Low Dose Of Xanax Frequency

[Deleted member 1860]

Is there a reason for Xanax instead of another benzo? Supposedly Xanax is more addictive because it has a shorter half life. Why not Ativan?

 

[ellienad]

Is there a reason for Xanax instead of another benzo? Supposedly Xanax is more addictive because it has a shorter half life. Why not Ativan?

I am on Xanax because it supposedly works faster and seems to stop the panic attack within just a few minutes. I can still feel it working about 5+ hours after taking it as well, which helps prevent further panic attacks throughout the day. I've never tried Ativan so I can't speak from personal experience, but I've heard that it is not as fast acting and can have more of a "drowsy" effect.

 

[mamachick]

thank you gizmo. I am glad that you are able to reduce dose now. You have been through so much, and I know that when the crisis is over, the symptoms can live on. Keep taking care!

 

[Hashi]

I've found a benzodiazepine (which Xanax is) useful if I use it in a very, very restricted way. Since they're associated with dependency, and the need for increasing quantities, and also with possible side effects from prolonged use like hallucinations, I wanted to minimise my use of them. I'm glad you're thinking the same.

What worked best for me was actually moving away from the benzodiazepine as much as possible, and taking one beta blocker a day for about 10 days while using that time to do a ton of work on skills to reduce/manage the anxiety. I really mean a ton of work - 2 to 3 hours a day of practising the exercises. I don't know if you're practising them when you're not anxious, but that's how to make them second nature so you don't have this situation:

the reason I started taking Xanax is because my anxiety and panic attacks get so bad I can't even remember how to do the coping skills in the moment. I'm finding that when I take even half of the .25mg Xanax it calms me down enough to where I can actually use the coping mechanisms I've learned.

I would like to gently challenge this a little. Or rather, I would like to ask whether you could gently challenge yourself a bit more here. For example, identifying a single "go to" exercise to do if you're having a panic attack, writing that on a piece of paper and wrapping your Xanax in the paper - so you see (and try) the exercise before you take one. For me the go to exercise is always breathing techniques. Even if the exercise is not very effective at first, simply trying to concentrate on doing it can have some grounding effect.

Of course, it probably won't work well at all at first - that's why we need to practise. But I think it's important not to establish a routine of "take Xanax - do coping exercises" and instead "try coping exercises - take Xanax if still needed".

Or better, to give yourself a one to two week period where you do take something each day, but are then working proactively on building up coping skills. Not just reactively by using them after you've had a panic attack, or even practising them a bit on top of that. What I'm suggesting is using Xanax (or whatever) to enable you to do a sort of coping skills boot camp, so that by the end of 10 days or so, you will definitely remember how to do the coping skills before taking anything, and they will be working much more effectively for you.

 

[KwanYingirl]

This is a great thread! I take .5mg of Xanax as needed. I have severe chemical sensitivities and an exposure to just one person wearing perfume will cause my throat to close up and my nervous system goes haywire. If I spend a day in Boston, I get so fumed out I can't drive. This is when the Xanax works for me so i can function. I don't feel addicted to it that is to say my body doesn't crave it when it wears off. Everything I read about it says to use with caution. I haven't built up a tolerance to it. I've had the same dose for years. For my anxiety that I get from PTSD, I take geodone. It lasts all day. Only problem is I gained a lot of weight with it.

 

[ellienad]

Thank you for your suggestions and advice @Hashi . I don't think I was clear on what I meant though, so I would like to explain a bit further.

I work on coping mechanisms and exercises regularly with my therapist, and I practice them on a daily basis. I usually set aside a little time each day when I'm in a relaxed state to practice them and I also put them to use when I'm having general anxiety throughout the day. The Xanax is there for me when I'm in a triggering situation or in "panic mode" and the coping mechanisms and exercises just aren't working. I will always try an exercise or coping technique before taking the Xanax, but sometimes the panic takes over.

I am still in the fairly early stages of therapy, and still in the very early stages of trying Xanax. I'm in the process of seeing what works for me, and what the best combination of coping techniques and/or Xanax is. One thing I have found with taking Xanax, is that it made me realize I'm capable of being in a state of calm. This has been a great tool on the days where I don't take one, and begin to feel anxious. I can remind myself of that calmness and through breathing and mindfulness can bring myself to that place.

I most definitely don't want to be taking Xanax forever, and would like to get to a point where I can calm my anxiety with coping mechanisms alone. I'm not there yet and still have a long way to go, but this is my end goal and look forward to getting to that point.