New here, and I got issues. lol

[Stitcherladyxx]

Hello everyone. I'm happily married, 33, have 3 kids. Been under a lot of stress lately. I've had 'anxiety' all of my life. But lately, I've had a hysterectomy (kept ovaries), Grandfather died earlier this year, and I went through heck weaning off Effexor. I was put on the Effexor for the anxiety issues and it worked except I was almost 'too' calm, and I missed a dose and it caused a seizure. I have an arachnoid cyst between the brain and the skull, and I take Dilantin for it. So, off the Effexor I went lol.

So, here's were I stand. About a week out of every month, around ovulation time, I'm in h e double L. I'm just SO tired of it. I have Xanax (.25mg) that I can take 3 times a day for anxiety. Well, for some reason, this month has been particularly bad. It like a horrid feeling of the world is going to end, or I'm going to die, or something horrible is going to happen to someone I love. While I can shut the mind off, the worst part of this is the 'physical' effects.

The Xanax really helps. It's like I can feel this baramater of panic sinking after I take one. But wanting some personal experiences with it, how safe is it? I only take it during the worst times.

I would also appreciate tips to help cope. I'm going to try and get some therapy/help, depending of my insurance will cover it. Does hormones and such play into it, and if so is there something I can take/do to help alleiviate it? I'm sorry to be longwinded. I feel so on edge and am just tired. I know all is well, now if my mind and body would just believe it LOL.

Thank you.

[ocdengineer]

This is exactly the question I posed on the Xanax thread about long term use. The verdict is out on the long term use of Xanax. Many younger doctors are hesitant to prescribe it because it has addictive properties. However, it is far more effective than SSRI's from what I have been reading here and from my own personal experiences. It really has no side effects except drowsiness which goes away with long term use. .25 mg is a really low dose 3x per day, so I would say you could ramp that up a little and not have much of problem getting off the drug. I think 85% were able to wean off of up to 4 mg and 95% were able to wean off of the placebo? It was something like that. There is withdrawl and it can get you really quickly even at low doses. I made the mistake of going cold turkey when I started feeling better and it caused me anxiety and symptoms that were worse than the original anxiety. I still take it though and find that it is the only thing that really helps. I would suggest you speak to your doctor. I know at first your liver enzymes adjust to digest the new drug and this can cause the need for more of the drug, but everyone that I have spoken to has plateued under 4 mg which is still considered a fairly low dose. I am taking 1.5 mg per day and have found that it is losing its potency so I am going to increase my dose if possible after my next doctor's appointment. I would suggest you do the same. Also, it usually dosen't last until your next dose if you take it three times a day. I have been taking it 4 times a day so that I spread the drug out over more time. That should help some too. You can also consider Xanax XR which is the extended release version of the same drug.

Good luck.

[neshee]

Hello! I have had little experience with xanax. I took it as needed for awhile, but had side effects and stopped. I am VERY sensitive to meds. I didn't get my anxiety until December 2005, after I had major surgery. So I am "new" to this. But hate every single minute and want my old self back. So, as to what to do to help...deep breathing works for me, if I can concentrate. I also go to therapy...that has really helped. I have heard that CBT can help, but I don't think my therapist does that, but will mention it. I was on meds, but got off from them so that i could get preg. That hasn't happened so far and I am getting frustrated. I do also get more anxiety around that time of the month. It is MUCH worse. I have a question for you, too. When you had your children, were you still on meds? I am debating on going back on them and still TTC or waiting until I am better (if that ever happens). Just curious as to what you did. Thanks, and good luck.

[Stitcherladyxx]

I wasn't only anything till just this year. The panic attacks didn't really set in till after my first seizure, and that was when my youngest was around 3. So I figured the siezure triggered something. I've always been 'flighty' and panicy, even through childhood. But that knock you out, can't breath, gonna die panic attack..that wasn't until after the seizure. My heart started slamming one night, sweatier than heck, and my Mother lived across the street. 2 in the morning and I walked over. I thought for sure I was dieing. She took my pulse, looked me over, told me to breathe....then said "Congratulations, you just had your very first panic attack". lol

I took a Xanax before bed last night, and I haven't had anything at all today. So hopefully the worst is over. I'm feeling pretty good...a bit flighty and on edge, but nothing doomish.

Thinking about pregnancy, I think that was the one time in life I was calm LOL. Hormonal and emotional, but calm. I wonder what it is hormone wise that sets it off?

[808Lion]

Originally Posted by ocdengineer

This is exactly the question I posed on the Xanax thread about long term use. The verdict is out on the long term use of Xanax. Many younger doctors are hesitant to prescribe it because it has addictive properties. However, it is far more effective than SSRI's from what I have been reading here and from my own personal experiences. It really has no side effects except drowsiness which goes away with long term use...

i think it's important to note that there is a distinct difference between xanax and ssri's so your comment comparing the 2 might be a little confusing...
xanax is a benzo, which are used to treat the immediate symptoms of an anxiety / panic attack...
ssri's are not intended to be used to treat a specific instance of an anxiety / panic attack, but are supposed to help regulate you on a more long term basis...
by keeping more serotonin in the brain, it's supposed to help regulate and lower the instances and severity of anxiety / panic over the long term...
hope that makes sense...

and it's pretty untrue to say that xanax (or benzos in general) don't have any side effects...
different people react differently to them all the time...
i used to take ativan (lorazepam) and was lucky enough to be able to ween off with no side effects, withdrawal symptoms, but benzos are VERY capable of producing some pretty uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms for a lot of people, unfortunately including SEVERE anxiety... ironic ain't it?... lol...

anyway... just my $0.02 and thought i'd contribute...
i'm not trying to talk anyone OUT of taking benzos (or any other prescribed medications for that matter), just thought i'd provide some info... food for thought...
if the xanax is working... GREAT...
if it's not... i think you should talk to your p-doc about maybe upping the dosage or considering alternatives... :-)