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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MissyMissy on June 28, 2001, at 0:24:38
Any similar experiences? Any alternative suggestions? I don't have to take one very often, but they really come in handy for anxiety attacks. .25mg did nothing, and .5mg worked well, BUT made me almost too tired to function...
Posted by kazoo on June 28, 2001, at 1:29:53
In reply to xanax - ++for panic, but makes me TIRED??, posted by MissyMissy on June 28, 2001, at 0:24:38
> Any similar experiences? Any alternative suggestions? I don't have to take one very often, but they really come in handy for anxiety attacks. .25mg did nothing, and .5mg worked well, BUT made me almost too tired to function...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^And this is because XANAX is a depressant, my dear, and if you stop to think about the word "depressant," you will come to the realization that it's derived from the infinitive form of the verb "to depress." Now what does that mean? It means "to lessen the activity or force of; to weaken; to slow down"; ergo, your tiredness. Q.E.D.
What I would do is to go back to the 0.25 mgs. dose and stick with it, even though you feel it may not be working. You don't say how long you were on the 0.25 dose, so it could very well be that you haven't been on this dosage long enough to give it a fair shake. And this seems to be a perennial problem with people who feel their medication loses its effectiveness over time: they automatically pump up the dose, and then suffer the subsequent side effects of too much.
Drugs aren't just minor miracles, they're major ones, but they need a chance to work.
kazoo
Posted by Cece on June 28, 2001, at 5:49:16
In reply to Re: xanax - ++for panic, but makes me TIRED?? » MissyMissy, posted by kazoo on June 28, 2001, at 1:29:53
Actually, there is some evidence, reported to me by my pdoc after a conference a couple of years ago, that for some people xanax can have anti-depressant effects. This has seemed to be so for me, and I find it to be very useful (combined with a med 'cocktail' for my BPII).
I take: .25mg morning, .25mg afternoon, and .75 mg night. The larger night dose helps slow me down for sleep. The lighter daytime doses have a subtle calming effect. If I'm starting to 'spin out', I take an additional .25mg as needed (not often).
Your mileage may vary!
Cece
> > Any similar experiences? Any alternative suggestions? I don't have to take one very often, but they really come in handy for anxiety attacks. .25mg did nothing, and .5mg worked well, BUT made me almost too tired to function...
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
> And this is because XANAX is a depressant, my dear, and if you stop to think about the word "depressant," you will come to the realization that it's derived from the infinitive form of the verb "to depress.">
> kazoo
Posted by Maisy on June 28, 2001, at 7:02:35
In reply to xanax - ++for panic, but makes me TIRED??, posted by MissyMissy on June 28, 2001, at 0:24:38
You may find that the tiredness diminishes with time as your body gets used to the med. Also, I agree that you might want to give the 0.25mg a try and take it on a regular basis (my doc let me take it every four when I was going thru an especially rough time.)In my own experience, I have found it better to take it every day for a few weeks to break the cycle of panic and then to taper off. Now, I don't wait for a full blown panic, at the slightest hint I take one to short circuit the attack. Hope this information helps.
Posted by kazoo on June 29, 2001, at 1:44:36
In reply to Re: xanax - ++for panic, but makes me TIRED?? » kazoo, posted by Cece on June 28, 2001, at 5:49:16
> Actually, there is some evidence ...that ... xanax can have anti-depressant effects.
^^^^^^^^^
You're right.
When XANAX was first released to the teeming masses, the company claimed that it would "impart a slight anti-depressant" effect.
When do I wake up for this event, as this is not-so for anyone I know, myself included.
By any other name, it's still a depressant born out of the benzo class.
(a zippy) kazzo
Posted by Waterlily on June 29, 2001, at 15:27:29
In reply to xanax - ++for panic, but makes me TIRED??, posted by MissyMissy on June 28, 2001, at 0:24:38
> Any similar experiences? Any alternative suggestions? I don't have to take one very often, but they really come in handy for anxiety attacks. .25mg did nothing, and .5mg worked well, BUT made me almost too tired to function...
I used to take Xanax on occasion for acute anxiety (like when flying on an airplane) and had a similar experience. I was able to tweak the dose so that I was riding the line between it not working and it causing me to zonk out. Last year I experienced panic attacks for the first time and Xanax was the obvious short term solution, but I explained the dosing problem to my psychiatrist and he prescribed Ativan instead. It works much better for me and the .5 mg dose decreases the anxiety without causing sleepiness. Fortunately, I haven't needed any for several months :-)
Posted by gilbert on June 29, 2001, at 21:15:24
In reply to Re: xanax - ++for panic, but makes me TIRED??, posted by Waterlily on June 29, 2001, at 15:27:29
Xanax has worked very well for me either steady dosing or intermittent....prn.....It does have and anitdepressant effect fro me but I believe I am wired backwards. The ssris's actually made me more depressed. The xanax if dosed properly and taken for a long enough time period will have an anti anxiety effect without the tiredness...I am on a maintenance dose of 2 to 3 5mg pills per day. I run over 25 miles per week. Work around 50-60 hours per week and find I have no nasty side effects like antidepressants.....Once in a while it will cause lethargy but as you can tell from my exercise and work schedule not enough to get in the way. I think this drug is way underused in todays ssri pushing society. I also have never had any trouble either stopping or starting the drug....It has been a life saver.
Gil
Posted by Bijou on June 30, 2001, at 21:51:54
In reply to Re: xanax - ++for panic, but makes me TIRED??, posted by gilbert on June 29, 2001, at 21:15:24
> Xanax has worked very well for me either steady dosing or intermittent....prn.....It does have and anitdepressant effect fro me but I believe I am wired backwards. The ssris's actually made me more depressed. The xanax if dosed properly and taken for a long enough time period will have an anti anxiety effect without the tiredness...I am on a maintenance dose of 2 to 3 5mg pills per day. I run over 25 miles per week. Work around 50-60 hours per week and find I have no nasty side effects like antidepressants.....Once in a while it will cause lethargy but as you can tell from my exercise and work schedule not enough to get in the way. I think this drug is way underused in todays ssri pushing society. I also have never had any trouble either stopping or starting the drug....It has been a life saver.
>
> Gil>I'v been on Xanex for 9 years and just until recently when they put me on Wellbutrin,I was tired all the time,wanted to sleep more than anything else,infact 4 years ago I had to use cocaine to get up in the morning and get through work,I'm off that now,but I don't work now either. You should ask your doctor for wellbutrin,I think it would help you to combat the fatigue caused by xanex....
This is the end of the thread.
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