Well, I got my Xanax

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Well, I got my Xanax
6
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 10:07am

I haven't had to take it yet. And honestly I'm hoping I don't have to ever. But I have it just in case. My doctor was rather cautious about prescribing it for me. We discussed it thoroughly before he decided to prescribe it.

Now, for those of you who have taken Xanax, what might I expect? How long does it last? Has anyone ever had to take it a few days in a row, and if so, was it addictive?

My dr. said that often times one will get a feeling of euphoria when first taking this medication and that feeling can kinda trick the brain into wanting to take it again for anxiety that might not be so intense. I'm a little nervous about taking it because of this. But I have a strong will not to become dependent. What I really want is to just get better.

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 1:24pm

Well, I spoke too soon. I had me a doozy of a panic attack. Ended up taking a Xanax afterall.

I felt a chest pain underneath my left breast and a couple minutes later I felt a pain in the underside of my left arm. Immediately I think "heart attack!" However I try to just relax still avoiding the Xanax. I sit down on the floor to distract myself by playing with dd. A few minutes later I got this awful dizzy spell. It felt like the room was tilting and I was gonna black out. Oh it felt out of control. So I took the Xanax, freaked out and called the afterhours line at my clinic. One of the doctors called me back and assured me that I am not having a heart atttack. He said heart attacks only get worse and I would be sweating, difficulty breathing, and pain in my back and in my jaw too. He also told me that it's normal to get a dizzy spell like that with a panic attack. He explained the the chest pains are most likely because of the upper respiratory crap I've been dealing with and all the coughing I've been doing is causing stress in my chest area. He thinks taking the Xanax was the right thing to do and thinks I should talk to my doctor about either increasing the Zoloft or trying something else.

So here I sit now. I feel pretty calm. No feeling of euphoria or anything real weird. I don't even feel spaced out or sleepy. I'm just gonna keep praying that I don't have any more episodes such as this. It's really getting to be more than I can handle.

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 1:48pm

Xanax *can* be addictive if not taken as directed or to some sensitive individuals. Meds effect all of us differently. Your dr. knows you & your system best. I would follow his directions. For short term use in panic attacks, many people in our community have taken it. It will not take your anxiety totally away. It is just a tool. You need to identify the triggers of your anxiety if you can and/or learn to cope with the uncomfortable feelings you experience when you have a panic attack. There are some people in our community who take xanax & other meds in the benzodiazepine family, long term & have no problems. It is possible to feel *high* or euphoric when taking any sort or tranquilizer or pain pill. But, generally that's @ higher than normal doses or the result of people who are abusing drugs. That is NOT you, bluemarlin_girl.


I read your second post, too. I have had so many panic attacks in my life & most of them brought the fear of a heart attack to the forefront. That is very common. Use that to your advantage. Assure yourself that you will be fine. You will not die, go crazy or lose control. That though uncomfortable, the symptoms you feel are tension & normal body response to fear. I know all too well that *tilted* sort of feeling. I am glad to know that we have something in common. NOT GLAD that either of us has to have panic attacks):


I have taken xanax in the past & it was successful for my panic. Now, I occasionally take a klonopin(same kind of drug) when I need, too. There is nothing wrong with that. I am afraid to take meds, too. Sometimes I have to convince myself that the med will not hurt me. That is a common fear among folks with anxiety. I think you did a swell job for getting through the attack & taking a xanax for the first time. You may have felt out of control, but you called for help & were given the reassurance that you needed. Next time, you may be able to deal with taking the xanax, allowing it to do it's job & know that you'll be fine. That the uncomfortable symptoms have a time limit & they will pass. Good luck to you & GB! (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 3:51pm

Thank you, Jan. :) You are so understanding, insightful and supportive.

You know, I thought about this afterward: I'm proud of myself for NOT going straight to the ER when this happened. Instead I called my doctor's office for medical advice and got it all worked out. Prior to this day I would most certainly have wound up in the ER. So I think I'm already getting better in handling it anyway. Even though I must confess that I did call dh at work when this happened and I was begging him to come home. He's the one that suggested I simply call my doctor first. I followed his advice and now I'm okay.

We are most likely going Christmas shopping later this afternoon. I think I can handle that just fine. I tend to do better when DH is with me.

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 12-17-2005 - 9:54pm

I'm glad the doctor prescribed the xanax for you.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Sun, 12-18-2005 - 10:03am
I think it stayed in my system a little longer than that. When we went shopping (which wasn't until around 7pm) I was still somewhat spacey. So Sherriann, have you taken it a couple or few days in a row when you've needed? And never had a problem?

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sun, 12-18-2005 - 11:27am

When I was first prescribed the xanax, it was every 6 hours around the clock for an acute panic disorder.

Sheri Ann