Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 634663

Shown: posts 1 to 25 of 29. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by DDog on April 18, 2006, at 23:34:11

I have been taking. Xanax XR 3mg once daily since 8/03....Before that I was on Ativan 1 mg 4x daily for a year.
The Ativan wasn;t working so my pdoc put me on the 3mgs of Xanax XR which worked great for about 2 years or so then I started experiencing a mild depression

Which I think was from the Xanax he says no.....Anyway I started taking Carisoprodol 3x a day not prescribed by the pdoc beween the months of August thru October '05.

I just told him recently about this at the last appt. He said I raised my tolerance to the Xanax being that Carisoprodol metabolizes into Meprobomate which is a Barb and has a croos tolerance to benzos.

Now I feel like hell since I stopped the Carisoprodol in Oct '05. I feel the Xanax has lost its effects.

The anxiety is bad and my short term memory is shot to hell,insomnia,muscle twitching etc.. since then.

He put me on 15mg of Remeron at the last visit it seems to be helping somewhat with the sleep, but I
feel I need to either get off the Xanax but how if I am already having symptoms.

Pdoc refuses to increase the Xanax Xr dose or switch to any other benzo.

Sorry for the long post I need some help here I am looking for work and going through this is making it very difficult.

Any advice
Thanks,
DDog

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » DDog

Posted by yxibow on April 19, 2006, at 3:17:28

In reply to Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by DDog on April 18, 2006, at 23:34:11

> I have been taking. Xanax XR 3mg once daily since 8/03....Before that I was on Ativan 1 mg 4x daily for a year.
> The Ativan wasn;t working so my pdoc put me on the 3mgs of Xanax XR which worked great for about 2 years or so then I started experiencing a mild depression

Its possible with most benzodiazepines...


> Which I think was from the Xanax he says no.....Anyway I started taking Carisoprodol 3x a day not prescribed by the pdoc beween the months of August thru October '05.

For the back or recreationally?

>
> I just told him recently about this at the last appt. He said I raised my tolerance to the Xanax being that Carisoprodol metabolizes into Meprobomate which is a Barb and has a croos tolerance to benzos.


Meprobamate, which is correct, is Miltown, an old anxiety drug from the Quaalude days (not one of them), and is -not- a barbiturate but has some similar properties. Oh how I wish I could have Soma for my muscle spasms, but I'm on too high of a benzo dose, and this is exactly correct.


>
> Now I feel like hell since I stopped the Carisoprodol in Oct '05. I feel the Xanax has lost its effects.
>
> The anxiety is bad and my short term memory is shot to hell,insomnia,muscle twitching etc.. since then.

It can happen with Soma tolerance -- I dont know how slow you went off of Soma.


> He put me on 15mg of Remeron at the last visit it seems to be helping somewhat with the sleep, but I
> feel I need to either get off the Xanax but how if I am already having symptoms.
>
> Pdoc refuses to increase the Xanax Xr dose or switch to any other benzo.

That's unfortunate because switching to an equivalent dose in Valium or even Librium would make getting off of Xanax a heck of a lot easier.

I would make a strong case for switching to Valium and then tapering off, because even Xanax XR does not necessarily have the half life and metabolites that Valium has (exceeding 24 hours easily). Even increasing the Valium dose a little before going off of it completely if that is what you want to do. If you're heading for a brick wall with the doctor I wouldn't say dump the doctor but try to make a strong case for the above -- Valium has this sordid history but it really is a good long half life benzodiazepine -- I don't know what sort of situation you have with him and that's not my business.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » yxibow

Posted by Ddog on April 19, 2006, at 8:38:29

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » DDog, posted by yxibow on April 19, 2006, at 3:17:28

> > I have been taking. Xanax XR 3mg once daily since 8/03....Before that I was on Ativan 1 mg 4x daily for a year.
> > The Ativan wasn;t working so my pdoc put me on the 3mgs of Xanax XR which worked great for about 2 years or so then I started experiencing a mild depression
>
> Its possible with most benzodiazepines...
>
>
> > Which I think was from the Xanax he says no.....Anyway I started taking Carisoprodol 3x a day not prescribed by the pdoc beween the months of August thru October '05.
>
> For the back or recreationally?
>
> >
> > I just told him recently about this at the last appt. He said I raised my tolerance to the Xanax being that Carisoprodol metabolizes into Meprobomate which is a Barb and has a croos tolerance to benzos.
>
>
> Meprobamate, which is correct, is Miltown, an old anxiety drug from the Quaalude days (not one of them), and is -not- a barbiturate but has some similar properties. Oh how I wish I could have Soma for my muscle spasms, but I'm on too high of a benzo dose, and this is exactly correct.
>
>
> >
> > Now I feel like hell since I stopped the Carisoprodol in Oct '05. I feel the Xanax has lost its effects.
> >
> > The anxiety is bad and my short term memory is shot to hell,insomnia,muscle twitching etc.. since then.
>
> It can happen with Soma tolerance -- I dont know how slow you went off of Soma.
>
>
> > He put me on 15mg of Remeron at the last visit it seems to be helping somewhat with the sleep, but I
> > feel I need to either get off the Xanax but how if I am already having symptoms.
> >
> > Pdoc refuses to increase the Xanax Xr dose or switch to any other benzo.
>
> That's unfortunate because switching to an equivalent dose in Valium or even Librium would make getting off of Xanax a heck of a lot easier.
>
> I would make a strong case for switching to Valium and then tapering off, because even Xanax XR does not necessarily have the half life and metabolites that Valium has (exceeding 24 hours easily). Even increasing the Valium dose a little before going off of it completely if that is what you want to do. If you're heading for a brick wall with the doctor I wouldn't say dump the doctor but try to make a strong case for the above -- Valium has this sordid history but it really is a good long half life benzodiazepine -- I don't know what sort of situation you have with him and that's not my business.

Thanks I will ask him about the valium but I don't think he will go for it.
I was taking the soma for back problems and didn't taper from it properly.

The Remeron 15mg is not working for sleep the way it did for about 2 weeks now I am lucky if I get 3 hours from it.

What can I do for the sleep.

Any other advice what is the valium switch over dose.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » Ddog

Posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2006, at 18:27:30

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » yxibow, posted by Ddog on April 19, 2006, at 8:38:29

There is a equivalency board on this website . Maybe find it on the home page. But I believe lmg of xanax equal l0mg of valium . I've been on both. But interestingly enough I am from the 70's generation of valium. And the very first med I was given for panic attacks was valium 5mg three times a day and mephrobamate 450mg once a day. As my anxiety decreased I just stopped the mephrobomate without any problem at all. I was very young to me now and didn't know a thing about meds. I remember the doc was quite suprised that I just stopped the mephrobamate. But maybe ignorance was bliss as today I would know. currently on 20 mg of valium and luvox. I wish you well and Jay I didn't know Soma did that. Love Phillipa ps at the time I drank beer also.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » Phillipa

Posted by ddog on April 19, 2006, at 18:46:43

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » Ddog, posted by Phillipa on April 19, 2006, at 18:27:30

> There is a equivalency board on this website . Maybe find it on the home page. But I believe lmg of xanax equal l0mg of valium . I've been on both. But interestingly enough I am from the 70's generation of valium. And the very first med I was given for panic attacks was valium 5mg three times a day and mephrobamate 450mg once a day. As my anxiety decreased I just stopped the mephrobomate without any problem at all. I was very young to me now and didn't know a thing about meds. I remember the doc was quite suprised that I just stopped the mephrobamate. But maybe ignorance was bliss as today I would know. currently on 20 mg of valium and luvox. I wish you well and Jay I didn't know Soma did that. Love Phillipa ps at the time I drank beer also.


Thanks Phillipa I appreciate it I am seeing my pdoc next Friday but I don't think he will go for the Valium switch over idea, although I am going to do my best to pursuade him.

I really feel crappy with the wd's I am experiencing on the 3mgs of Xanax xr and need him to acknowledge this.

The short term memormy problems are pretty bad as well as the insomnia and anxiety which is daily will this ever go away I have to admit I am scared . ..I really have to get this fixed Any other suggestions. Thanks Again

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem added Remeron

Posted by ddog on April 19, 2006, at 19:20:50

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » Phillipa, posted by ddog on April 19, 2006, at 18:46:43

15 mg of remeron plus 3 mg of Lunesta and sleep is very bad maybe 3 or 4 hours or so.
The Remeron worked okay for a week or so and now it barely makes me drowsy it also seems like my pulse is quick like 90 bpm.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » Ddog

Posted by yxibow on April 20, 2006, at 0:42:46

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » yxibow, posted by Ddog on April 19, 2006, at 8:38:29


> I was taking the soma for back problems and didn't taper from it properly.

I wasn't trying to imply anything, just some people take Soma..mm offlabel. It has some taper issues, yes, I'm sorry you had that.

>
> The Remeron 15mg is not working for sleep the way it did for about 2 weeks now I am lucky if I get 3 hours from it.
>
> What can I do for the sleep.
>
> Any other advice what is the valium switch over dose.

http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/bzd.html

30mg Valium at night for your 3mg alprazolam or some people may find twice daily more effective initially, 15mg twice daily.

As far as your doctor's reluctance... with regards to sleep he will probably be equally reluctant, but...

I believe that sleep medications are for sleep, and antidepressants are for antidepression activity. With the possible exception of Remeron, which may provide some REM capabilities. However it causes weight gain quite tremendously (I know) in many people. All these other yucky stuff like Trazodone and off-label tricyclics... grr.. I don't like their use and in fact Trazodone, while being an old line antidepressant, exhibits tolerance for sleep purposes. I kept getting into an actual "adult dose" and had to back off and back on to a "sleep dose." It also carries a definately non-zero risk of priapism (sustained unwanted erections in the male. I dont know what it does to females.)


You are least likely to run into a barrier if you request Ramelteon from your doctor as it is unscheduled (C-nothing). However he may make the case that it is similar to melatonin, a hormone, and I don't know if you have a history of depression.

Otherwise, Lunesta, C-IV, would be the next medication I would suggest for long term sleep. You have to be prepared for a nickel mouth taste that may or may not last through the morning. I didn't find it all that bad, I dont know why I went back to regular Ambien, its fuzzy in my mind. I had to take the 3mg level -- I have a fair level of insomnia. But it comes in 1, 2 and 3mg.

Followed by that, AmbienCR (C-IV) (regular Ambien is perfectly fine too, but people like to observe the studies that say that AmbienCR is for long term when I find its just more of a patent extension for most people -- it may provide some additional "through the night" sleep that regular Ambien doesn't but its probably more expensive.)

And then there's regular Ambien (C-IV), which can and has been dosed successfully up to 20mg, which by the tone of your doctor wouldn't do. Normal dose 10mg.

Sonata, the final one, is rather weak so I put it as an afternote.

So there are four true sleep medications: Ambien/AmbienCR, Lunesta, Ramelteon, and Sonata. At least for the US market.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » yxibow

Posted by ddog on April 20, 2006, at 10:02:08

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » Ddog, posted by yxibow on April 20, 2006, at 0:42:46

>
> > I was taking the soma for back problems and didn't taper from it properly.
>
> I wasn't trying to imply anything, just some people take Soma..mm offlabel. It has some taper issues, yes, I'm sorry you had that.
>
> >
> > The Remeron 15mg is not working for sleep the way it did for about 2 weeks now I am lucky if I get 3 hours from it.
> >
> > What can I do for the sleep.
> >
> > Any other advice what is the valium switch over dose.
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/bzd.html
>
> 30mg Valium at night for your 3mg alprazolam or some people may find twice daily more effective initially, 15mg twice daily.
>
> As far as your doctor's reluctance... with regards to sleep he will probably be equally reluctant, but...
>
> I believe that sleep medications are for sleep, and antidepressants are for antidepression activity. With the possible exception of Remeron, which may provide some REM capabilities. However it causes weight gain quite tremendously (I know) in many people. All these other yucky stuff like Trazodone and off-label tricyclics... grr.. I don't like their use and in fact Trazodone, while being an old line antidepressant, exhibits tolerance for sleep purposes. I kept getting into an actual "adult dose" and had to back off and back on to a "sleep dose." It also carries a definately non-zero risk of priapism (sustained unwanted erections in the male. I dont know what it does to females.)
>
>
> You are least likely to run into a barrier if you request Ramelteon from your doctor as it is unscheduled (C-nothing). However he may make the case that it is similar to melatonin, a hormone, and I don't know if you have a history of depression.
>
> Otherwise, Lunesta, C-IV, would be the next medication I would suggest for long term sleep. You have to be prepared for a nickel mouth taste that may or may not last through the morning. I didn't find it all that bad, I dont know why I went back to regular Ambien, its fuzzy in my mind. I had to take the 3mg level -- I have a fair level of insomnia. But it comes in 1, 2 and 3mg.
>
> Followed by that, AmbienCR (C-IV) (regular Ambien is perfectly fine too, but people like to observe the studies that say that AmbienCR is for long term when I find its just more of a patent extension for most people -- it may provide some additional "through the night" sleep that regular Ambien doesn't but its probably more expensive.)
>
> And then there's regular Ambien (C-IV), which can and has been dosed successfully up to 20mg, which by the tone of your doctor wouldn't do. Normal dose 10mg.
>
> Sonata, the final one, is rather weak so I put it as an afternote.
>
> So there are four true sleep medications: Ambien/AmbienCR, Lunesta, Ramelteon, and Sonata. At least for the US market.

Thanks last night I slept okay but choppy with Remeron 15mg and Lunesta 3mg I think I forgot to include that in my previous post that he rx's Lunesta.
I've tried Trazadone no priapism but a huge hangover in the morning I don't like it, and the sleep was not that great. Ambien doesn't work for me at 10mg and he won't give me any higher.

He wants me to stick with the Remeron 15mg at night I've been on it for 3 weeks now and no weight gain, I work out almost evry day, just dry mouth which sucks will the dry mouth go away.I used to use the Lunesta 3mg alone before the Soma
incident it worked okay alone but not great.
I think I messed my tolerance level for everything could that be.

Is Remeron good for anxiety and slight depression??

If I switch to the 30 mg or 40mg of Valium at night or take it 3 or 4 times a day with the last dose at night will it be a smooth crossover and alleviate the anxiety I have now from the Xanax XR tolerance?? In my last appt. with him when I told him about the Soma he said he would have to up the Xanax XR to like 5mg a day to be effective again which he will not do.
I see him next week also he is not taking my insurance any more so maybe I should change if he won't work with me because I don't feel well at all.
Thanks

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » ddog

Posted by ddog on April 20, 2006, at 10:45:40

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » yxibow, posted by ddog on April 20, 2006, at 10:02:08

I think the sleep and axiety and other withdrawal symptoms which I am having are from the Xanax XR loss of efficacy, will it ever come back or did I ruin it with all of the Soma I took,its been 6 months since the I took any Soma.

Also the Xanax Xr before I took the Soma was making me slightly depressed like I said in my previous post but it covered all anxiety issues. After the Soma's I don't feel the slight depression any longer but the anxiety is worse almost like the begining.
Any thoughts on this...

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » ddog

Posted by yxibow on April 21, 2006, at 2:46:53

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » ddog, posted by ddog on April 20, 2006, at 10:45:40

> I think the sleep and axiety and other withdrawal symptoms which I am having are from the Xanax XR loss of efficacy, will it ever come back or did I ruin it with all of the Soma I took,its been 6 months since the I took any Soma.
>
> Also the Xanax Xr before I took the Soma was making me slightly depressed like I said in my previous post but it covered all anxiety issues. After the Soma's I don't feel the slight depression any longer but the anxiety is worse almost like the begining.
> Any thoughts on this...


6 months to me is quite a washout for the Soma or any similar psychotropic drug... it would have gone out of your system in about (half life of 6 hours or so) x 5, so say about two days. And then maybe a few weeks of withdrawal since I believe you did it abruptly. I doubt there is anything left from that other than a bad psychological rememberance of withdrawal.


The culprit is more likely a loss of efficacy of Xanax XR. Even though XR is made for extended use of people who take Xanax regularly (4x a day), it carries the same potentiality of Xanax being the worst benzodiazepine to withdraw from because it has some immediacy of gratification that other related ones do not. Its best used as a PRN (as necessary) medication.


I would say to switch all the XR over to Valium, as it sounds like you've never taken it before -- it has more than a 24 hour half life and will provide efficacy in a more subtle fashion. But that's just my opinion.


As for the other medications -- yes, the sleep is not wonderful with Trazodone.. its not quite as bad as Benadryl, but its not my idea of going to bed.


You probably have crosstolerance from the XanaxXR for Ambien and it wouldnt work unless it was 20mg -- not suggesting that you take it, I happen to because I probably also have some tolerance.


It is important to excercise with Remeron, that's good. I'm still losing the weight from it at the gym. Every day.


Otherwise, up to 45mg (and some go beyond), Remeron is a very good antidepressant in its own tetracyclic class that unfortunately has a very bad weight gain effect for most people who take it, it varies person to person of course. If you're not gaining weight from it -- this is a case report!


I can't advise you on dumping a doctor, that would be bad form, but the fact that he is not taking your insurance any more sounds like it will become a money question for you, I don't know. Unless your plan decided that you had enough visits or it wanted to cheapen things out. (You dont have to reveal what insurance company it is, and I wouldn't on a public forum.)


I could say gently that you might get a second opinion from another doctor who will accept your insurance -- I dont know where you live so I can't give you links, but states (I'm assuming you're in the US), teaching hospitals [i.e. university associated] (good places to go to), medical groups, etc, sometimes have online web sites to find a doctor (of psychiatry / psychopharmacology) close to you.


You could then explain everything you had -- there's no point hiding the Soma issue, it all has to be sorted out. Your current doctor is probably partially right -- some people just develop tolerance to benzodiazepines very easily -- others have taken them for 30 years with no increase in dose. Controversial groups like benzo.org.uk try to get people off of all benzos often, which is irresponsible. I do believe, that, for a majority of people, a reasonable dose of benzodiazepines will not cause habituation if continued vigilance and monitoring occurs. But unfortunately some people do, and it sounds like you have -- especially with something as short a half life as Xanax.


If you choose, or rather are given a choice to go to the Valium, you can take it as little as once a day, though I would say in your case twice a day morning and maybe the bulk at night. If done right it should be a smooth crossover. You have to write down a table of crossover to keep track of things. My experience from going from Klonopin to Valium is that it is much smoother adding the Valium and then removing the other drug. It would probably take in my guess about a month or two to completely and safely cross over considering your tolerance. It isn't a good idea to reduce a benzodiazepine more than 10%, maybe 15% a week, due to withdrawal issues. If "withdrawal" occurs, something is wrong.


Hope that helps

-- Jay

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » yxibow

Posted by ddog on April 21, 2006, at 12:11:15

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » ddog, posted by yxibow on April 21, 2006, at 2:46:53

Thanks Jay I will keep you posted after my visit.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 8:33:59

In reply to Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by DDog on April 18, 2006, at 23:34:11

Xanax works really well for me...but Xanax XR is just SO different, and I don't know why. Xanax acts as a mild antidepressant and Xanax XR makes me mildy fatigued, maybe depressed. I was all set and had convinced myself that taking Xanax XR instead of Klonopin because of the antidepressant effects was a great idea-but I tried it and got anxious and things seemed out of control. So as much as I validate Xanax as a med, my experience with XR has been poor-except at higher doses than I'm willing to take.

I didn't see it in the posts, but maybe switching to Klonopin slowly would work well too...I find Klonopin very easy to withdraw from (maybe after Xanax withdrawal, anything seems easy!) best of luck-it's scary to be taking a med for anxiety and not having it work and not knowing what will happen next...I was there for 3 years; it wasn't fun.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by yxibow on April 22, 2006, at 13:16:26

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 8:33:59


> I didn't see it in the posts, but maybe switching to Klonopin slowly would work well too...I find Klonopin very easy to withdraw from (maybe after Xanax withdrawal, anything seems easy!) best of luck-it's scary to be taking a med for anxiety and not having it work and not knowing what will happen next...I was there for 3 years; it wasn't fun.


Klonopin has an in-vivo average of only 16 hours, whereas Valium exceeds 24 hours, its easier, for most --- but maybe it worked for you.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by ddog on April 22, 2006, at 16:43:48

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 8:33:59

> Xanax works really well for me...but Xanax XR is just SO different, and I don't know why. Xanax acts as a mild antidepressant and Xanax XR makes me mildy fatigued, maybe depressed. I was all set and had convinced myself that taking Xanax XR instead of Klonopin because of the antidepressant effects was a great idea-but I tried it and got anxious and things seemed out of control. So as much as I validate Xanax as a med, my experience with XR has been poor-except at higher doses than I'm willing to take.
>
> I didn't see it in the posts, but maybe switching to Klonopin slowly would work well too...I find Klonopin very easy to withdraw from (maybe after Xanax withdrawal, anything seems easy!) best of luck-it's scary to be taking a med for anxiety and not having it work and not knowing what will happen next...I was there for 3 years; it wasn't fun.

Are you still on Klonopin and what dose of Xanax did you withdraw from- how long were you on that dose of Xanax? Thanks

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » yxibow

Posted by ddog on April 22, 2006, at 16:59:42

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by yxibow on April 22, 2006, at 13:16:26

>
> > I didn't see it in the posts, but maybe switching to Klonopin slowly would work well too...I find Klonopin very easy to withdraw from (maybe after Xanax withdrawal, anything seems easy!) best of luck-it's scary to be taking a med for anxiety and not having it work and not knowing what will happen next...I was there for 3 years; it wasn't fun.
>
>
> Klonopin has an in-vivo average of only 16 hours, whereas Valium exceeds 24 hours, its easier, for most --- but maybe it worked for you.

Yeah I would rather go with the Valium but we will see what the doc says. I need to do something because the Xanax XR is no good anymore and wd's such as short term memory loss ,ANXIETY, insomnia and confusion are occuring will these disappear after a crossover to another benzo like Valium ???

Jay the remeron at 15mgs seems to be helped the anxiety somewhat could that be at this dose. I definately don't want to increase it maybe dump it because the sleep is choppy as hell on it even with the Lunesta 3mgs I take with it.

I am kicking myself in the head for ever taking the Soma or do you think the Xanax tolerance would have happened anyway.
Thanx

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 17:20:05

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by ddog on April 22, 2006, at 16:43:48

Yes, still on Klonopin. I withdrew from 4 mg Xanax/day...on that dose for about 3 years.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by ddog on April 22, 2006, at 18:18:57

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 17:20:05

> Yes, still on Klonopin. I withdrew from 4 mg Xanax/day...on that dose for about 3 years.

Did you have any problems in the withdrawal like insomnia,anxiety, memory loss etc. what were they and how long did the crossover to K take.

Does the K make you depressed?

I am sleeping like sh@t and I am still taking the same dose for 3 yrs of XR.
Thanx

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 19:12:11

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by ddog on April 22, 2006, at 18:18:57

Like I wrote before, as much as I think Xanax is an excellent drug for anxiety/panic, the XR just seemed like a different drug-maybe you need those spikes in serum concentration for it to work well (?), I don't know. The point is, I'm not surprised you're having trouble with the XR and I'll bet if you took the equivalent amount of Xanax in immediate release, you'd feel oodles better. Nothing theoretical here, just my personal experience.

I didn't cross over to Klonopin, although that is what I'd do now. I tapered off Xanax onto nothing-and then started Klonopin some months later. The main symptom of withdrawal for me was anxiety-none of the others you list. I'll bet if you switched over to Klonopin by taking, say, 2 mg XR + 1 mg Klonopin until you felt you were at equilibrium, then 1 mg XR + 2 mg Klonopin, etc. you'd experience much less anxiety. Maybe getting some Klonopin in you instead of the Xanax would calm you down.

I can't take more than 0.75 mg of Klonopin without getting depressed, but I have a 110 lb friend that takes 6 mg/day and is fine.


I really, really think the problem lies with XR and you're going to feel better going either to immediate release or Klonopin-and there are a lot of advantages to going to Klonopin if it doesn't depress you, e.g., you can forget to take Klonopin and take it 10 hours later without the mini-withdrawal you'd experience with Xanax (actually, after 10 hours, it would be more than mini).

Looking forward to your post that you're doing lots better!

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » bassman

Posted by ddog on April 23, 2006, at 10:50:28

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by bassman on April 22, 2006, at 19:12:11

Thanks for the advice, I can tell you right now that
he will not give me Xanax IR because of the interdose wd problem.

I am going to see if he will switch me to V or K and then stabilize on that for a while then do a slow taper and get off the benzos completely.

As I said in my other posts he is reluctant to let me switch to another benzo because I told him about all of the Somas I took (look at my first post).

If he says no about switching to another benzo what do you think about the idea of slowly coming off of the XR without doing a cross over to another benzo.

He has me on Remeron 15mgs. now for 3 weeks.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by bassman on April 23, 2006, at 11:24:41

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » bassman, posted by ddog on April 23, 2006, at 10:50:28

One of the reasons I dropped Xanax XR was because I realized I'd need a larger dose than I was willing to take and also, I didn't know how to withdraw from XR, and tha scared me. I think switching over to K or V is the way to go...the serum concentration curves for XR drop off pretty fast (just like Xanax IR) after 12-24 hours in terms of relief...also, you seem to need some help now, not 6 months from now. But I do think this is a case of "pdoc knows best" bullh*t. I think he should be primarily concerned with how you feel, not his pet theories of meds.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » bassman

Posted by ddog on April 23, 2006, at 12:45:27

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by bassman on April 23, 2006, at 11:24:41

I think after this next appt. if he doesn't want to work with me on this issue I am going to change pdocs.

Granted that I screwed up my tolerance for the XR with the Soma but he should still be willing to get me out of this jam I'm in.

He not taking my insurance right now since the last visit and I've been seeing him for 3 yrs, now. He recently (March) decided not to accept any insurance plans only private pay patients.

I am researching to find someone on my plan but you know what a pain in the a@@ it is, changing your pdoc.

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by bassman on April 23, 2006, at 12:56:14

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » bassman, posted by ddog on April 23, 2006, at 12:45:27

Good man-I agree completely; his function is to help you. Good luck with the pdoc hunt; I wish I could say there are oddles of good pdocs out there. I tried two in my area and decided they both were crazier than I am, so I decided just to see my internist. Worked out well. Good luck!

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » bassman

Posted by ddog on April 23, 2006, at 16:02:18

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by bassman on April 23, 2006, at 12:56:14

I have an excellent internist also but he doesn't know much about the benzos as a pdoc would and he would refer me.

Yeah alot of the pdocs out there are nuts i would like to see them walk a mile in my shoes or yours.

I hope he works with me though because changing is a big nightmare but anyway I am gonna look on my plan and line one up after this next appointment.

Thanks,
Peace

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem

Posted by bassman on April 23, 2006, at 16:05:38

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » bassman, posted by ddog on April 23, 2006, at 16:02:18

I think all pdocs should be given a drug that makes them severely depressed and anxious for a month before they start practice. Instant enlightenment! Good luck and feel better soon!

 

Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem » bassman

Posted by ddog on April 23, 2006, at 16:44:53

In reply to Re: Xanax XR tolerance problem, posted by bassman on April 23, 2006, at 16:05:38

I agree, totaly sometimes I think I can do their job by just trying this med or that med. It's like throwing sh#t at the wall to see what will stick.LOL

My guy gets angry when I start discussing pharmacology issues with him.

I don't think they like patients that are educated on the meds they are prescribing to them.


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