Xanax (Alprazolam) For PTSD

[All The Blessings]

My husband has been taking lorazepam and temazepam since July 2010. His PTSD symptoms have increased so severely on these medications over the last eight months since his dosage was upped that it lead to near death.

In the article Benzodiazepines: What They Do in the Body by Professor C H Ashton of the Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, England, UK, it talks in depth about benzodiazepines. It was there, we found that risks as damaging as suicide are highly connected to long term use (as short as four months) of benzodiazepines. I am so scared of people using these medications because I almost lost my husband to them, that I urge you to read this article and become informed on all the risks that accompany benzodiazepines.

I do hope that you are able to find something that helps you enjoy every day life without carrying the burden of all your anxieties and depression. It is an unfair world and I am sorry for that.

 

[goingonhope]

Dosage

The recommended dosage is 1 - 10mg per day, however; the more common dosages for treatment of PTSD could be much higher than the recommended dosage per day.

Spontaneous reporting system data suggest that the risk of dependence and its severity appear to be greater in patients treated with doses greater than 4 mg/day and for long periods (more than 12 weeks).

I was temporarily prescribed Xanax the other day and know not to take any for my general anxiety. I believe I will always be subject to that, though I have had it feel as if it has mostly lifted for long periods of time, but not without effort and other constructive healing decisions.

It's been only recently that I've been able to identify the word panic and call the sky-high anxiety that I can suffer and its manifestations, -panic attacks. I can't believe that I didn't know enough to use the proper terminology and what with my memory so bad and a very hectic life, I couldn't get any relief during these, or while rapidly escalating.

Anyhow, I am very cautious with such an addictive medication and am so for a number of reasons, just one of which is, that I need to be able to preserve my ability and right to receive such relief from unexpected and too enormous anxiety/panic.

Reading the above, I am very happy with my GP who recently helped me not die (this is what I felt like) or come totally undone, (and it was happeninig).

I am pleased that he did allow me relief and yet he did so at a very low dose of .25. I won't even allow myself to take these daily, nor did I in previous times. In fact, I've thrown out prior other prescriptions, because the ultimate goal is what's best, healing and survival.

I do apoligize here, if I shared to much.

 

[MannyJo1982]

Hi. I have PTSD agoraphobia ova and a panic disorder. I go not abuse my meds. I take 2 mg 4 times a day. 8 mg. and I can see how the extra mg would help for the night terrors. Just saying :)

 

[MannyJo1982]

@tosatel you hit the nail on the head. Right ON

 

[HawaiiWinds]

@tosatel you hit the nail on the head. Right ON

I agree. I have had PTSD for most of my life. I would classify it as treatment resistance PTSD from my experiences with medications. Because docs are so hesitant to prescribe benzodiazepines like Xanax to people who have this disabling illness, I have had many days and nights of intense stress which affects an entire household, roommates and spouse, - not only me. Treatment resistance illness IS different. Prozac has helped with the feelings of dispair that come from the PTSD but not the dissociation or the flashbacks. Effexor did not help my PTSD, nor did Lithium, Lamictal, Ativan, Klonopin, Risperidol, or Seroquil. Zoloft was a wonder drug... And then one week it abruptly stopped working after a wonderful year of healing. Then I felt like crap again like I had been cast out of a lucid dream.
The only drugs that never stopped working were high dose Valium, Xanax, and Wellbutrin.
This is my honest account of living with diagnosed PTSD and how medicines have affected me. I hope my account can help people understand there is such a thing as treatment resistant PTSD and it is not an algorithm for "addiction."

 

[Ed Norton]

Too damn short acting and not long lasting. High addictive potential too. Ativan or klonopin is better imo..but they aren't immediately satisfying.

 

[Ed Norton]

Well short acting is good actually but the short half life is the trouble..not the best for more generalized anxiety reaction..great for panic.

 

[Adrian2016]

I know of sufferers who take xanax like tic tacs! 10mg is a major dose, however; whilst that affects your body...

Yes it is true. I used to take around 30 mg a day. You can go as high as you want when you have a severe tolerance and dependency and still be able to function, just at a much lower capacity.