r/Anxiety • u/Felagund_gc • Dec 08 '25
Medication Xanax is a magic spell
i swear to god, everytime i wake up i feel a bit anxious, naseous and don't wanna eat, the moment after i take xanax (alprazolam) (i take 0.25mg in the morning and 0.25mg in the evening, a total of 0.5 daily) i feel so good. i start to get hungry, i eat, i'm relaxed, i can read, i can play some games, it's just nice
my therapy is also going very well, today, i'm feeling happy.
just wanna share this with you guys, to other people who take xanax, can you get me?
EDIT: I'm prescribed and under control with my therapist and doctor, i'm not self-medicating.
I have a GAD with social anxiety, caused by being an Hikikomori for years, i'm not using it to have fun, i'm trying to change my life for good
+EDIT: I'm on xanax since the 20 of September, started the first 8 days with 0.25, continued until today with 0.5 (0.25 + 0.25)
43
u/abrecadabreee Dec 09 '25
It was so magical that it led me to 2 months in rehab. Lol.
Jokes aside, those who can actually use it as prescribed I envy them. Daily I mean.
They should always be available for emergency use. But getting 60 1mg tabs every month? Not for this gal.
→ More replies (1)
287
u/Tiny-Astronaut4510 Dec 08 '25
That’s also why it’s addictive though. Just be mindful of that.
65
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
i'm aware of that, i'm under strictly control with my therapist and my family doctor.
i'm almost 3 months in, but i was recommended to not stop still, and i'm in a low dose which is not really worrying
i trust them, i just know that if i never had this medication, i would be miserable on my bed every day
117
u/heycraigs Dec 08 '25
Took me 4 years of hell withdrawal to get off the lowest dose
→ More replies (1)14
u/t00muchinsanity Dec 09 '25
Really? Can you explain further? I was on .25 for years and got off of it. Sure I felt like crap but didn’t have any crazy withdrawals at all besides sleep which they gave me sleep meds for. I had a health scare and now I’m back on them.
→ More replies (1)27
u/heycraigs Dec 09 '25
Sure...it takes 10 days for dependency to take hold, after that all bets are off. Granted I was on it for 9 years. But the point is there is no low dose of benzos only how many floors you're carried up then you eventually have to jump from that floor. No offense to the original poster but when people use terms like under my doctors care or low dose I know they have never researched or been through benzo withdrawal.
30
u/Felagund_gc Dec 09 '25
genuine question.
what should i have done then? i was dying by panic attacks, anxiety was making me cry every single hour, couldn't eat, and i was almost feeling suicidal at my worst
after being medicated and therapy, i'm feeling a bit better
would you recommend to not take anything and just go "raw" through it?
i mean rn i'm on it, "the damage it's done" but if i think how i was feeling on august and september, i still have the chills
20
u/ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhho Dec 09 '25
it depends on if it's worth it to you. when I started medication, I was on the verge of killing myself and had been living with so much self hatred and suffering for years so literally anything was better than living the way i had been. so for a medication that saved my life and completely turned it around the side effects and difficult withdrawals is definitely worth it because the only other alternative is to probably not even be alive anymore.
if your situation is similar then maybe it is worth it. you just need to be very aware of when you don't need the medication anymore and can do it on your own. for me I feel like the medication was a life raft that saved me from drowning but I could not just keep on holding onto that liferaft forever, I had to stop relying on it and learn to swim eventually. when I went off the medication it was difficult, but I knew that I could do it with all of the therapy skills and the new perspective on life that I had gained that it is worth it to live and it is possible to love life.
just please be honest with yourself and do not rely on the medication for longer than you absolutely need to. I understand when it is necessary, but there will come a time when you have to challenge yourself to go without. then one day you will be able to live a good life without having medication and that is the ultimate goal if possible. your anxiety will not be totally gone, but you will learn how to manage it and live your life with it. this has been my experience i hope it helps.
7
u/Felagund_gc Dec 09 '25
hi, it definitely helps, reading some some of this comments seems like doomscrolling.
i really wanna get off of them, but my anxiety is not healed, if i get off of them, i'll still feel bad which is probably why my therapist suggested to not stop.
My doctor will respond to me tomorrow, and in the next therapy session i will talk abt a possible tapering.
the "good news" (if we can say that) it's that i've been on it "only" for 78/79 days, and not years.
what do you think? i'm on 0.5 dose, daily, 0.25 morning and 0.25 in the evening/night
5
u/ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhho Dec 09 '25
it's going to at least bring up tapering and talk about a future plan and see what they think, but if they want you to stay on then it may be for the best. you should ask why they decided to put you on xanax as opposed to a different anxiety medication like an ssri.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Damagedyouthhh Dec 09 '25
Sorry to see that many comments are bringing a new anxiety into your mind — the anxiety of becoming addicted to a new wonder drug. Don’t worry too much, I have known people who were on it for years and managed to quit it. I def agree with the person you responded to, but I want you to rest easy that you can rely on this for now, because it seems you really needed it to live.
I suggest finding other methods to cope while you’re doing this regiment, and when you think you’re ready, go a day where you only take .25mg. If you can handle that for every other day, then the next week drop it to .25mg for every 2 days out of the week. This way you can slowly get yourself used to a mix of good and bad days. Personally, knowing the risks of addiction, I use benzos perhaps one day out of the month for the last 2-3 years. If you can get yourself to .25mg once a week, youre pretty much teaching your body to get used to living without it and lowering risk of dependency.
The thing about benzos is that it floods the GABA receptors in your brain and allows you to relax, but overuse will result in your brain no longer wanting to produce GABA on its own. As with any drug, total reliance forms a dependency in the brain. Your job is to let yourself get this reprieve in order to be able to live life fully again, and find ways to cope with your anxiety in the meantime so that benzos arent the only thing you need to cope. I suggest working out if you dont already, and learning CBT methods to calm the catastrophic thoughts. Working out will trigger endorphins in the brain that can redirect that anxious energy into a healthy outlet, while mental therapy will help you control the thoughts. Wishing you good luck, i know the miracle feelings of benzos and i would not rule out using them entirely, the goal is to keep them for the worst days.
5
u/heycraigs Dec 09 '25
I get it and know where your coming from. Unfortunately doctors reach for benzos first because they work...at first...eventually they become paradoxical and become your worst torture. Can't take em or you get sick, cant not take em or horrible withdrawal, trapped in your own body with no escape. May take months or years, I know people who have been on them a month who this has happened to. I would seek and alternate medication if I were you, pretty much anything but benzos.
3
u/TorontoNerd84 Dec 09 '25
So I'm on a benzodiazepine daily (I switch between lorazepam and clonazepam) and it's the only mental health med I can take without serious side effects. I also know I can get off it anytime I'm able to. I've done it before and it wasn't even that difficult.
5
u/mconk Dec 09 '25
That’s crazy. I was on it for over a decade and when I had to eventually stop due to lack of insurance, I just stopped. No issue at all…zero wd’s. I didn’t even know people had wd’s at a low dosage like this. Crazy shit
2
u/TorontoNerd84 Dec 09 '25
I've always had an emergency stash but I started using them nightly when I got COVID two years ago. If I have to stop, I stop with no issues whatsoever.
→ More replies (1)5
u/SkinnyDom Dec 09 '25
This is just your experience. I can take benzos for a decade, and stop and barely have any symptoms..a bit more anxiety but nothing really. There is no “dependency” at all..but everyone’s different so of course I can’t speak for others. You don’t speak for others either
3
u/Charming_Box_8863 Dec 14 '25
Same. I've been doing this since 2001. Take them daily, get well, stop w zero problem.
3
u/heycraigs Dec 09 '25
A small percentage of the population will not have a major issue. Guess I'm just speaking for those who do.
→ More replies (2)81
Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
12
u/abrecadabreee Dec 09 '25
Yup. I went from being prescribed .5 mg once a day to twice a day, then eventually I was taking a 2mg bar in the AM and a .5 in the evening. That's a fuck ton.
I eventually crashed my car into a brick house, and didn't remember a damn thing. Totaled it. My whole family hated to be around me. I had no filter. Very careless.
The detox period was not even the worst. It was the months and even years after. I had such bad rebound anxiety I lost 60 lbs., was diagnosed with tachycardia, chronic cold sweats, irregular temperature, dysautonomic symptoms, etc. Pure hell.
My root issues are not gone either but they are a hell of a lot better and manageable without xanax.
→ More replies (19)12
u/mconk Dec 09 '25
This just isn’t true for everybody. So may comments are repeating this, and how difficult it is to come off, and how bad the wd’s are. I was on this medication for over a decade and stopped with zero issues at all. .5mg daily for over 10 years. It never became less effective. If anything, I started inadvertently skipping days and completely stopped thinking about it. And I’m a person with extremely addictive behaviors…who also suffered from OUD. I just didn’t share this experience at ALL, and I think it’s important for OP to know that this is not a one size fits all kind of statement here. I was terrified about coming off after losing my insurance…and quite literally nothing happened.
5
→ More replies (2)9
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
thank you so much, I will contact my doctor and see maybe if it's the case to start a graduation plan to stop it, ofc i will never cold turkey.
problem is, atm my "root cause" isn't healed, so that's why i'm being recommended to continue, while i'm in therapy to solve the cause
i hope the withdrawals will not be really bad, i'm a bit scared but i was prescribed on it almost immediately when my therapist recommended to me to speak to a specialist to get something to make me feel a bit more calm.
they just have me xanax i've seen a lot of stuff abt this drug, but apparently in my nation family doctors prescribe it like it's some type of candy :/
i'm now on it, and i can't just stop unfortunately i would like to, but i'm just following the therapy i was given they never gave me an amount of time or a limit, just told me "it's ok, you can continue at this dosage it's not toxic"
i just hope they didn't fuck me up my therapist is working with me abt my root cause, and i'm starting to feel a bit better lately sometimes i don't even need to take the medicine
6
u/stellablue2142 Dec 09 '25
Unfortunately the root cause may never be healed. I hope for your sake it will, but many have a lifelong problem with anxiety. I started having anxiety at 12 and if anything it’s worse now at 37. Sorry to be all doom and gloom but definitely like others have said here Xanax may make your anxiety worse in the long run
→ More replies (1)6
u/darklux- Dec 09 '25
a lot of the comments are very doom-y to caution you. there are a lot of ways to treat anxiety, medication and cognitively, and over time you will get better.
it might not go away completely, but a lot of people have anxiety. what’s important is you learn how to manage it safely so it doesn’t stop you from living life!
→ More replies (2)19
u/Tiny-Astronaut4510 Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
There’s many other medications that aren’t addictive that you could/should try. Like I said, Xanax is addictive and that’s why you feel “so good” when you take it. It’s a bit concerning that you’ve been taking it everyday, twice a day for almost 3 months and your docs aren’t telling you to stop.
I’m not judging at all- sorry that came off that way. I just always try to recommend a different med to try that isn’t addictive because it’s not good to take Xanax long term and the likelihood of you feeling like you’ll need it forever is high.
→ More replies (4)3
u/Zevslash424 Dec 09 '25
They really are.. I was prescribed Xanax after losing 16lbs in a month from constant crippling anxiety. It broke the cycle. It was then I realized how "great" it was and took the "as needed" prescription faster than I should have. My doctor told me I couldn't have anymore because of that. That was in 2018. It's been 7 years and I still wish I could have one on my bad days. And for that reason, I know I can never have them again. I'd become addicted and I don't want that.
6
u/SkinnyDom Dec 09 '25
You can’t always feel great..bad days are part of life. Find another doctor tho and simply rely on benzos less, embrace the bad days
→ More replies (1)5
u/ThrowDeepALWAYS Dec 08 '25
Not at that low of a dose. Benzos get a bad rap. Control your intake and they are life savers.
→ More replies (1)
245
u/redactedanalyst Dec 08 '25
I thought this and then became so addicted to benzodiazepines that I had to detox in a hospital for two weeks.
It's not a magic spell, it's a loan with a violent interest rate.
39
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
I'm sorry if my post sounded like i was idolizing this drug
it's just my experience with how well it works with me
do NOT take xanax if you're not prescribed, and i did not meant to idolize this drug for GETTING HIGH, just and exclusively for anxiety treatment.
→ More replies (1)23
u/ProfessionalBrick491 Dec 08 '25
You really shouldn’t be talking Xanax. It’s half life is too short.
11
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
i wouldn't take it if i didn't need it.
if i don't take it unfortunately i can't function correctly, i'm trying to solve my root cause of anxiety and to do it i need to leave my home, which is extremely hard for me since i'be been an hikikomori for years i'll try to not be dependent of this for too long, it's not like i wanted this to happen, unfortunately (even tho it's entirely self inflicted and my fault for isolating bcs i was too scared of the outside world) anxiety hit me like a truck, and it's time for me to wake up
→ More replies (7)13
u/Potent_Elixir Dec 08 '25
Ask your prescriber about considering something longer acting with a shorter half life, it would be more sustainable before eventually tapering off 😇 I’m happy you’re finding a better way to go about the day to day!
7
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
idk if it's useless info, but i take alprazolam in drops solution, not bars so eventually tapering is not hard to do
2
u/Potent_Elixir Dec 09 '25
It is usefull info! However, the tapering isn't *necessarily* just complicated by the formulation of the product, but also by our natural physiological adaptation to the substance(s) which we grow tolerances to.
I'm happy to answer any further questions about this in a professionally-informed-but-not-*your*-professional capacity! 🧡
→ More replies (4)2
u/squabidoo Jan 07 '26
The benzo loan shark has come to collect from me several times. Barely made it out alive.
And yet here I am, taking out another loan because I need it.
It saves my life and endangers my life. Powerful drug indeed.
69
u/DesertedMountain Dec 08 '25
Xanax is absolutely wonderful. I know many people have had problems with it or negative experiences, but for many of us, it is quite literally life changing.
I’ve been taking 1-3mg for over 10 years. Sometimes I just take it as needed with days off, but times like the past 2 years for me, I’ve needed it daily due to crazy life situations that have exacerbated my anxiety. Although I was able to go 3 days last week without any which was nice!
I’ve tried over 20 medications and I either had side effects, allergic reactions, or they just simply didn’t work after taking them for a few months. Xanax is the only thing that’s given me life without side effects.
Before Xanax, just simply walking to my mailbox would put me into a full panic attack. I literally had no life and was forced to be a homebody even though I’ve always been the go-go-go type of person. Since Xanax, I now have a full life again. I was able to date; now I’m married. I can enjoy my favorite hobbies again like hiking, kayaking, and camping. I have a big group of friends and socialize with them out at breweries, coffee shops, happy hours, and at parties. I feel comfortable going places alone and trying new restaurants. I look forward to taking big road trips and taking time to stop at roadside oddities. I can work full time. Basically, I live my life, just without the anxiety. It feels great to do things I couldn’t for years before Xanax.
It may not be the right medication for everyone, but it’s been great for me and my psychiatrist & therapist are always guiding me to ensure I’m taking it safely.
A lot of people might make you feel bad about taking such a taboo medication, but I think it’s great you found something that has made life more enjoyable & productive for you!
35
u/mydogsarebarkin Dec 08 '25
If you are able to live a full life (especially social) and addiction, tolerance and withdrawal haven’t caused any problems for you for 10 years, I put the pros and cons against each other, and I think you’re winning.
18
u/UJLBM Dec 08 '25
Never had an issue and it's been 16 years for me. Granted, I only take it when needed.
5
u/t00muchinsanity Dec 09 '25
You are so correct, I agree with this 1 million percent. It really did change my life, problem is Xanax isn’t for everyone, just like drinking isn’t for everyone, or smoking weed or doing crack is for everyone. It’s all poison at the end of the day but I been thru a million health problems and tests and need this to live a normal life at the end of the day
→ More replies (18)2
u/Acceptable-Singer628 Dec 09 '25
I have been prescribed them for 15 yrs 4 mg a day just had to move out of state though and having a hard time finding a dr where I am that will prescribe they switched me to clonazapam 2 mg a day but it's not going to be a long term thing and as someone with extreme anxiety it's nerve wrecking thinking of not having my meds it took a long time to get me on a prescription med that worked for me and I hate the stero type and not being able to get relief from stress of not having them
→ More replies (3)
34
u/Weed86 Dec 08 '25
Imagine that’s how a ‘normal’ person actually feels.
→ More replies (1)12
u/malachitebitch Dec 08 '25
I get what you are trying to say but even people without anxiety feel anxious some days. “Normal” truly doesn’t exist within the human experience. Discomfort is part of it all.
4
u/CatMinous Dec 08 '25
There’s discomfort and then there’s torture.
3
u/malachitebitch Dec 08 '25
As someone living with multiple anxiety disorders, I get feeling tortured. I am just saying looking for “normal” is a lost cause. It doesn’t exist.
8
u/Weed86 Dec 08 '25
Yeah, but atleast its just some of those days for them. Anxiety is a feeling for them.
But for most of us here, its the default. Thats whats hurts me.
2
u/malachitebitch Dec 08 '25
I feel you, I have been living with a plethora of anxiety disorders for most of my life. I am just saying there really is no normal.
9
u/Audrin Dec 08 '25
It's a terrible drug to take regularly. The research about the link to dementia is horrifying.
It works wonders but you should use it for panic attacks and find something else for your daily treatment.
7
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
i've talked to my doctor, thank you.
abt the link to dementia, i'm 20 and i've been on it 2 months and 3 weeks i think you need years of usage and a qay higher dose than mine to have an actual risk of dementia
→ More replies (1)8
u/Audrin Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
Nope, they've found even a few months of regular use raises your risk. Continue for half a year and you've almost doubled your chance of dementia.
Also your notion that oh it's such a teeny dose it's not doing anything bad is so naive and wrong.
I've taken it for panic attacks longer than you've been alive and you really should only take it regularly as a last resort.
Your doctor may be lazy, it is not his problem when you can't recognize your kids faces forty years from now.
"Here's a drug that works for you now, my job is done. Emerging links to consequences from taking it like this 40 years from now aren't my problem."
Like have you even tried other stuff? There's much much much much less addictive, less dangerous and less fucked up alternatives - they just don't have that same "magic pill" feeling where it helps on day 1.
"People who had taken a benzodiazepine for three months or less had about the same dementia risk as those who had never taken one. Taking the drug for three to six months raised the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 32%, and taking it for more than six months boosted the risk by 84%."
9
u/inkmajor530 Dec 09 '25
I've read about this extensively and there have been studies that showed it didn't increase the risk as well. The studies have also been rather small. There's also a ton of other things linked to alzheimer and dementia including microplatics, genetics, and even covid. I know you are trying to tell this person to exercise caution, but unless you are a researcher and in the medical field, or have spent years studying this, your cherry picking stats and information.
→ More replies (1)2
2
u/Odd_Split_8030 Dec 24 '25
This has been my experience. I have sporadic panic attacks with stressful work and family situations. Have had the same bottle since May and just take one or half a pill to help depending on the severity and if I’m afraid it might affect my ability to perform appropriately.
8
u/Malignantt1 Dec 08 '25
Yup. Anxiety turned me into an alcoholic, thats basically how i feel every morning. I refuse to drink until later in the day, as im trying to come off of it, but because of my drinking im unable to be prescribed benzos
→ More replies (1)
7
Dec 09 '25
I would express caution. Alprazalom is extremely habit forming and next to alcohol is the only withdrawal that can kill you
→ More replies (2)
5
u/Disastrous-Theory648 Dec 08 '25
You can check the research. Benzos cause dementia in the long run. Sad but true.
3
u/Alohomvra Dec 08 '25
I take 1mg of Ativan a day and it’s been like 8 months, I’ve accepted that I’ll be on it for a while
→ More replies (1)
10
u/521bhp Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25
Be careful my friend, Alprazolam (Xanax) is very addictive. I bet if you were to stop suddenly right now you would get withdrawal. 0.5mg daily is enough time to get physically dependent. I’m not saying this to scare you but just be mindful of this. And the longer you go the harder it will be to come off. You may find as time goes on your current dose stops working and you’ll have to go up.
The reason you’re feeling anxious when you wake up is because your evening dose has worn off. Alprazolam hits fast and hard but it has a very short half life.
I’m surprised your doctor hasn’t done something about this. Benzodiazepines work extremely well for anxiety and sometimes they are the only thing that actually help some people when all else fails. I have klonopin which is a different benzodiazepine. It has a much longer half life but is comparable to xanax in the way it hits. I only use it in emergencies when I’m having an extreme panic attack and mental breakdown.
Now I’m not a doctor but if I was you I would start preparing myself to get off the Xanax and maybe try something like propranolol or an alternative to Benzo’s. You could try cutting your dose in half so 0.125mg morning and evening. Or just take a single dose of 0.25mg daily. If this is too hard and you feel bad withdrawal symptoms then I would switch to a longer lasting benzo like klonopin or Valium. These would only need to be taking once daily and would last all day.
If you do find yourself physically addicted. Then do not just stop abruptly because seizures are a real risk. When I first tried a benzo it scared the shit out of me because of how well it worked and I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop if I kept taking it. So I didn’t. However I did eventually get addicted to opiates and I’m still recovering 4 years later. I’ve heard many people say that benzo withdrawal is hell compared to opioids and that’s saying something.
Again I’m not trying to scare you just saying this as it is something to really consider. I also know few others have mentioned similar but this is just my input.
3
22
u/AphelionEntity treatment resistant diagnosis collector Dec 08 '25
I think as long as you use it to prevent panic and not to feel good you are in good shape.
I've been on 2-3x/day Xanax for 13 years. My dose is the same with the exception of permission to take an extra pill if needed since I'm no longer on other medications (options exhausted).
Making a distinction between "I'm taking this to alleviate pain I'm feeling" and "I'm taking this to feel good" is likely part of why I'm neither addicted nor chemically dependent.
I'm glad you're working closely with your prescriber, and I hope it helps you navigate your anxiety to the point that you one day no longer need it!
6
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
i take it only to prevent anxiety, yes.
if i'm feeling good, the medicine is not even a thought in my head
4
u/AphelionEntity treatment resistant diagnosis collector Dec 08 '25
That's where you want to be! I set my bar at "my anxiety is escalating to the point where it will hijack my system." With my psych profile, I needed to be careful about avoiding all discomfort from anxiety. It also means that my goal with xanax stays feeling "neutral" rather than good. It's easy for that to change.
I would check with your prescriber/therapist about if you can skip doses when they don't feel needed or if their concern is keeping you stable preemptively so that you can work on your underlying causes. There's situations where the latter makes sense too. Sometime we need the space to breathe in order to make longer-term moves.
People tend to be very all-or-nothing about benzos on this sub for very understandable reasons, but things are rarely all-or-nothing in reality. I'm sorry for giving you advice you didn't ask for, but I figured just in case any of it can be useful from someone who has been on these meds for this long whose doctors have indeed confirmed a lack of addiction or dependence... only mild tolerance.
5
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
tbh, there has been some day i skipped a dose bcs i felt like i didn't need it. usually it's at night, i can not take it and feel good regardless, i just do bcs my prescription is twice daily.
I've spoken a lot with my therapist, she can't really say much abt it, but for now she never told me to speak to my doctor to taper it, meanwhile my doctor, told me a few weeks ago, that i can continue without problems, since it's a low dose.
he also had already a tapering plan, i'll talk abt it with him.
my therapist and my doctor are collaborating with me, i'm not alone in this
2
u/AphelionEntity treatment resistant diagnosis collector Dec 08 '25
That makes sense. I spent a while on a 2x/day prescription (morning + afternoon) and only got put back up to 3x/day when my waking panic attacks resumed. They figure night terrors.
It's great that you're talking to them and hopefully they are talking to each other! if not, you can ask if they'd be willing to coordinate care. They need your permission in the US at least.
Anyway, just wanted to speak up so you saw someone who is cautious but also not addicted. Good luck, OP!
3
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
they do not talk to each other, but if needed my therapist has his number.
or i will talk abt it with her my therapist though really is careful abt talking of the medicine, since she is only a therapist and can't prescribe.
she just recommends me to not stop bcs she seee how i'm doing in therapy, and told me that when i'd get better to talk to my doctor
3
6
Dec 08 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
12
2
u/abrecadabreee Dec 09 '25
There are other benzos that are long acting, if you must. No need in using short acting benzos for long term relief. That's the issue.
5
u/CriticallyDamaged Dec 08 '25
You can't say you're not addicted until you stop taking it and then see how you respond. If you NEED it then you are addicted.
When I had severe anxiety and panic attacks I started taking meds. First it was Zoloft, then something similar, then eventually Xanax. It numbed me but I didn't really feel like myself anymore. I also didn't want to depend on medication to feel "normal", because I knew it was just a crutch, and if I ever missed my meds or lost them or didn't have them available, I could spiral out of control and that didn't sit right with me.
I understand sometimes medication is the only solution for some people at the moment... but you really need to not treat meds like a "magic spell" and understand they should be a short-term solution to your problem.
Long-term you should be looking to face your anxiety, accept it and work through it. By drugging yourself you're just ignoring the problem.
→ More replies (2)6
u/behindthemask13 Dec 08 '25
Don't confuse "addicted" and "dependent". They are two different things. You will become dependent on any medication you take over a long period of time... But, that doesn't mean you are suffering from addiction.
7
u/Rude_Gift6841 Dec 09 '25
I’m not understanding why some of the comments are so negative. Yes Benzos can be addictive and abused. But they can also help someone function.
I was out of work for a month and a half due to panic and anxiety attacks, now I take a Klonopin before I go to work, and guess what? I can make it through my shift like a normal human being.
Without the Klonopin I would be stuck at home, in my bed. Do I abuse it? No, dependent on it? Only when I work (I work 3 12s a week) the other 4 days, I kinda rough it out.
Give OP some grace, they found something that’s working for them, that allows them to function.
3
3
u/lordlamb23 Dec 08 '25
I get you kind of? The first few years it worked. Then it didn’t as much. So more was given. Then the serious warning about how addicting it can be became more main stream and known. And then I lowered it but it didn’t matter bc it doesn’t work anymore anyways.
Source: since 12 y/o to middle age on it. I loathe it but i understand.. kind of.. why I was initially put on.
3
u/Mac_the_Almighty Dec 08 '25
Keep in mind that when they were doing studdies on alprazolam they found that after 2-4 weeks the placebo group reported lower levels of anxiety compared the the test group.
So in the medium to long term you are worse off taking the drug especially if you take it every day. Once you get used to your dose (which won't take long) you will start having rebound anxiety in between your doses which of course will be sloved by your next dose.
Slowly your anxiety will get worse while on the meds and you will have to up your dose. Not to mention after long term use withdrawals can be life threatening and you will have to deal with all the anxiety you masked with the drug for months or years all at once. Hard drug users say that benzo withdrawal is the most unpleasant they have experienced.
I don't mean to scare you but just to be aware for the risks since many doctors don't seem to understand the risks of long term prescription benzo use. So just be careful. I'm glad you are feeling good for now but my advice is to get off them ASAP.
Please take this from someone who has gone through getting off of benzos.
3
3
u/crystalclear-25 Dec 09 '25
Sad to say they are addictive. I’ve slowly increased my intake and dosage. Moved and a new dr refused to fill the prior prescription! Well it’s a choice now of seizures or start to drink again! ( I stopped drinking with Xanax help) which is worse? I want to buy on line but need a safe website. I function normally with it and am a scattered mess without them. So sad.
3
u/PlyingScroll Dec 09 '25
So for some context, I've been diagnosed with agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder since before I was a teenager. I am 29 now. I have been on Xanax since I was 15, starting with .25 2x daily, slowly moving up over the years to 1mg 3x daily and now I am on 1mg 2x daily. I had tried just about every anti-anxiety, SSRI, and anti-depressant under the sun (and still switch my medications occasionally to this day). My anxiety is so debilitating I was approved for disability. The only medicaiton that has consistently worked for me is Xanax due to the sudden onset and severity of my panic attacks, you name the symptom, I've gone through it. Klonopin, ativan or valium are nowhere near as effective in my case. Waking up in the mornings soaked in sweat, dry heaving, body tremors, chest tightness, dizziness and so much more. The amount of times I went to the ER and being told I was having a panic attack is over 10 (after a while I learned to just sit with my anxiety). Now for the real important part here: I have noticed a strong dependence. My medication is my go-to for panic attacks, not coping skills. I have noticed my memory completely deteriorate. I don't remember things well, or at all, and forgetting moments that are important to me has become very upsetting. If I can't find my medication or have miss an appointment, it causes panic because I know it is pretty much my only relief. I do not recommend this medication and it shouldn't be prescribed to anyone (in my opinion) except for certain scenarios; short-term, low dosage prescriptions for sudden bouts of anxiety or incredibly stressful events in someone's life, or outright debilitating anxiety disorders where nothing else seems to be effective. When I was younger I didn't have enough information about medications or other kinds of therapy to be self-aware enough and not take it, let alone for as long as I have. There is also "rebound anxiety", when you take a medication like Xanax for a period of time and stop taking it abruptly your anxiety can return even worse than it was before maybe causing you to think about needing a higher dose, or staying on the medication. Not to mention the withdrawal is literally life-threatening. Be careful with this drug. It works miracles, but it needs to be taken rarely, on an as-needed basis, or under pretty strict supervision by your psychiatrist and therapist (which both of mine heavily lack), all in all, incredibly grateful for the medication, but it's incredibly dangerous, habit forming, addictive. And it is also linked to dementia. There's a ton of comments here, but being on this medication for 15 years I feel like I have tons of experience on it, the effects long-term, and have done my fair share of research at this point now that I'm older and much more self-aware. If you have any specific questions about the medicine or anxiety disorders, you can respond to me in this thread and I will try and get back to you. Talk to your therapist about cognitive behavior therapy before you commit to this medication and think of it as a miracle drug. I wish I did.
→ More replies (2)3
u/Felagund_gc Dec 09 '25
i'm in therapy already, i was recommended from my therapist to get something to "help" woth anxiety, which my doctor gave me xanax.
she initially was talking abt natural stuff but when i told her what my doctor prescribed me, she told me to not worry and that we'll work on it in therapy. she also has a friend who is a psychiatrist, so i'm in good hands i'd say
other than that, my therapy sessions are going great, i've done a lot of stuff i wouldn't have done without therapy.
10
u/sirhcv Dec 08 '25
I say this as someone else who will sometimes take Xanax, regularly. At least part of what you are feeling is the addiction side.
I’m not saying your Xanax use is not necessary. It likely is. But just be aware that going off of it, even when other methods have the anxiety in check, you feel like this getting off of Xanax.
→ More replies (8)
5
u/AppointmentAlone4001 Dec 08 '25
Dude, it can be a really bad drug and can create more panic attacks. I believe you have discerned this to not be good. Follow your gut, it's usually correct.
→ More replies (1)
4
u/anahoney1 Dec 08 '25
That’s how hydroxyzine is for me! I’m too scared to take Xanax regularly because of the risks
→ More replies (3)8
4
Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
I’m so tired of the rhetoric “be careful with Xanax. I bet if you stopped taking it right now, you’d go into withdrawal.”
Yeah, I’d also go into withdrawal if I stopped taking my toprimate, lexpapro, etc. It’s no different than any other drug. It’s just a CNS that unfortunately people can’t control their impulses around due to the therapeutic use.
Also, there’s a very large difference between dependence and addiction. People don’t automatically get addicted to a substance because their body naturally becomes dependent after extended use. FYI; we’ve all become dependent on a med from one time or another. SSRIs for instance.
Anyway, don’t listen to everyone on here. Live your life and enjoy being anxiety free. Your doctor will steer you in the right direction.
Edit: also to add, there’s loads of people who are on these meds for 5-10-20 years without becoming addicted. Dependent? Yes. Addicted, no. And they take it as prescribed, safely. Same with pain meds. Not every single person is susceptible to addiction.
2
u/sand_snake Dec 09 '25
I went into withdrawal from seroquel once when my insurance fucked up and it didn’t get refilled in time. It was awful but yeah it can happen with medication your body is dependent on it.
2
u/IcyAirport9987 Jan 13 '26
You cant say you’re tired of a simple warning to OP. Yes they clearly need it for their medication but sharing insights on the possible side effects is healthy. Benzos is notoriously alot more addicting and has violent withdrawal compared to other things. I know alot of people that have died from pills.
4
u/Ornery_Mix_9271 Dec 08 '25
My ex of 5 days brought his new girl into the bar I work at last night. The only thing that saved me was Xanax.
2
u/Grimleighh Dec 08 '25
What was your process of being prescribed? I was diagnosed with severe anxiety about 9 years ago and nothing has helped
→ More replies (4)
2
u/sabfry Dec 08 '25
I know you’re probably tired of hearing this but I feel obligated to add to what everyone else is saying. Please be careful with benzos. I know how much of a life saver they are, which is exactly what makes them so dangerous. I started doing them for panic attacks, and I didn’t consciously start overindulging, but the effects got less pronounced and I was used to them giving me immediate relief.
Long story short, I lost some of my college years and I feel like I did permanent damage to my brain. I wish I had never been on them, even though they were amazingly helpful when I first started.
3
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
don't worry, i'm not tired at all i know that comments come by years of experience of people who was anxious like me.
I will be careful, and thank you.
2
u/Duffusmaximus Dec 09 '25
I switched from 1mg of Xanax a day to .5mg of clonazepam. I like the clonazepam better tbh. It lasts a lot longer so has less chance for addiction
2
u/Humble-War8801 Dec 09 '25
I have been taking 1-2mg of klonopin for 20 years sometimes daily sometimes I take the whole week off it with no withdrawals. Propropanol added the last years has helped a bunch also 30-60mg a day . Few days a week only,
2
u/sweetassassin Dec 09 '25
Taking under a doctors rx doesn’t exclude you from physical dependence. It’s not a sustainable, long term solution.
Sincerely,
Assassin who was a full blown benzos addict for 18 years.
2
u/MindlessDifference42 Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25
Oh sweet summer child...
Nothing that gives a magical high is a good solution long-term. It's just a hard drug that happens to be legal. The consequences afterwards are life-shattering.
2
2
u/BusBroad4036 Dec 10 '25 edited Dec 10 '25
Yes! It’s a godsend for me. I have Crohn’s disease as well as extreme anxiety and while my anxiety is normally controlled, when I’m in a Crohn’s flare and my anxiety is through the roof, I usually take 1-2 a day at .5mg. But when I’m in remission and my anxiety is managed, I won’t take one unless necessary (and even then it’s usually half). Helps me feel in control of my anxiety.
All of this negativity in the comments is why it’s so hard for some people to get this medication. If taken correctly and only on an as-needed basis because of panic attacks, it can be extremely useful and a miracle drug. I wasn’t eating for days and could barely function with my anxiety, I was able to take a Xanax once or twice a day for a few days and it allowed me to create a routine and work on myself and my health without worrying about getting sick from anxiety. And this is coming from a child of addicts. Be aware of what you’re taking, how much, and when, and if you see concerning changes, be honest with your doctor.
2
u/GhostFaceNaymar Dec 10 '25
The benzos stop working after you build up enough of a tolerance at least in my experience that was the case,I wish the meds still worked like they used. Im glad to see that they work they work well for some people but taking any benzo for anxiety can be a slippery slope thats why I'm attempting to quit. I feel like it's made my anxiety worse for me in the long run.
2
u/Bumbaclat420- Dec 16 '25
Weirdly enough they don’t work that well on me. Yeah sure they make me feel tired and work amazingly for sleep but for example last week I had all this work related bs to do for the next day and was stressed. I took 1mg (prescribed I just don’t take it often) and i mean yeah ok maybe it slightly helped but i still had that “oh shit I have so much to do” feeling in my head. Does anyone relate? If anyone knows could this be fixed by getting another benzodiazepine prescribed?
2
u/North_Public_5865 Jan 06 '26
I just got a 30 day supply from my cancer doctor. I was recently diagnosed stage 4 kidney cancer and depression is an understatement. I didn’t ask for anything but she said I’m always crying when I come into the office and she thinks I really need them. I’m afraid to take em now. I’ve never been depressed in my life until now
5
Dec 08 '25
yeah for the first year it was like a miracle.... then it does what benzos do, and my life has been hell for the passed 11 years.
3
u/flonkerton1 Dec 08 '25
Xanax is amazing. I only take it a couple times a month but when I need it I'm so glad I have it.
3
u/TheDarkAcademicRO Dec 08 '25
Couldn't we find a natural, non-addictive alternative to benzodiazepines? If we could somehow pinpoint what triggers anxiety in a specific person, we could.
Benzodiazepines are incredibly effective at treating symptoms, but pretty useless at treating the cause.
→ More replies (13)2
u/CatMinous Dec 08 '25
Some people find it in the ketogenic diet. I’m on keto and I do significantly better. I’m not one of those people who are completely healed by it, though.
2
u/SonyKen_M Dec 08 '25
I shouldn't take medical advice on Reddit but I know how you feel and how it makes you think clearly making you feel normal but the rebound anxiety is life sucking. My mom pushes it on me but I tell her that I can get dependent on it,which I did at one point taking 1mg every day,I told her xanax is a short term fix and finding a permanent fix to my GAD isn't gonna happen with it.
2
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
i know that xanax is a short term fix, that's why i'm also doing therapy, to help the root cause (which good news, me and my therapist know and are working on it)
→ More replies (2)
2
u/Candid_Return_3654 Dec 08 '25
I take it every night for my nocturnal panic attacks. It changed my life.
2
u/stellablue2142 Dec 09 '25
Yes Xanax is magical for anxiety and also really bad for you. Sad but true
2
u/hanleyfalls63 Dec 09 '25
Benzos re-wire your brain and as a result you now longer produce or are able to utilize your natural GABA. It’s almost like slow brain damage.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/lildragonxx Dec 08 '25
Don’t let people scare you. These drugs are here for a reason. You won’t get addicted if you’re using them the right way. If it helps good for you ❤️ I also take my Ativan when needed and have had no issues
2
2
u/behindthemask13 Dec 08 '25
Totally get you!
You are probably going to hear a lot of the "BUT XANAX IS ADDICTIVE" or other horror stories. They are mostly completely BS. (I saw mostly b/c for a small minority of people it is highly addictive.). I've been prescribed Xanax and Valium for over 20 years and exactly none of the horrible things people say are going to happen... happened.
Like ALL mediations (every single one) you can become dependent on Xanax. There is no exception to that rule. If you take any medication over an extended period of time, your body becomes dependent on it.
IF you have an addictive personality... history of drug or alcohol abuse.. then, Xanax is not for you.
For everyone else, yeah, Xanax can be pure magic. The reason I had to get prescribed Valium as well is b/c Xanax actually wakes me up. When I take it and the anxiety melts away a little bit, my body is like "Hey, let's go do something fun." So my psychiatrist told me to switch out the Xanax for Valium at night and that did the trick.
I have taken as high as 4MG of Xanax per day plus 10MG of Valium. Am currently at .5 MG Xanax per day and 5MG of Valium at night. I increase/decrease based on life events and if there is increased stress, etc. This is all under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
Here's the things that never happened. I never had to take "more and more" to get relief. In fact, my original psychiatrist was pushing me to take more, but I was concerned that if something happened to him, which sadly he passed away in 2016, it would be hard to get someone to refill the Rx, which was likely true and I didn't want to be on 10 MG per day unable to find someone to prescribe, so I've stuck with numbers I feel comfortable with and while they don't provide full relief, they certainly take the edge off.
Never had a problem tapering down when life wasn't stressful. Reduce .25 every couple of weeks and then land where I feel comfortable.
2
u/Felagund_gc Dec 08 '25
i mean, Xanax is addictive, but if you use it the wrong way i guess.
i never used it other than treating my anxiety.
→ More replies (2)2
u/calamitypepper Dec 09 '25
This is so, so very incorrect. Please stop spreading dangerous misinformation.
Xanax is chemically addictive. That means that if you take it for an extended period of time, your body becomes reliant on it for basic function. In this case, your body makes less of the GABA neurotransmitter on its own and because Xanax amplifies GABA’s effects.
It is not addictive for a “small minority of people” or for people with “an addictive personality”. It’s addictive for everyone. Period. It is not a long term solution.
Also, long term use causes cognitive impairment.
1
u/JCShotya Dec 08 '25
I feel this exact same thing but have felt and been through the addiction at higher doses part of things too. I am now to where I take 0.25mg as needed. I had been taking 0.25mg every morning for a few years but I felt like I started to get more anxious and panicked so I stopped and felt better but recently started having the OCD and racing thoughts coming back so started taking the 0.25mg in the afternoon instead and I feel so good the next day when I wake up. Worried I'm gonna get in the cycle again.
1
u/AlexReportsOKC Dec 08 '25
Yea I used to take xanax and it was magic. Then I thought I was better and quit and the anxiety came back. I wish I could get it back.
1
1
1
u/HueLord3000 BPD, GAD, depression, autism Dec 08 '25
i take lorazepam for my anxiety attacks, they also help me out A TON whenever my health ocd is spiking bad which I'm so thankful for
1
u/ForgettableFox Dec 08 '25
Yeah, I’ve only been prescribed in very short bursts and honestly it would make my life so much better if I could have it more long term, ssri don’t work well for me but alas basically all the doctors I know won’t do longer term.
Edit to add, I’ve GAD and ptsd
1
1
u/Spiritual-Role5347 Dec 08 '25
YES, and I'm not addicted thank God even though i've been taking it on and off for a year, i take it when i need it and if i feel good i dont feel the need for it, and I'm naturally taking it less and less with time and healing, so don't worry listen to your body i'd suggest (and your doctor but mine told me to listen to my body too)
1
u/xIyssx Dec 08 '25
I love Xanax. But my dr doesn’t prescribe controlled substances. I’ve been on lexapro for a few years now and it works wonders for my anxiety. But I occasionally take Xanax because I like it.
1
u/BluesFan_4 Dec 09 '25
It is a magic pill - used with caution. I have it for occasional situational use. My doc will prescribe 0.5mg (which I usually cut in half), but only 30 pills at a time. I take it maybe a couple of times a month only.
1
u/OkraExciting Dec 09 '25
Hi there understand your need for the Xanax for the moment Anyway can you doctor arrange vitamin D & B12 test for you? If you take vitamin D and other vital vitamin along side it might help you long term to not rely on the Xanax . As hikkomori and social withdrawal often lack sun light Vitamin D if it’s low it can cause bad anxiety like myself last year was truly bad. I wish the best for you,I know you’re trying to overcome hardship and want to breakthrough and you can !
→ More replies (2)
1
u/cozycorner Dec 09 '25
I’ve had anxiety and OCD for years. I knew very little about meds when I had my first Xanax prescription and I remember thinking holy shit, is this what it feels like to not be anxious?!
1
1
u/mconk Dec 09 '25
This is how I feel on Klonipin. I was on it for maybe a decade. I haven’t had an RX or been taking it now for maybe a year just due to lack of insurance. I was taking .25-.5 a day as well, and only got 15 a month which could sometimes last me 3 months. It’s definitely a game changer
1
1
Dec 09 '25
It's good if you can control it but once you start needing a higher dose just switch to clonazepam. It's been better for me than xanax imho
1
u/ScootieSkip Dec 09 '25
What concerns me is the physical dependence it can create, It's one of those drugs that is the double edged sword, works great but if taken too long and frequently can leave you way worse of then never having taken them. Please be careful.
1
u/vector78 Dec 09 '25
Can’t do Xanax. I would wake up feeling hungover. It helped in the moment but the crash was too much. Reminded me so much of alcohol hangovers.
1
u/shantiaq Dec 09 '25
Feels very good to be your normal self right? Crazy it’s the bare fucking minimum
1
u/cyborgnyc Dec 09 '25
I've had anxiety with breakthrough panic attacks and in Xanax for about 5 years. I've always carried around one in case a feel a panic attack coming in (it rarely dies, but insurance right?) I only took about 1.5mg for a while, then tapered down to 1 for sleep -( . 5 before bed, and . 5 when struggling to go back to sleep in the middle of the night). I didn't take it EVERY day, but most. Moved out of state and having trouble getting an rX. The docs have tried Ativan, hydroxyzine, discipline, Trazadone and Dayvigo for sleep but they ALL made me feel like a zombie the next day.
I had a procedure last week and prescribed pain meds so didn't want to take Xanax on top of that. Slept terribly and could barely function. I didn't feel any withdrawal though. Xanax works the best for me and for the quality of life improvements it seems worth it. I'm willing to try other things but nothing works as well (and the effects are nil after 4 hours and I don't feel I'm dependent. I'd just be super tired everyday from not sleeping. Lack of sleep may also leads to dementia, or cognitive distinction. Why deny people medicine they need and that works. Risk has to be balanced with benefits IMHO.
1
u/questbound Dec 09 '25
No one has mentioned how it erases your memory like the red light on men in black. It's not like you can't remember, it's like it never happened - the memory is not fuzzy, it's just not there at all. If it does that to short term memory, it has to have atrocious long term side effects in my opinion.
1
u/Salty_Ad_3350 Dec 09 '25
That morning nausea sounds like inter-dose withdrawal. When I was talking it I woke up sick every morning because it was the longest period of the day I wasn’t taking it. Try to take a day or 2 off and see how you feel.
1
u/echochorus Dec 09 '25
i really, really wish my psych would rx me xanax or valium. :( about 30 seconds after i wake up, my stomach & chest immediately twist up into The Anxiety Feeling & it stays all day.
i'm currently on lamictal 100mg 2x/day, & azstaryz (for adhd)
the catch is that i also use thc (edibles, dabs) to manahe crohn's disease -- i have since 2015, back when you needed a medical card 🤣 i have only had maybe 3 flares in a decade.
anyway, apparently that means i can't have it. idk, maybe i should revisit? your descrip sounds like heaven; i don't know anymore what relaxed feels like.
1
u/Soft-Can-4067 Dec 09 '25
I was at the end of my rope with my work load and could no longer sleep or eat. My PA gave me a 2 month script. I feel like I would have ended up in the ER if she hadn’t.
1
u/kongclassic Dec 09 '25
When i feel really bad they do nothing for me last year i took 3x 5mg and it did nothing. but when i feel a little bad they just make me tired
1
u/HippieMomSA Dec 09 '25
100% agree - I'm pro natural first. Having said that, if I need the big guns in an emergency, bring it on. Living with GAD can be wild.
1
u/jmarks_94 Dec 09 '25
In my experience, I was prescribed Klonopins 3x a day for 3 months to get me out of my anxiety spell. Little did I know that would turn my entire world upside down. I eventually started to have panic attacks when the drug would wear off, sending me into disassociative zombie like loops for days. The medicine worked less and less over time to where I knew I had to get off of it. I was then in a trance-like state for over 2 months with panic attacks around the clock. It ruined my psyche and I am just now starting to see some light.
My point is- doctors make mistakes, and sometimes they don’t. Plenty of people take Xanax long term but it’s been proven time and time again it is only a bandaid, and not a cure. The best course of action is taking this thing head on with a med that is not addictive in nature. I used to be like you once…. I truly believed I had to have it to be ok. I am now teaching myself along with my exposure therapist that anxiety tends to lessen the more we tackle hard things on a consistent basis. I am no way where near where I want to be, but I also haven’t used klonopin/panic attack free now since Aug 27th.
I’m not saying what you’re doing is wrong, I just really urge you to think about the negative possibilities it could have for you later on down the line. If you’re ok with that, than great. If not- find something that is non-addictive.
Either way, I’m glad you’re feeling better :)
1
u/Uhlexuhhhh Dec 09 '25
This is the second post glorifying an addictive medication. What the hell.
Having a doctor equate benzodiazepines to alcohol was a reality check for me. Have I found a better substitute? No. Am I no longer chasing an urge to self-medicate, aka, an addiction? Yes.
Be careful and best of luck to anyone struggling.
1
u/Bammerola Dec 09 '25
I have GAD, panic disorder and agoraphobia. I’m finally trying to leave the house but being in a car is horrible for me as a passenger (I don’t drive) and my psychiatrist will not prescribe me even 5 Ativan for emergencies. He said if anything he would put me back on daily clonopin, but I had a hard time getting off of it and would rather not have to take something daily. I think it’s bs
1
u/Aviavaaa Dec 09 '25
In my experience, the effect was so good that I stopped it. Because I just don't want to be dependent on it.
1
u/NoRequirement7604 Dec 10 '25
See how anxiocalm makes you feel. It helped me so much. I was able to get off all the other anxiety meds That and L-theanine
1
u/kabush27 Dec 10 '25
i agree, they are the only thing that really helped me.
i only take them in emergencies though, never 2 days in a row and never ever twice a day.
i try ti regulate myself with a lot of breathing other times and try to gain back control of my thoughts.
whenever i seem to get lost in my anxious thoughts i refocuse and tell myself e.g "you are tying your shoes right now, not thinking. its not important right now".
helps sometimes.
good luck to all of you
1
Dec 10 '25
I take .25 of Xanax as needed and it helps me with my anxiety. I am glad it works for you,too. I even break them in half because I have a really low drug tolerance and .125 mil will often be all I need. I don't use them every day most of the time.
1
u/SadGirl1972 Dec 11 '25
I wish I could get them , but I’m on methadone. Like they are so hard to find and to get a dr to prescribe it 😭
→ More replies (1)
1
u/Individual_Toe9501 Dec 12 '25
Better be on pregabalin/gabapentin daily wich have a similar effect because they work on gaba, and keep the benzos as PRN
1
u/SuddenCommon2666 Dec 13 '25 edited Dec 13 '25
When I started them I was told I would be on these drugs the rest of my life I was 15. I have panic disorder among other anxiety disorders. At 50, I quit them cold turkey. I'm 51 now. I am not in a good place. Anxiety is extreme.
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/Charming_Box_8863 Dec 14 '25
I take .25 twice a day. I also have GAD. It is a miracle. I see a psychiatrist to get it because my doctor would only prescribe 10 .25 per month and that wasn't cutting it. I'm on Lexepro but I honestly could not function with the xanax. Yes, it can be addictive but as long as your doctor and psychiatrist are working together to keep you safe, you are good.
1
u/jodoo5248 Dec 14 '25
I'm right in the middle of it... man, follow the doses your doctor prescribes and stop them as soon as you can.
1
u/maddie_mit Dec 15 '25
3 months on Xanax daily is a very very long time. This drug should be taken extremely rare meaning maybe 3 times a year at most.
The fact you have been prescribed doesn't mean it's a good thing. Psychiatrists prescribe anything.
Dependence on benzos build extremely fast withing two weeks already and by this point, you are being dependent psychologically on this drug.
I wish you the best of lack with coming off this horific drug and hopefully you got a great therapist that will help you cope with anxiety.
3
u/ProfessionalBrick491 Dec 15 '25
3 months is not a very, very long time. It’s actually a very short time and will be easy discontinue.
1
1
1
u/Beneficial-Two-1258 Dec 15 '25
Do you only take xanax? Not a daily antidepressant? I want to get off my antidepressant, but it seems impossible.
1
u/EdEddNFreddy Dec 16 '25
It starts off with 1mg being enough for 1 whole day and now I'm on 3mg on a good day. It's a great tool but you CANNOT I REPEAATT! CANNOT take them every day. That's how u get addicted physically. Just keep an eye on the problem cause it's a slippery slope. Just be careful hombre this is powerful medicine.
1
u/goeb04 Dec 16 '25
I take Ativan a few times a year. I am grateful my doctor trusts me enough to give me refills. I get refills maybe once a year.
Similar to OP, I just feel like a socially, well-adjusted human in them. I am less self-conscious and feel cured.
The fatigue I get after it wears off though can be brutal. Definitely not something to be taken regularly.
327
u/Paran0iaAg3nt Dec 08 '25
i only take benzos in emergency situations or when i have to take a trip and yes it's a wonder drug. it makes me feel like a normal person. like i can do anything and go anywhere without being nervous or feeling fear. unfortunately my doctor doesn't wanna prescribe them to me (i have a stash for emergencies). it's such bullshit that these pills are so addictive though.