even sometimes when I'm in the middle of a full blown attack I don't take it. I deal with the attacks the best I can unless I absolutely feel that I need it.
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> OK, maybe I'm paranoid. I dunno. I'm just very hesitant about taking Xanax for any extended length of time because of the risk for addiction. If anyone has any information based on their experience with long term usage of Xanax, I'd appreciate the feedback. Sorry to have rambled on here.....> Hey there, I've been (actually still am to some degree) in your shoes. To make a long story short, I've had panic attacks for nearly 20 years...never sought help, just sort of learned to ride them out. About a year ago they got so frequent and intense that I went to a DR. for them after lots of unsuccessful trials with various SSRIs I ended up with not just panic disorder, but generalized anxiety as well. Finally went to a pdoc who prescribed xanax .5mg 2-3 times daily. So I took .25mg once or twice a day. Kept going back and reporting very little improvement....after alot of arguing and talking we decided that perhaps I ought to really take the dose he prescribed. So I started taking .25 3 or 4 times daily....still not what he suggested. At that point it ocurred to me that I was probably not at high risk for addiction....people who are tend to increase the dose alot and pretty rapidly against their docs advice. We finally settled on 2mg of xanax xr in the morning and .5 to 1mg of regular old xanax at night.It really has helped. The xanax xr is alot smoother...you don't feel it hit you and wear off like the regular stuff....though it is expensive, even with my insurance its $50 a month. Anyway, point being, the benzos are safe meds if used as directed and you certainly don't sound like you are at much of a risk of abuse or addiction. Maybe do what I did and make a deal with your doc and yourself that you'll really truly take his prescribed dose for 2 weeks and see how you feel. It sort of hit me one day ...why was I paying good money to see this doctor if I wasn't going to listen to him? Good Luck to you, whatever you decide. Worrier.
poster:worrier
thread:246484
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030728/msgs/246597.html