Xanax Question About Using At Social Events

[SeekingAfrica]

So, my therapist put me on Elicea 10mg (escitalopram, alternate name for Cipralex) to try for depression/anxiety- half for 5-6 days and then 1x day after...It's been only 10 days, so we'll see how that works. But so far, the side effects have been mild, so I have no complains.
However, she did say it will take at least 2-3 weeks to see effects, and in the mean time she wanted me to have Xanax as an option to take "as needed" if I have any really bad anxiety attack or day or whatever. She prescribed me the milder version (0.5mg) to take 1x when needed...
I told her I was worried if it affects my behavior or something noticably, and she said if it bothers me, to then take it when I am at home...But I usually get more anxious when I have lots of going out. Like today, I feel that I am all in knots, all uncertain about the day, the week, etc...And I feel like taking it...But I have a coffee meeting with friends later, and I don't want to be a zombie or something. Okay, that is probably over-generalization, but since I have never taken it, I'd rather be cautious.

Anyone has any relevant experience to this?
I saw many people posting about Xanax, but mostly when they are prescribed to take it regularly, not like me.

 

[Friday]

I'm a big fan of empirical testing. Meaning that when I'm worried how I'm going to respond/react to a medication I haven't taken before? I take it. Before i need it. To find out how I'm going to respond / react.

 

[Crow]

I got hooked but in the beginning Xanax was a life saver and allowed me to work and be around people. Cut the pill in half and take half. Then you can take the other half if you're still whigging out.

 

[EveHarrington]

It's good to try meds (any med) for the first time in the privacy of your own home because you never know how you're going to react. I've experienced rare side effects that could have killed me!

 

[SeekingAfrica]

I'm a big fan of empirical testing. Meaning that when I'm worried how I'm going to respond/react to a medication I haven't taken before? I take it. Before i need it. To find out how I'm going to respond / react.

Good point! I got through one of my meetings today, so I just have to get through the other, and I think I will test it tonight. That way I have some awake time both in the evening and morning to see how I feel.

I got hooked but in the beginning Xanax was a life saver and allowed me to work and be around people. Cut the pill in half and take half. Then you can take the other half if you're still whigging out.

I once did try half- but it was a night when I was both extremely upset and extremely tired in every possible way....And had less than 6h to sleep with very full day the next day. So I took half and went to bed. I slept good, and awoke before my alarm, very rested, only had headache....But I am not sure if that was side-effect since with the day I had before that, I would have probably had headache either way.
So if I've tried half before, should I still take half or try one?

It's good to try meds (any med) for the first time in the privacy of your own home because you never know how you're going to react. I've experienced rare side effects that could have killed me!

As I said in the previous comment, I actually tried half of that 0.5 once and it was fine...so probably I don't have bad side effects...But I was still hesitant to do it when I'm going out, because I tried it immediately before sleep...so I'm not sure how I think/move/ etc etc. on it. I'm more worried about being sleepy or loopy or something of the sort, not really knowing what I'm doing or something...
But on the side of causion: could you tell me what side effects you got(unless it's private) and what you did about it? Because if anything were to happen, I don't really have a regular GP or something here, so I wouldn't know whom to call...

 

[SeekingAfrica]

Well, I just took one and I will probably go to sleep in 3-4 h max, so it will give me ample time to figure out how I feel. Also, it's an experiment in whether it helps me sleep and how I will feel in the morning.
And I left 12-15h window from now in which I'm sure I'll be home, to have time to get it out of my system, in case the effects aren't as needed.