Discussions that mention xanax

I've been taking medication for anxiety and panic attacks for about 2 years, but it wasn't Xanax. Due to some side effects (hormote-related) I had to stop my regular medication and now am waiting for an appointment with a psychiatrist in about a month. In the meantime, my regular doctor said has me on Alprozalam (Xanax). My main problem is insomnia and I have to take 0.75 mg of the thing to sleep through the night. I've only been taking it for a little over a week, but will have to be on it before I can see a psychiatrist next month. I am scared to death about getting addicted to the thing!! I tried not taking it at night, and I just can't sleep (my muscles are tense and twitching a little and nothing helps until I take Xanax). And the next day I feel a anxious, too.
Does anybody have any suggestions? Should I try to taper off little by little even if it means no sleep? How long will insomnia last do you think? Also, I read about taking Melatonin with Xanax and how it helps some people to get off it. I've tried it on a couple of nights, but with no results.
Any help will be appreciated!

You should not be addicted to Xanax after a week. Can you try something over the counter like Sominex instead, it's the same exact ingredient used in Tylenol PM & Benadryl (diphenhydramine I think?) Still I wouldn't even use that too many nights in a row. I take it once in a blue moon when I can't sleep.

Quote from lisulya:

I tried Tylenol PM, and even hypnosis tapes to help me sleep, but my problem is muscle tension that wouldn't go away. Is there any muscle relaxant I can take that's over the counter?

Percogesic. It's made by Vicks and is over the counter. You can find it at Eckerd's.

Don't take it with your Xanax, though

Quote from lisulya:

I've been taking medication for anxiety and panic attacks for about 2 years, but it wasn't Xanax. Due to some side effects (hormote-related) I had to stop my regular medication and now am waiting for an appointment with a psychiatrist in about a month. In the meantime, my regular doctor said has me on Alprozalam (Xanax). My main problem is insomnia and I have to take 0.75 mg of the thing to sleep through the night. I've only been taking it for a little over a week, but will have to be on it before I can see a psychiatrist next month. I am scared to death about getting addicted to the thing!! I tried not taking it at night, and I just can't sleep (my muscles are tense and twitching a little and nothing helps until I take Xanax). And the next day I feel a anxious, too.
Does anybody have any suggestions? Should I try to taper off little by little even if it means no sleep? How long will insomnia last do you think? Also, I read about taking Melatonin with Xanax and how it helps some people to get off it. I've tried it on a couple of nights, but with no results.
Any help will be appreciated!

I don't know what you took before for anxiety but most anti-anxiety meds will cause or worsen pre-existing insomnia after time, since anxiety chemicals and sleep chemicals are related. You might need to take a drug vacation for natural sleep to return.

OTC sleeping aids are only antihistamine and will not cause much trouble but they also aren't all that effective over a long period, so you may want to try for a few nights only. Valerian Root type aids are supposed to be very good for some people. Sleepytime tea or milk with nightime calcium is also a good natural sleep-inducer.