It is to relieve anxiety and stress. My husband lost his job and we have had a rough 6 months. It helps me relax but I don't want to take too much to get the point where I can not go without it. I am just trying to be careful and looking for what others have experienced. Thanks.
Submitted by opiateissue on Fri, 04/17/2009 - 23:26.
Yes, you're taking it as prescribed. Only take it as needed. the doctors are obligated to tell you to take it like the makers or the drug tell him because they want to avoid being sued. But everyone that I know who takes it NEVER eats as much as they tell you.
First Xanax is the worst of all the addictions. You can die from Xanax withdraw. It is worse than heroin so I have heard. It is also a dangerous withdraw / addiction. You also have to be careful what you eat and drink with it because almost everyone you hear of overdosing from pain meds or alcohol also had some anti-anxiety in their system. So just be careful not to mix it with other drugs or alcohol. Although it is the best come-down drug in the world. Just space it out and take as little as you need to get the effect you need.
I found that I could take 1/16 of the prescribed dose when i needed it to prevent panic attacks. Literally I would bite off the smallest piece I could and wait and if that didn't work take a bit more.
So less is more in the case of anti-anxiety meds. Take it only when you need it or feel an onset of anxiety or a panic attack and take 1/2 of what they tell you to take. You can always take more. Then you can save it for when you don't have a script and save money. One script I had lasted me 3 years because they prescribed me 80 with 3 refills. That was a ton of Xanax.
And be careful because chemical dependency to Xanax is the worst. I have a friend who was addicted for years and it took him years to ween back down. Another friend I had was addicted to Kolonopin which is very similar (like valium - better than Xanax) and he had a rough time coming off it and it's more mellow than Xanax. I tend to prefer it because the hang over is more subtle.
So the answer to your question is that is depends on what you need. if you need it 4 times a day - take it 4 times a day. if you can skip 1-2 doses or skip days all together it is much better for YOU. Your doctor wants you to take it as prescribed to protect his ass but there is no danger in taking less. It is not an antibiotic where you need a consistent dose. it is not an anti-depressant where you need a consistent amount in your system. And Xanax has a long half life. Research it further if you don't know these things. The long half life means every day you take it you still have some left in your system that has not been metabolized and you are building up more and more inside you - hence the horrible addiction and overdoses. You may not realize it but you might already have 10mg in your system when you start your day. You need time to metabolize all of the drug.
I would play it by ear and keep in mind that less is more in this case. If you don't trust me ask your doctor off the record and he will tell you not to eat Xanax 4 times a day unless you are seriously in risk of major panic attacks. Even then you won't need it every day. Start doing it every other day at first and you will see that after regular use you still have it in your system after taking it one day. The following day it has not completely metabolized. Research Xanax half-life for more info.
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This is an interesting question. What are you prescribed and why are you prescribed it? When do you find yourself taking the pills?
It is to relieve anxiety and stress. My husband lost his job and we have had a rough 6 months. It helps me relax but I don't want to take too much to get the point where I can not go without it. I am just trying to be careful and looking for what others have experienced. Thanks.
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF MEDICATION THEN IT WOULD BE VERY AGGRESSIVE FOR A DOCTOR TO PUT YOU ON THAT MUCH OF A DOSE.
Yes, you're taking it as prescribed. Only take it as needed. the doctors are obligated to tell you to take it like the makers or the drug tell him because they want to avoid being sued. But everyone that I know who takes it NEVER eats as much as they tell you.
First Xanax is the worst of all the addictions. You can die from Xanax withdraw. It is worse than heroin so I have heard. It is also a dangerous withdraw / addiction. You also have to be careful what you eat and drink with it because almost everyone you hear of overdosing from pain meds or alcohol also had some anti-anxiety in their system. So just be careful not to mix it with other drugs or alcohol. Although it is the best come-down drug in the world. Just space it out and take as little as you need to get the effect you need.
I found that I could take 1/16 of the prescribed dose when i needed it to prevent panic attacks. Literally I would bite off the smallest piece I could and wait and if that didn't work take a bit more.
So less is more in the case of anti-anxiety meds. Take it only when you need it or feel an onset of anxiety or a panic attack and take 1/2 of what they tell you to take. You can always take more. Then you can save it for when you don't have a script and save money. One script I had lasted me 3 years because they prescribed me 80 with 3 refills. That was a ton of Xanax.
And be careful because chemical dependency to Xanax is the worst. I have a friend who was addicted for years and it took him years to ween back down. Another friend I had was addicted to Kolonopin which is very similar (like valium - better than Xanax) and he had a rough time coming off it and it's more mellow than Xanax. I tend to prefer it because the hang over is more subtle.
So the answer to your question is that is depends on what you need. if you need it 4 times a day - take it 4 times a day. if you can skip 1-2 doses or skip days all together it is much better for YOU. Your doctor wants you to take it as prescribed to protect his ass but there is no danger in taking less. It is not an antibiotic where you need a consistent dose. it is not an anti-depressant where you need a consistent amount in your system. And Xanax has a long half life. Research it further if you don't know these things. The long half life means every day you take it you still have some left in your system that has not been metabolized and you are building up more and more inside you - hence the horrible addiction and overdoses. You may not realize it but you might already have 10mg in your system when you start your day. You need time to metabolize all of the drug.
I would play it by ear and keep in mind that less is more in this case. If you don't trust me ask your doctor off the record and he will tell you not to eat Xanax 4 times a day unless you are seriously in risk of major panic attacks. Even then you won't need it every day. Start doing it every other day at first and you will see that after regular use you still have it in your system after taking it one day. The following day it has not completely metabolized. Research Xanax half-life for more info.