... anxiety because I'm anxious all day long
I am currently taking half of a .25 Xanax every four hours for anxiety is this a low dose for?
Question posted by rabbithunter on 3 Oct 2012
Last updated on 20 March 2017
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6 Answers
I think some people were missing here that your current dose isn't working since you're "anxious all day." If you're taking 125μg every 4 hours then that's approximately 0.75mg per day, even less assuming you aren't waking up to take it on this schedule. It's the lowest dose that people are usually instructed to even attempt taking. When I first got on Xanax my psychiatrist prescribed 0.25mg tablets to take 1/2 to 1 tablet up to twice a day as needed. So a total of 0.5mg per day but as little as 0.125mg at a time. It didn't work for me either. A lot of people are not sensitive enough for this to be a working therapeutic dose for them so you should talk to your doctor about your symptoms and a possible increase. I eventually got to 0.5mg 4x a day and that's when I found relief and ended up at 1mg 3x a day. It's different for everyone. Go up as little as needed. The key is to find the lowest therapeutic dose that works for you and stick with it as long as possible.
Good luck!
if you are getting relief of your symptoms at that dose interval then good.it is not for others to determine what works for you individually,that dose will metabolize fairly rapidly. 2 hours and of course that will differ person to person.i have been on xanax for ten years, ive experienced low dose and high dose pratfalls,less is more(dont build up a tolerance ) if its calming you;then its working.
Yes, this is a small dose. As the others say, if it helps, then that is excellent. At that dose it takes the edge off, as we say. Xanax is a short term acting med. hence the three times per day. As you feel better, let your physician know to adjust you.
Forgot to add. I take Xanax and it has helped me tremendously. My moods are more even because I don't get so excited over little things. I never feel drugged or tired. I take just a small dose like you and I find myself a better person mood wise. Once my panic attacks were under control I reduced to just one .25 tablet each morning. It helps me set the mood for the day and I rarely take another. That with my antidepressant and I handle a very tough disease. I believe you can handle things better too with a help.
Hello rabbithunter,
I have to say it does depend on the severity of the person's panic/anxiety, I was on xanax but choose to get off of them for personal reasons, I am now on klonopin 1mg 3x daily, at the time I was on xanax I was on 1mg 3x day... hope that helps, all I can say is take them and if it is enough to keep u comfortable then stay with that dose!! xanax is a very stong medication, so if this dose works I myself wouldn't ask to up it! good luck
I'm wondering why you chose Klonopin over the Xanax. Klonopin is a benzodiazepen (sp?). I currently take Klonopin every day. Thanks.
Hi sara,
I think this comment is addressed to my post, I prefer klonopine versus xanax cause even though the xanax works faster and u have to wait a little as u well no for the klonopin 2 kick in! I use to be on xanax, told the psychiatrist I wanted off cause they wear off so fast, and I was prescribed 3 a day as I said, soon as the xanax wore off, I felt like I was having withdrawal and wanted to take another not to feel anxious or nervous etc... if I did that I would have been running out of my script, I hated the way they made me feel when they wore off so when they put me on the klonopin 3x daily, never had to worry about them wearing off and having that UNGODLY feeling of what I guess I would call a form of withdrawal meaning I actually felt them leaving my system and it was a horrible feeling... I feel great now that I am on the klonopin and have no desire to take more and don't have them feelings that I was getting from the xanax... hope this helped... if u need to talk more pq me I don't mind!!
/carol
One more thing sara,
Xanax is a benzo as well
Thanks Angel for your response. Yes, Klonopin has a much longer life than Xanax, so that makes perfect sense. Plus Xanax has the problem of people doing things that they have no memory of doing. Wow to that one.
Sorry, the memory problems were from Ambien, not from Xanax. Unless there is some info about Xanax causing memory problems that I'm not aware of.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but Xanax can cause problems with your memory!! I know people, myself included, who have taken .25 -.50mg of Xanax and had problems remembering things the next day. And before anyone asks... NO... it was not being abused! I had to take it the night before a medical procedure to help me to relax and get some sleep, it was a one time dose of .25mg. and I held a 45min. conversation with my Fiance and do not remember any of it.
hi recoverygirl,
I have to agree with u 100%, for I was on xanax for awhile although there are alot of reasons I got off one of them was the memory issues, although I have neuro issues now, I think the xanax definitely caused memory issues, I have actually read up on it, and it even I believe says it in the medication inserts from the pharmacy, I forgot to mention that when I made my comment, but am glad to see that u did... hope all is well, have a great day, don't now where u live, I live in camden county, near cherry hill if u every heard of it... and it is some glummy here, raining off and on and this doesn't help my pain nor my depression... have a great night
Hey Angel!! thanks for your comment... it's so nice to know tht someone agrees with me... lol... and would you happen to live in New Jersey??? I live in Carroll County, Maryland...
hi recoverygirl,
Yes, I do live in NJ, I live alone an am 50, don't look it though..lol I was living in Cherry Hill NJ in 2010, I have been under mh for yrs as well as chronic health conditons, well to make a long story short, I had one sister, 2 brothers, my sister came to see me oct 3rd,2010 and never woke, she passed on my couch, they say it was from hardening of the artieries, that tramatized me beyond belief, I seen her lips purple, seen them take her out in a bag etc... I hate even talking about this, but I collapsed on the floor 5x's, never told the cops or emt's that where there that I am a mental health patient and have been in and out of crisis centers due to suicide attempts, panic attacks that got out of control even being on my klonopin, so I thought if I told them they would admit me right away to crisis and one of the crisis centers I was in was right across from my apt.
but I thought if I told them that would be it, I would never get to go to my sister's viewing, and I was not about to let that happen, I had to stay with my brother for a few days until mental health got me in a place... I have my moments, but still miss her more then words could ever explain, how did u no I lived in NJ, oh with the way my anxiety works and i can't shut up, I probably mentioned it... lmao ha ha
I have only been on this site since august, so trying to meet loyal friends not people that say they are going or want to be your friend but really don't and so fourth, I am sure u no what I mean, I live alone and am very lonely since I lost my sister, she was my rock and I was hers, now I just aint happy anymore, this site seems like the only thing that makes me happy, giving back and being there for people even if i can't answer there ? I can at least tell them I care and am here no matter what, so u live in Maryland?? Baltimore Maryland, I use to go down to bm with this guy I use to go out with, I loved going there and especially eating crabs... yum... my favorite... thanks for responding and am glad we are friends, well I guess I can only speak for myself and I consider u my friend or else I would have never added u to my friends list... have a great night... I can't believe how fast this month is going tomorrow is already the 16th of October... have a great night and feel free if u ever need or want to talk you can pq me anytime... ttyl...
Hi recoverygirl,
No problem, agreeing with u, cause u where right, it blacked me out a few times that is one of the reasons I got off..Yes, I do live in NJ, how did u no, I must of posted it and forgot, no biggy, I have nothing to hide, how far is where u are from me travel wise??? I am just starting to get around the site a bit and read peoples profile to learn something in case i can answer a ?? or whatever, I was just about to start reading yours and comcast came, it's not that serious, I can read them anytime, so far I like everyone on here, and have not regrets joining... i hope u can get to be friends, I added u to my friends list long ago, so feel free anytime your board to pq me, that's your choice, if you want okay... have a great night... your friend
Hey Angel, my sick room mate, is from Vineland and although he lives here in Lower Alabama now, we call it LA, as a joke. He often talks about Vineland, has no desire to go back because he has little family there and it snows and he is cold natured now, so the winters would be too harsh. He said to tell you hello Jersey native, from another Jersey native. He beat alcohol after several major relapses and has been sober for 26 years and he often asks what I am typing, so I told him I give and receive support on this site. He used to love to run into fellow Jerseyians down here, he doesn't really go anywhere but to drs appts now, he misses people but can't be too far from his breathing machine. Patti
It doesn't surprise me that Xanax also has the memory problems. I was remembering one of the Kennedys driving somewhere in Wash D.C. years ago, and didn't remember it since he was taking Ambien.
I have never had any memory problems taking Klonopin 0.5mg every night for the past 4 years.
HI PATTI,
Tell your roommate that this Jersy girl says hi, glad to no he has been clean on them yrs, that is a wonderful thing... I am origanally from phila, but have been living in Jersey since I wa 17 yrs old, and now am going to be 51 in JANUARY... I live alone, it helps to be on this site, me being without my sister, it keeps my mind focused on doing something I love and care about and enjoy, and that is helping and caring for people, me and u have a little in common when it comes to that I would love to work in a nursing home, I always seemed to get along with the olderly even though I am old..lol... but seriously, older people for some reason really take to me all of them, I haven't been around one older person in public that didn't stop me and start talking... it really makes u feel good u no what I mean... tell your buddy I said hi and he is in my thoughts and prayers...
Hi i am on xanax .025 and hydroxydine and trazodone to sleep better which i rarely use because mu sleeping is not that bad. I have been suffering lately woth severe anxiety and depression does not seem that anything is working so my doctor up my xanax to. 5 still not that good wears off pretty fast. Im thinking of leaving the hydroxydine and jist taking 1 in a half pills of xanax what do you think. I meam for god sakes i am even scared to be in a classroom better yet my job wont be able to see a therapist till april 4th
I'm prescribed 1mg 3 times a day as needed. I'm sure the dosage depends upon the severity of your anxiety.
Good luck
"Treatment for patients with anxiety should be initiated with a dose of 0.25 to 0.5 mg given three times daily."
Read more at: https://www.drugs.com/dosage/xanax.html
Take care,
maso.-
Related topics
xanax, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder
Further information
- Xanax uses and safety info
- Xanax prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Xanax (detailed)
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