Posted by Temmie on April 19, 2003, at 18:39:49
Hello friends. In addition to recent post(s) about sleep problems, I’m writing in search of info/feedback related to rekindling a dependency on Xanax. As noted elsewhere, I have chronic depression with PTSD. I believe my MD said “major depressive disorder,” but in any case, this is accompanied by anxiety. In the early 90s I had an Rx for Xanax on an as-need basis, but when I moved to a different state, I was not able to get this Rx renewed. The MD in the new state referred me to a treatment facility for detox. Silly me. I thought – with daily therapy, regular visits to the pool, walks in the woods, etc., the experience would be akin to a Golden Door sort of retreat. Of course it was much uglier than this. Despite encouragement to regard myself as an addict, I never took the Rx to get high, or other than prescribed. Which leads to questions today ....
In the last couple of months I’ve been given a new Rx for Xanax on an “as-need” basis. I’ve limited this to 1-3 daily, and on many days, did not use it at all. But then ... this new relationship I'm in got a bit tumultuous, and I also used Xanax to help with sleep problems. For three or four days or more, I was probably (didn't keep track) using six or more daily. Now, having gone without any Xanax at all for a couple of days, I’m feeling a bit jangley. :-( The membrane in my mouth feels thin, and I have that metallic sort of taste of blood in my mouth. I am also – struggling with feeling – normal, calm, and “in my skin.” Believe me, I’d feel better with a pill (.25, by the way), but I’m fighting against the need ....
My doc said I’d be okay with Xanax so long as I didn’t use it for a week or more. (Why didn’t she say that at the outset?) I wonder what I should do .... I am hanging in there – jangled feelings and all – and using Seroquel for sleep. Ack. I hate to bring this up to my MD because I’m afraid of the Rx being yanked, and Xanax is so helpful when interviewing ... dealing with presentations, etc., at work.
How does one know when enough is too much?
poster:Temmie
thread:220726
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030417/msgs/220726.html