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Consumer Review: I Think I'm Addicted To Xanax. I Increased My Dosage And Now The Pharmacy Won't Refill My Prescription.
I have been prescribed Xanax for anxiety (1mg three times daily, plus 2mg one hour before bed). This is 5mg per day. I came to the Internet to research this drug. What I seem to be finding is something of a "theme" that it is very addictive. People have absolute nightmare stories about getting off this drug.
I am worried because I have been taking the Xanax for about 2 years now. It seemed to help my anxiety attacks at first, but now the dose I take does not seem to have the same effect as before. I started to exceed my prescribed dosage. Of course, I ran out of the drug too soon and the pharmacy will not refill it early because it is a "controlled substance" under federal law.
I called my doctor and asked him to increase the dosage. He said he is willing to double the dose (to 2mg three times daily plus 4 mg an hour before bed). This is 10 mg per day, which is the maximum that the manufacturer, Upjohn, recommends that any person takes. But even Upjohn acknowledges that Xanax is probably addictive at that kind of dosage level.
But now I am worried because people are saying they became very addicted at much lower doses than I have been taking, and after a much shorter time than I have been taking Xanax.
When I used my prescription too soon, I ran out, and during that time I felt so bad I was almost suicidal. It seemed that my brain could not form words and sentences correctly. I could not concentrate or think straight at all. I had muscle spasms and twitching and insomnia and an "ulcer" feeling in my stomach and even sharp, shooting chest pains.
I am afraid now because if I don't take the Xanax, I develop a sort of "cognitive retardation." It's hard to explain, but I was never like that before taking Xanax and I'm not like that when I do take the Xanax. I only get that when I start to WITHDRAW from the Xanax. I feel like my brain just can't work right at all. It feels physically "numb" (with about a dozen other awful symptoms as well). If I am having these problems at 5 mg per day, what will happen at 10 mg per day?
Can anybody give me advice about this drug? Thank you.
Response #1
Well, I would like to give you some advice. It is very clear to me that your intake of xanax is way too high. With the side effects that you have mentioned, you should not be taking this drug. Since xanax can be very addicting, I feel you should begin slowly weaning yourself off of this drug. It is causing more damage than good. You may need to even consider drug rehab for this. Without realizing it, I'm sorry to put it this way, but you may have become addicted to xanax. You need to come completely off of this drug and let your system recover from xanax. 10mg a day is way beyond measure in my opinion, especially when there are other prescription drugs which are very effective and NON addicting. You have become a desperate xanax user. Even though you probably had no intentions of getting hooked...it happened. I know its hard to face, but there's no other way around your problem. Instead of xanax becoming the answer to your anxiety, it has became the problem. Seek medical attention if you feel you should regarding the side effects.
I just started using xanax this past year. I tend to get extreme anxiety in certain situations. I take the lowest dosage, which is .12mg a day, just 3 times a week. Sometimes I take .25mg a day. I am very careful about becoming dependent. I feel this is just enough of a dosage to take the nervous edge off. I allow a certain amount of anxiety in my life. I don't think it's necessary to totally try to eliminate anxiety altogether. A certain amount of anxiety is normal. I hope my advice has helped. Hang in there (don't panic). There is hope for you.
Sincerely.
Rose
Response #2
I've been there. Xanax is an extremely addictive drug. It helped me for the first few months get through a difficult time in my life without having things like my work-life fall apart due to anxiety and sleeplessness. But, after the first few months, I was taking Xanax only as a way to deal with normal problems in life, like stress related to having a meeting with my boss or public speaking. After the first year, I was taking Xanax only to feel normal.
So, my suggestion is to start trying to get off it now. It will be a long road, so the sooner you start, the sooner you will be free of it.
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