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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MissouriGal on July 29, 2003, at 13:21:38
First, some history since I'm a newbie. :)
Diagnosed with PD in 1989. Been on many different meds over the years. Latest prescribed is Zoloft 100mg qd, and Xanax XR, BID. I don't know the miligram dosage on the Xanax XR. And yes, even though it's an XR, he wants me to take it twice a day, not once.
I was taking Xanax .5mg before now. Prescription was 1 tablet TID as needed for anxiety. Well, this was prescribed to me LAST June (over a year ago) 100 pills with 3 refills. I never got a refill on those 100 pills, and I still have 7 of them left. Needless to say, I was not taking them 3 times a day, I just took them when my anxiety levels were maxing out on me. Current psychiatrist was not the prescribing physician of the regular Xanax.
When I saw him Friday, he asked me why I don't take the Xanax 3 times a day, why I just take it when I feel I need it. I'm terrified of getting addicted to it. That's why. From what I've read, you shouldn't really take it long-term anyways... I think the recommended time limit was 8 weeks or less. So, he suggested the Xanax XR, twice a day instead of the regular Xanax 3 times a day. (Come to think of it, I do think he mentioned it still being the .5 mg even with the XR. Can't be for certain though.)
Well, my insurance won't pay for the XR, and I don't have $300 to plunk down for OOP expense for it. He said that if my insurance wouldn't cover it, that he'd just prescribe the regular Xanax.
On just .5 mg TID, how much of a risk do I run of addiction on this stuff? Yes, I know I need to take the meds as prescribed, but I also know that it's one of the most abused drugs out there and the addiction rates are high. That's what I'm scared of. I also know that I'm on the next to lowest dosage possible, and to be honest it does work for me quite well, WHEN I NEED IT. If 100 pills have lasted me over a year that would pretty much clue someone in that I don't take it that often. Even sometimes when I'm in the middle of a full blown attack I don't take it. I deal with the attacks the best I can unless I absolutely feel that I need it.
OK, maybe I'm paranoid. I dunno. I'm just very hesitant about taking Xanax for any extended length of time because of the risk for addiction. If anyone has any information based on their experience with long term usage of Xanax, I'd appreciate the feedback. Sorry to have rambled on here.....
Posted by worrier on July 29, 2003, at 21:25:38
In reply to Xanax, Xanax XR, and addiction, posted by MissouriGal on July 29, 2003, at 13:21:38
> First, some history since I'm a newbie. :)
>
> Diagnosed with PD in 1989. Been on many different meds over the years. Latest prescribed is Zoloft 100mg qd, and Xanax XR, BID. I don't know the miligram dosage on the Xanax XR. And yes, even though it's an XR, he wants me to take it twice a day, not once.
>
> I was taking Xanax .5mg before now. Prescription was 1 tablet TID as needed for anxiety. Well, this was prescribed to me LAST June (over a year ago) 100 pills with 3 refills. I never got a refill on those 100 pills, and I still have 7 of them left. Needless to say, I was not taking them 3 times a day, I just took them when my anxiety levels were maxing out on me. Current psychiatrist was not the prescribing physician of the regular Xanax.
>
> When I saw him Friday, he asked me why I don't take the Xanax 3 times a day, why I just take it when I feel I need it. I'm terrified of getting addicted to it. That's why. From what I've read, you shouldn't really take it long-term anyways... I think the recommended time limit was 8 weeks or less. So, he suggested the Xanax XR, twice a day instead of the regular Xanax 3 times a day. (Come to think of it, I do think he mentioned it still being the .5 mg even with the XR. Can't be for certain though.)
>
> Well, my insurance won't pay for the XR, and I don't have $300 to plunk down for OOP expense for it. He said that if my insurance wouldn't cover it, that he'd just prescribe the regular Xanax.
>
> On just .5 mg TID, how much of a risk do I run of addiction on this stuff? Yes, I know I need to take the meds as prescribed, but I also know that it's one of the most abused drugs out there and the addiction rates are high. That's what I'm scared of. I also know that I'm on the next to lowest dosage possible, and to be honest it does work for me quite well, WHEN I NEED IT. If 100 pills have lasted me over a year that would pretty much clue someone in that I don't take it that often. Even sometimes when I'm in the middle of a full blown attack I don't take it. I deal with the attacks the best I can unless I absolutely feel that I need it.
>
> OK, maybe I'm paranoid. I dunno. I'm just very hesitant about taking Xanax for any extended length of time because of the risk for addiction. If anyone has any information based on their experience with long term usage of Xanax, I'd appreciate the feedback. Sorry to have rambled on here.....> Hey there, I've been (actually still am to some degree) in your shoes. To make a long story short, I've had panic attacks for nearly 20 years...never sought help, just sort of learned to ride them out. About a year ago they got so frequent and intense that I went to a DR. for them after lots of unsuccessful trials with various SSRIs I ended up with not just panic disorder, but generalized anxiety as well. Finally went to a pdoc who prescribed xanax .5mg 2-3 times daily. So I took .25mg once or twice a day. Kept going back and reporting very little improvement....after alot of arguing and talking we decided that perhaps I ought to really take the dose he prescribed. So I started taking .25 3 or 4 times daily....still not what he suggested. At that point it ocurred to me that I was probably not at high risk for addiction....people who are tend to increase the dose alot and pretty rapidly against their docs advice. We finally settled on 2mg of xanax xr in the morning and .5 to 1mg of regular old xanax at night.It really has helped. The xanax xr is alot smoother...you don't feel it hit you and wear off like the regular stuff....though it is expensive, even with my insurance its $50 a month. Anyway, point being, the benzos are safe meds if used as directed and you certainly don't sound like you are at much of a risk of abuse or addiction. Maybe do what I did and make a deal with your doc and yourself that you'll really truly take his prescribed dose for 2 weeks and see how you feel. It sort of hit me one day ...why was I paying good money to see this doctor if I wasn't going to listen to him? Good Luck to you, whatever you decide. Worrier.
Posted by Viridis on July 30, 2003, at 0:02:24
In reply to Xanax, Xanax XR, and addiction, posted by MissouriGal on July 29, 2003, at 13:21:38
Addiction is the situation in which you keep increasing the dose of a drug (or anything else) despite it having a harmful effect, let the rest of your life fall apart just to get a "fix", become obsessed with the substance, crave it, etc.
There's no credible evidence that Xanax causes addiction for the vast majority of users; this is simply a myth that's often repeated by people (including doctors) who don't know any better. There is a good deal of evidence, however, to indicate that anxiety patients in particular are unlikely to become addicted to Xanax and other benzodiazepines.
What most people really mean when they talk about "addiction" is medical dependency, and this is very common with benzos and a lot of other drugs. If you take Xanax regularly, it can be dangerous to simply stop, because your nervous system gets accustomed to it. So, you have to taper off gradually or you may experience withdrawal. This is also the case with most of the expensive, still-patented antidepressants that drug companies and doctors now push for anxiety, and often the withdrawal from these is much worse than that from Xanax etc. For example, you're taking Zoloft -- that has the potential for a serious withdrawal syndrome if you quit it after using it for a while, so are you addicted to it?
Dependency isn't limited to psychiatric drugs; insulin, various blood pressure meds, and so on are dangerous to stop suddenly if you've been taking them for a while, but no one talks about an "addiction" to insulin, for example.
There are people who abuse Xanax and some who actually become addicted to it, but this is pretty rare for those who have a legitimate prescription and a good reason for taking it. Given your cautious approach, I seriously doubt you're a candidate for addiction.
If you do start taking it regularly and find yourself craving it, escalating your dose, and letting it interfere with your life, then that would be a cause for concern. If you use it regularly at the same dose and feel uncomfortable if you miss a dose, well, you're medically dependent just like someone who takes Paxil, Effexor, Zoloft, insulin, etc. is. It might not be an ideal situation, but it sure beats constant anxiety and certainly doesn't represent "addiction".
If Xanax is a highly "addictive" drug, as some people say, then a huge segment of the population who use various medications for other long-term ailments (blood pressure, arthritis, depression, migraines, diabetes, etc.) would have to be considered addicts too.
Posted by CC67 on July 30, 2003, at 0:16:34
In reply to Re: Xanax, Xanax XR, and addiction, posted by worrier on July 29, 2003, at 21:25:38
Hi Missourigal,
I know what you mean as far as not taking as much as you are pescribed.
I have been on xanax for some time,and I sometimes don't take it in the midst of extreme anxiety. I finally recentlly have started to use it for my times of anxiety,without this fear of becoming addicted.
My pdochas always told me not to worry about the small amount I am pescribed. 0.05x(3) daily as needed. I have cracked the 0.5mg in half quite a bit also. I dont have and never have had the desire to abuse it. I was always concerned with the pdoc thinking I would,which was my own paranoid thinking,LOL.Since it worked so well.!!
I agree with worrier,benzos are safe if used as directed.The small doseof even 2-3mg a day is not excessive from what my pdoc states.
Sounds like you have had "great self control" with controling them,and I sure could not afford the XR,I pay around $3.00 for #90 generic pills.
thats a small price to pay for a drug that works so well for me and I can take one if I need it,only if I need it. Take care,CC
Posted by jerrympls on July 31, 2003, at 2:16:06
In reply to Xanax, Xanax XR, and addiction, posted by MissouriGal on July 29, 2003, at 13:21:38
> First, some history since I'm a newbie. :)
>
> Diagnosed with PD in 1989. Been on many different meds over the years. Latest prescribed is Zoloft 100mg qd, and Xanax XR, BID. I don't know the miligram dosage on the Xanax XR. And yes, even though it's an XR, he wants me to take it twice a day, not once.
>
> I was taking Xanax .5mg before now. Prescription was 1 tablet TID as needed for anxiety. Well, this was prescribed to me LAST June (over a year ago) 100 pills with 3 refills. I never got a refill on those 100 pills, and I still have 7 of them left. Needless to say, I was not taking them 3 times a day, I just took them when my anxiety levels were maxing out on me. Current psychiatrist was not the prescribing physician of the regular Xanax.
>
> When I saw him Friday, he asked me why I don't take the Xanax 3 times a day, why I just take it when I feel I need it. I'm terrified of getting addicted to it. That's why. From what I've read, you shouldn't really take it long-term anyways... I think the recommended time limit was 8 weeks or less. So, he suggested the Xanax XR, twice a day instead of the regular Xanax 3 times a day. (Come to think of it, I do think he mentioned it still being the .5 mg even with the XR. Can't be for certain though.)
>
> Well, my insurance won't pay for the XR, and I don't have $300 to plunk down for OOP expense for it. He said that if my insurance wouldn't cover it, that he'd just prescribe the regular Xanax.
>
> On just .5 mg TID, how much of a risk do I run of addiction on this stuff? Yes, I know I need to take the meds as prescribed, but I also know that it's one of the most abused drugs out there and the addiction rates are high. That's what I'm scared of. I also know that I'm on the next to lowest dosage possible, and to be honest it does work for me quite well, WHEN I NEED IT. If 100 pills have lasted me over a year that would pretty much clue someone in that I don't take it that often. Even sometimes when I'm in the middle of a full blown attack I don't take it. I deal with the attacks the best I can unless I absolutely feel that I need it.
>
> OK, maybe I'm paranoid. I dunno. I'm just very hesitant about taking Xanax for any extended length of time because of the risk for addiction. If anyone has any information based on their experience with long term usage of Xanax, I'd appreciate the feedback. Sorry to have rambled on here.....
In my opinion - Xanax is made for panic and anxiety and works wonders. If you read the fine print on MANY medications, SSRIs included, they say that they haven't been tested for longer than 8 weeks or so. UNless you've had a major problem with addiction in the past, I wouldn't losee sleep over the possibility of becoming addicted. They say in SOMINEX ads (an over the counter sleep remedy - that's an antihistamine) that it's non-habit forming - which is kinda bull in my opinion. So, I wouldn't worry. If it's helping with your anxiety and you're lucky enough to have a psych doc willing to prescribe benzos - one who's not a wimp and knows what he/she is doing, then I say stick with it.
My two cents.
Jerry
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