I have been taking Xanax IR 1mg 4x daily for many years for my anxiety disorder,but i still have severe panic attacks at times.My doctor has just prescribed 2mg Xanax XR once a day,I,ve never taken Xanax XR before and wondering if it will work better,I have concerns about it any feedback would be great.
Does Xanax XR work better than Xanax IR?
Question posted by countryboy1969 on 9 Feb 2012
Last updated on 30 April 2022 by Anonymous
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
18 Answers
Inactive
30 April 2022
Panic attacks are not in my head! It is purely my genetics and biochemistry. To make a global statement like that is just ignorant! If I could control it I would but some ppl aren’t in denial of mental illness like u r so thinking about ice cream won’t stop my anxiety or panic disorders trust me if anything I’ll have anxiety by trying to stop it with “happy thoughts” cuz it’s not worth trying when it’s not gonna help a mental illness
Mermim
29 Nov 2018
I was taking Xanax XR for about 12 years - 1 mg. in the am and 1 mg. in the pm. It stopped working after 12 years. I had to convince my GP to increase to 3 mg. - after he tried a couple of anit-depressants. The 3 mg. worked. It just evens me out. I have never had a problem with it. All doctors just want me off the benzos. They say they are not good for us, but the antidepressants do not work for me. I am not depressed, just anxious. I hope that this does work for you. Have you tried any of the other benzos?
AS1ck
5 May 2021
Hey everyone! unfortunately I have been prescribed Benzodiazepines since 2010. Today my doc called, and I explained to her im not doing so well and feeling anxious having panic attacks in between doses. So I told her Xanax IR and Klonopin have been the only ones that worked. I then asked her about the Extensed Version, but she said that another doctor would prescribe it and she was going to talk to him. Yesterday I was in Clonazepam 1mg 2x daily, and today she decided up the dose to 1mg 3x daily.
She explained to me she wouldn’t mind the Xanax Extended Release (ER) but many insurances do not cover it. She told me to see her June 1st and to see how I’m doing with the 1mg 3x daily Clonazepam, and next visit I will see her in person. I will then ask to switch to Xanax XR.
If I am currently on 3mg klonopin, wouldn’t she prescribe 3mg Xanax XR? Because they are the same dose IR ( 1mg Klonopin = 1mg Xanax )
Has anybody been on the Extended Release Xanax? Or have been switch from klonopin to Xanax xr? Really need your help thanks!
Antonfuq8600
29 Nov 2018
In my experience I was taken from 1mg 3 times a day of instant release to the 3mg extended release xanax xr.To me it's not even close.I couldn't tell I had taken anything all day the whole time I was on extended release for about 4 months.I consider them useless.After one takes a 1mg instant release you start to get a feeling of calm after about 20 minutes with peak blood-levels at 1-2 hours.The extended release cant even be chewed up to get relief from them working so slowly you get no effect.I didn't want to defeat the time release but they were doing nothing and I'd get desperate and tried to chew a couple up.ER sucks.
Floridaicequeen2011
29 April 2018
I take 2 milligram Xanax bars 4 times a day I don't take it like that everyday but that's what I take on top of Buspar Vistaril sleep aids I have two of those on top of that I have been night terror medicine and a couple of others that I take I take over 9 any psychotic medications my body metabolizes that way too fast so it's never a right reading or on a right level therefore I want a cocktail of medication
Mermim
3 Oct 2017
I was on Xanax XR for 12 years. What a difference it made in my life. Taking 2 mg at the same time made me a little dizzy, so I took one just before bed and one in the morning. I'd get 180 1 mg. tablets to last 3 months. Maybe splitting it would help.
It doesn't work for me anymore - I don't think. I'm now trying 3 mg. and the Dr. put me on an antidepressant - which I hate. I am not depressed! Well, now I may be getting depressed because antidepressants always make me gain weight! Not sure what to try after Xanax XR worked so well for 12 years! Anyway, try splitting your dosage. Hope it helps!
Bailey26
23 June 2017
This forum has really helped me. I was struggling on the ir because I would be up and down and I never felt relaxed. I was always waiting for the next attack. The doctor switched me over to xr and I do feel a little uncomfortable but no attacks today. This is my 3rd full day of taking the xr so I'm very hopeful I will be able to return to work
WorrierRose
8 June 2018
Hi Bailey,
I know your post is almost a year old so not sure if you’ll see this, but in case you do - are you still on the Xanax XR now? Does it still work well for you? I have been on .5mg, 2-3 times per day regular Xanax and some days I struggle with anxiety in between doses and find that it wears off faster then it did initially. I want to ask my doctor about the XR version but am scared to try it. Let me know how it’s worked for you?
S Marie
3 Feb 2017
It works MUCH better, and I found this out in a painfuI way! I have been taking xanax xr (generic) for a few years. I am also on other meds. Because one of the major pharmacies doesn't stock one of the meds, I was going to two major pharmacies. Last summer I decided to start gettting them all filled at the same pharmacy. After about a week, i didn't "feel" right. About a month later when I went for a routine physical my blood pressure was high. I thought it was just because the day was stressful. Then I had my first panic attack. Long story short, I went to my psychiatrist and he immediately noticed that my anxiety was out of control (blood pressure went from normal to 200/120 sustained, sweating, clenched jaw, shaking... ) and he thought they might be giving me the wrong meds. For over 3 months (2 original scripts, 2 refills), this major pharmacy was giving me ir, not xr, KNOWINGLY.
They said they don't even carry the XR, they read the original scripts back to me and knew they said XR, yes, I looked at the label (I just didn't notice the "XR" was missing). I basically went into xanax withdrawal twice a day (I take the XR twice a day) and had no idea what was happening. I can't sue because according to the law firms, the side effects are the same for both drugs. That might be true, but I didn't have "side effects", I had withdrawal symptoms. They were obviously negligent, my blood pressure is still whacky, I need 4 crowns because of the jaw clenching and grinding, and I had to go from 2 mg XR to 3 mg XR thanks to the added anxiety. The XR is much more "stable", and helps keep the anxiety at bay all day. This is only my experience, but after experiencing the withdrawal from the ir, I would never take it again. Hope that helped!
Christinaengland1964
2 Feb 2017
In my opinion, yes the xr do work better
Fred56
1 Nov 2016
Its really a joke played on us by Big Pharma to take more of your $$$. Xanax IR is dirt cheap... Im talking maybe $10 for a months worth. Xanax XR is extremely expensive. Doctors Rx the XR to earn more revenue for themselves and try to force you to take less by hitting your wallet hard. Its very expensive. If you look up the pharmacology of the 2, they are virtually identical. Both have a half life of approx 12 hours. Most people think you get a longer half life with the XR, but that simply isn't true. XR definitely does not work as well and is virtually useless in panic attacks, even if chewed. It must have inhibitors in it that work against the Gaba mechanism. This is bizarre, and I find myself actually needing more of the XR than the IR because it simply doesn't work as well. If your not paying out of pocket for your Shrink they treat you like dirt. They don't like dealing with insurance and make you pay for that favor.
Where I live, hardly any shrinks even accept insurance anymore and the ones that do are the worst of the worst and pissed that they can't attract the out-of-pocket crowd so they make you pay by Rx'ing you expensive meds and pushing their out-of-pocket therapists on you. There is virtually no Insurance covered therapists anymore. Its really sad that these charlatans use your very serious condition to force $$ out of you towards their own personal benefit. Its a different world. When I grew up doctors had integrity and put the patient first. Now, you're just a sick bastard that they can use to get $$$. Really really sad state of affairs. I have a short list of this type that I'm considering reporting to the medical board. Problem is, it may come back to harm you. All doctors stick together and the medical board is a joke. Its so sad to be in need of help and then be abused by these crooks. Healthcare is at an all time low in America and the sick suffer endlessly because of this.
KINGME1999
19 Aug 2016
XR is good, But if you are needing that immediate response to panic attacks, You won't get that with XR. Could work fine for me at my worst anxiety I need IR.
KINGME1999
19 Aug 2016
I suffer GAD. I have been taking Xanax since I was a young adult. I am 50 years old. I have only good things to say about this drug. People abuse it. Naturally the ones who end up with testimonials that are rather harsh. If you have them prescribed to you use them as directed, That's simple enough. If you run out you will experience a withdrawal that's why you don't run out.
It's about the safest long term medication.
I take 1mg 4 x daily. Depends on your Doctor what is prescribed, either way they both work excellent
pamwithproblems
26 Jan 2016
I have been on Xanax XR 2 mgs for 3 years. My doctor says it the "super Klonopin". I disagree. I take 4, yes 4 of them a day. My anxiety is bad. Paranoia also. I was on tranzene prescribed by a former doctor for 3 years. 15mgs 3x a day. It was FANTABULOUS. Worked like a charm. My new doctor took me off of it because he said that it was an "old school drug". He won't put me back on it
ang4742
10 June 2018
Honestly, you need to listen to your own body. Never forget that just because a person has an M.D. or PhD. After their name, they still only "practice" medicine. You know your body better than anyone. I've had severe insomnia for over 15 yrs now and have been through countless specialists. I've been on MANY different medications, some work, some don't. The problem is you also build up a tolerance. I just switched to 3 mg of Xanax XR instead of 3 mg of regular Xanax. Was on Ambien for over 15yrs and I Do NOT recommend going on it. I've had memory loss, I sleepwalk, hallucinate. I need sleep desperately because my youngest daughter is disabled and need 24/7 care
Good luck and keep us posted.
If you want to go back to that previous med that worked for you, find a new doctor!
GADbro
4 Sep 2015
I was on Xanax IR for many years. Seemed to help at the moment when I had severe panic attacks.
But after a few years I asked for Xanax XR. It worked much better than the immediate release ones. Since I have GAD i noticed it worked much better to have that prolonged help
Shannaloveme66
4 Feb 2017
Please let me know more iam in Louisiana and was just given .05 xr so scared to take but have been on zanx .o5 meny yrs
dora35
12 July 2013
i have no idea what is better,but i know you must work out with your illness like i do. you need to realise that all the fear you feel is in your head,try to analyse everything what happens with you while you have panic attack. and it`s very important to believe that YOU do your panic attack and YOU can destroy it. it`s very easy. just try :) best of luck
Brokenback
12 July 2013
I do know that a panic attack is in your head, and comes on because of what you're thinking about, so I try to think about something else, and like you said, it's easy. My issue is this, wether I take .025 mg or 4 of them, equalling 1.0 mg, I cannot tell any difference either way, so I might as well take .025 and just deal with my anxiety by thinking of like a nice lake in the mountains, flat as glass and quiet as can be, and that works as good as taking 3 extra Xanax pills. Thanks.
chordmun420
30 Oct 2016
Panic attacks are not just in your head.
Fred56
23 Jan 2017
Panic attacks are not in my head! It is purely my genetics and biochemistry. To make a global statement like that is just ignorant!
Shelby123
13 Jan 2013
I am also on Xanax XR and have to take it more than once a day. Did the XR start working for you or did you go to something else. Has anybody tried Buspar for their anxiety?
Brokenback
16 May 2013
I highly decline Buspar because most people get something that's called brain zaps. It feels like getting 120 volt shock over an over, try driving when that's happening! Not fun. I think it's a very dangerous drug for me and everyone I've talked to that's taken it. Good luck if you try it.
Lovies
22 Nov 2016
Yes and they help nothing just make you feel weird and dizzy
Dave_1963
8 Nov 2018
I was on 4 Mg a day of Xanax for 10 years, and it just out of the blue, quit working. My doctor tried the Buspar on me for a month and it did diddly squat (except for brain zaps). Was horrible and useless. It works for some people, but not others. Best wishes and good luck!
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xanax, xanax xr, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, doctor
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