Anyone addicted to xanax?

[sweetums]

My family doctor prescribed my alprazolam...3mgs aday along with 400mgs of Wellbutrin....my physciatrist is concerned about me getting addicited to the alprazolam...we wants me to cut back on them, but I just feel I can't right now...anyone addicted to this drug....should I be more concerned than I am? I've been on them for about 3 months now and my prescription goes through December.

[Twist Of Fate!]

Originally Posted by sweetums

My family doctor prescribed my alprazolam...3mgs aday along with 400mgs of Wellbutrin....my physciatrist is concerned about me getting addicited to the alprazolam...we wants me to cut back on them, but I just feel I can't right now...anyone addicted to this drug....should I be more concerned than I am? I've been on them for about 3 months now and my prescription goes through December.

Are you abusing them? If not, He is afraid of you becoming dependent NOT addicted, and yes, 999 people an this board are dependent to the drug Im one of them.....


CADE

[howard678]

Originally Posted by Twist Of Fate!

Are you abusing them? If not, He is afraid of you becoming dependent NOT addicted, and yes, 999 people an this board are dependent to the drug Im one of them.....


CADE

Sweetums,


999... I never abused these drugs. Whether one calls it "abuse, "addiction," or "dependence," the results are still typically the same. The dose one is put on by the doc stops working at some point. This is called tolerance. Then one is "dependant," "addicted,"
"hooked." They need the drug and more of it just to feel normal. Call it what you will, the bottom line is you are trapped. So what does one do? There are several scenarios, outcomes vary.

1. Some increase their dose on their own, then go to doc who then increases it for them. Or they find another doc to do so. Or they start obtaining the drugs through shady means. Is one reason why they are such a hot item on the street and on the net.

2. The doc cuts them off, perhaps while accusing the patient of "abuse," and they cold turkey off the drugs. Many go through a withdrawal syndrome far worse and longer than herion. Some are blessed and get off easy.

3. The doc pins another label on them out of the many of 100s of various "disorders," available from our modern pseudo-scientific medical manuals, then add new chemicals to the mix. A cocktail where the patient is left having no idea what is wrong or what is causing what. All the while the patient keeps coming back to have the stew adjusted. Where this ends is anyone`s guess, possibilities, endless...

4. The patient adds others drugs on their own, boosting the effects of their available benzos (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, etc.) with alcohol or opiates. These will almost invariably be accused of abuse as well, and if they want detox, they are forced to accept this label.

In the final analysis, however, the only "abuse" that has typically gone on involves the fact that these highly addictive drugs were prescribed in the first place. Doctors put patients at real risk prescribing them for longer than a few weeks. This should never be done.

P.S. 3 mgs of Xanax a day is a lot of dope, equal to 60 mgs of Valium a day. I say "dope" because that is exactly what it is. If you are interested in freeing yourself from these drugs I can offer some suggestions. Say the word.

[sweetums]

Howard678
Well your number 4 pretty much describes me....I don't ever take more drug than prescribed, but I feel I really need them...and even then I feel I still need more so I have turned to alcohol as well.
I would like your suggestions on how to get off this drug...

[howard678]

sweetums,

It is possible you are not addicted yet. I quit after 9 months regular use of Xanax, for three months and had no withdrawal symptoms. I was on .5 mgs a day. Then though, I was entirely ignorant of the addictive nature of these drug and the potential for horrible withdrawal symptoms. I asked for more at a routine doctor visit, for sleep, and the rest is history.

I suggest making an appointment with your doctor asap and tell them you want off of the Xanax. They may support you in stopping cold, but I would request an anti-seizure medicine to take the first week just in case... If you are going to go into withdrawals, considering the short half-life of that drug, you should know it within a few days. What are withdrawals like? High anxiety, perhaps panic states, bad muscle tension, tremors, believe me, you`ll know about it. Or, the doc may prefer a fast taper off, over about 6 weeks. If either strategy produces high anxiety or distinct physical symptoms the verdict is clear, you are hooked. If not, walk away, never look back, consider yourself lucky.

If withdrawals do hit, I suggest quickly going back to your original dose and looking up the Ashton Manual on the net. Search the net under "benzo, support," and you`ll find others like you to help guide you. Plus I`ll be around. The strategy from here is to cross over to a long half life benzodiazepine, Valium particularly, and slowly wean off. You will be looking at a long journey, 6 months to a year of slow tapering. It is a pain at times. Some may suggest you go right to this plan but I personally see no need to unless you are truly hooked. I`d find out for sure first. Keep talking. :-)