[laverne52]

I Found Out This Morning My Son Has Taken This Pill Called Xanax And I Dont Know What It Is For. The Pill Ident. Says For Depression And The Kids Said It Is For Pain. Could Someone Tell Me What The Side Effects Are. I Am So Worried For Him. He Is 18 But, Think He Is Headed Down The Wrong Road.

Mother Worried

[mpvt]

Xanax is a benzodiazepine and are supposed to only be used for short term. If he is taking it without a prescription then he's headed for trouble as xanax is the most abused benzo there is. Valium is also a benzodiazepine, I have never heard them used for pain.He shouldn't take this med for any longer than 2 weeks at a time. A potentialy dangerous drug if abused.....Dave

[mjohnson06]

At my last job (an alzheimers unit), I had given this medication many times as a prn (as needed) medication to residents that were very anxious/combative to calm them down or help them fall asleep when they were too anxious/combative to fall asleep. I would question why your child is taking this at 18 y/o. I am not too much older than him, and wonder what reason would I take a medication like this, unless it is for anxiety? The only effects I have seen for this medication is as a Central Nervous System depressant/relaxer. The residents would calm down in a short amount of time, and either be at a "mellow" state, or be asleep. I have had a family member take this medication w/o a physician prescribing it to them (they got it from someone else- so they said anyway when questioned) b/c they always "felt on edge". Maybe your child is having anxiety issues, but still, a dr would need to prescribe this, and this is a strong medication in my opinion. You have all rights to be concerned, and as someone's daughter, I respect you for being worried, sometimes we do not realize what we put our parent's through until we "grow up" a little.