Temporary Increase In Anxiety Meds?

[FauxLiz]

Over the past year I have gone from 1mg of Xanax three times a day to .25mg of Xanax twice a day and though the titration down has generally been good for me as I am working to get to a point that I can do .25-.5mg as needed for panic attacks and anxiety.

The thing is right now at work I am in the middle of a project that has me all but paralyzed in fear and anxiety. Asking someone else for assistance is not an option and failing to complete the project could potentially be grounds for termination as it is not only that important to the organization but the deadlines for completion are non-negotiable as they are dictated by state and local law.

Would it be reasonable to ask my Pdoc to temporarily increase the dosage to get through this project? The reduction in dosage was my decision as I have a chronic medical/pain condition that I was informed about a year ago by a pain specialist that he nor any other pain specialists would treat as I was on "too many" psychiatric medications. (At the time I was on the Xanax an A-D and adderall as my ability to focus after brain surgery was compromised). I truly need help for the pain condition and have seen specialists all over the US if my psych meds are the stumbling block to getting help and relief I will give them up but right now no amount of grounding is helping the fact that every time I start to work on the project I have a panic attack.

 

[FauxLiz]

I know as I read my OP here that I should just be thankful that I have the ability to function as well as I do when so many people I meet here struggle daily just to get out of bed.

And that's the thing I am rapidly sliding down the rabbit hole. I stare at the computer screen and can't remember what I am supposed to do, I print out paperwork to create agenda packets for meetings and can't seem to find the way to put them in a senseable order. I am trying to develop a spreadsheet program for the new year that I use every year and I can't remember what I am supposed to do.

I have this knawing gut wrenching pain that feels as though all the air is being drawn out of my body and I can't talk or scream or sleep because I am afraid that the reality is that what ever this is is killing me and there is no way to stop it.

The thing is i am not sure that I want this to be something other than reality. If this is reality let it please please finally end. I have no way to escape anymore, I can't face and survive the future anymore when I am no longer able to function.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

I am so sorry that pain management has been dropping the ball on you. I'm on a TON of psych meds, and I have had no issues getting the pain meds I need. We've worked together and been able to get me from 60-80 mg of hydrocodone a day down to 20-30 mg a day, by adding in a couple of non-narcotic meds (tramadol and diclofenac). My pain doc and my psychiatrist communicate to keep each other in the loop.

As for asking for a temporary increase in the alprazolam while you finish this project... I think it sounds perfectly reasonable. I have various "bad dates" throughout the year, and my doc knows and approves that I take more anxiety meds around those times. THen when things are calmer, I take less than prescribed. It tends to balance out pretty well.

Call your doc and ask. Worst that can happen is they say no.

 

[Snowflakes]

Another option is to talk to your doctor to switching you to a longer duration benzodiazepine. My sufferer had a similar issue to yours and her doctor switched her from xanax to clonazepam. That seemed to have helped.