Using Xanax Safely?

[AngieBaby77]

Hello everyone. I have severe chronic health anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder and what I think is very mild OCD, and I am on 10 mg of Lexapro. Doc also gave me .5 mg Xanax and told me to take it two or three times per day or as needed.

I don't want to become physically dependent on Xanax or build up a tolerance. So I don't take it daily even though I probably need to for my daily anxiety. I notice I feel a lot better on days when I take it. I feel better, I sleep better. I smile more, I'm not as irritable. My muscles don't get all clenched from panic. It's such a relief.

What I am wondering is how many days should go by between dosing to avoid becoming physically dependent on the Xanax? 1 day? 2 days? Longer than that? If I can take them every other day that would be good, but is that too close together? I was thinking 2 days at the least in between.

If I sound paranoid, it's because I am. I am 29 years old and I have watched my mother battle a very destructive benzo and painkiller addiction my whole life, at this point she's basically destroyed herself and her life.

Ok...I'm eager to hear suggestions on how to use Xanax as often as possible without getting physically dependent on it...from anyone with knowledge or experience on this subject. Thanks!

[zeyavia]

well i am going through the same thing only i have only taken it once so far...im confused as well on how much to take and when...
the higher the dose and more you take it...is what depends on if you become dependant on it or not...so id try to take as low a dose as possible and go from there...im not sure why he gave you .5 of that...my dr. gave me .25 but .5 isnt bad at all...but is the lexapro helping...????i mean do you still feel the need for the xanax...how long have you been on the ssri???the dr. gave me lexapro as well but i never took it...and im 29 to....WOW...lol...but anyway yeah id just take it as needed but at a dose of .5 i dont think you will have a problem...

[marian100]

I take buspar for anxiety with .25 xanax as needed. I might take half of that once a week. Some days, like today, I will take a half twice. Very upsetting day and mind wouldn't focus and cried alot. Got stuff done after I took the xanax. I think the dependency comes from taking it on a daily basis and then building a tolerance to it. So you take more. Just be careful. Godbless

[korgiee]

I take Lexapro and just started this for two weeks. I have been on Xanax for year soff and on. Sometimes I could go 2 months without taking one and like now I am taking 2 a day. He hopes when the lexapro really kicks in I will not need the xanax as often. i am perimenopausal and that has a lot to do with what is going on in my body. I talk to another girl on the message board and she told me to stop fighting it. If I need it take it. SO i am and I feel so much better. I just can't walk around all day talking to myself should I take it or should I not. I am hoping the Lexapro will slowly take me off the Xanax, Again I have had this perscritption for many years. I could go a month at a time and not need one and them need them 3 days in a row. It's our bodies. They grow through all kinds of changes. Alyc