I have noticed that when I take my Xanax, I clean, get organized, able to make phone calls, and get so much accomplished throughout the day. If I don't have any Xanax, It takes everything in me to clean, do the laundry, etc. I imagine this is from maybe a chemical imbalance in my brain. I only know of one other person who cleans on them, as well. Other than her, do you know if Xanax has this effect on others? I don't care for the short-term memory loss that is a side-effect with this med. Is there any other medication (I have not found any other medicine yet that has this same effect for me) or herbal remedy or over the counter med that may have the same effect for me so I don't have to rely on the Xanax to make me do "everyday chores"? I talked to my therapist about this. She suggested that perhaps, with my anxiety, without the med, I am too overwhelmed to know where to begin, so I don't. But, I have taken Valium and it just relaxes me and doesn't give me that desire to clean my house, make appointments, send out job app's, etc. I have a husband who doesn't understand how the Xanax would make me so organized. He feels I should do this automatically. Needless to say, it's a touchy subject. Because it's a constant battle to get me to "functional" when I am out of my medicines. Any suggestions or advice would greatly be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Also, I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder which I am prescribed Wellbutrin. PS. I had to take a Xanax to write this question and have noticed my heart is racing as I type. If I had not taken a Xanax, I wouldn't even had considered coming to this site, let alone, asking my first question. Thanks again.
Why do Xanax's make me clean and get organized? These are the main reasons as to why I take them?
Question posted by KarrieAhn on 6 July 2013
Last updated on 23 January 2022 by LeoMouse
15 Answers
I have the exact same blessing (it's not a problem) from xanax. In order to actually leave my house to go to important appointments or get my daily chores done, I take xanax. I was on the lowest dose .25 for years then my dr upped me to .5 but I often take half a pill and that is enough to get me productive. When I get things done I feel good about myself so it helps with the circle of depression as well. I dont take xanax every day or even every other day. Just when I need it.
I hope you see this message! I seen that you just entered this three weeks ago! I feel so relieved that someone else feels the exact same way as me!! Everyone in my family thinks I’m crazy. Doctors even look at me a little funny. They don’t understand, every other type of anxiety medication will just make me relaxed. Only Xanax, I’m able to clean the entire house, get all my tasks, errands, everything that I need to do. That a normal person can do without Xanax, I can with it! I would love to connect with you!! Oh my gosh this makes me so emotional, that someone else understands me!
It's called an idiosyncratic reaction. Something peculiar, unusual, and unexpected.
Since Xanax is a sedative (and addictive) this is not a good reaction especially when it keeps you craving more in order to function.
Wildcat
Im 46 year old single dad of a little girl. I am the same way I need Xanax and actually Adderall and I get everything done I am prescribed hundred dollars and utility bills 2 mg a day 1 mg in the morning 1 mg at night. I have resorted to finding them elsewhere because I take Advil 6 mg a day. And I take a 20 mg Adderall with it at the same time so I take a 2 mg bar with a 20 mg Adderall pill and I am not frozen from there I get everything done that needs to get done I am not nervous and basically came out of my shell. People say that’s a lot but it’s worth it for me being a singleIt has helped me become a better parent immensely
Why did you start taking xanax? And Did you have a problem getting organized before you started using xanax? If you've been taking it for a while you could be dependent on it and you feel unproductive until you take it bc your body needs it. After your dose, you feel "normal" and are able to do the things people do. I think that is my problem. After the little drowsy period wears off I am busy. And also what your dr said... the anxiety is gone so you can think about what you need to do... instead of how you feel or don't feel. I am so consumed by thinking of how I feel and how I don't feel right, I need to feel better and all that. I can't get things done bc I'm in my head so much. The xanax seems to take that away.
Hi, I was told by a doctor that, xanax Is Not your friend. It's strange how it gives u energy. I thought it was for anxiety, it made me feel calm. Talk to your doctor and tell them how you're feeling, best regards.
This happens to me as well except with Clonazepam/Klonopin (Xanax makes me depressed). It's the main reason I take them!
Hi, its funny how certain meds affect people in different ways where as, it help me stay calm. I had a doctor tell me xanax is Not your friend! You should talk with your doctor about the effect it has on you. For energy I use B12 from the health food store, again everyone's different. Take Care
I decided to register so I can explain my experience with Xanax. I used to use it to go to sleep as I have very bad insomnia but then after realising that benzos start giving me some sort of weird energy that help me clean up and do basically day-to-day activity that I had troubles doing beforehand. I used to suffer with severe depression and lack of energy and I don't know why ans I don't know how but Xanax and valium has a complete opposite effect on me and it actually provide me motivation and energy and eliminates my anxiety asnwell and which I wish a doctor could explain to me!
Wow! I am so amazed to see I'm NOT the only one who has had a significant improvement with my overall well being when I take Xanax.
Perfect example; My Mother and I went out yesterday and I drove. Upon our departure from Wal-Mart (Mind you, we ALWAYS have a catastrophe because we LOSE one another in the store), I was able to keep everything under control through my relaxed mind state and calmed physical being.
Our entire day, even with Mom being mom, her usual overly anxious self, was a very smooth, collected day. And I drove perfectly. With Mom's panic disorder, I'm usually not a good driver especially to her standards, however my driving was ON POINT. The day just collided the "way it was supposed to." I was prescribed xanax for years as it's always helped, however I had a couple years where I hit my "rock bottom" and got into illegal substances.
Although I'm clean now after going into treatment, There is NO Doctor who will prescribe me this medication ever since I reported myself into a rehabilitation treatment center to get help with my past illegal substance abuse. I feel like it's total discrimination and against equal rights, however there is not a whole lot I can do. I will just continue using the old script I have as I just started again recently until they run out and DO MY BEST to get in the right mindset a xanax is able to put me in. I just started Zoloft so fingers crossed it will have a positive effect! I was also just recently diagnosed with ADHD and Major Depression... and xanax medication helps me focus and calm my depression. Thoughts, anyone?
I just started on alprazolam and had been taking lorazepam which just made me super groggy for the entire next day. I just started taking it and it has had the opposite effect. I usually take it at night but when I do, it also makes me feel incredibly productive. I feel like I have the energy to clean, want to organize, etc. You are not alone in feeling that way.
I also understand the difficulty with your husband, because it’s been a source of anxiety For me as well because I am not working right now so I feel so obligated to do it all at home. He doesn’t pressure me as much (especially since he is more disorganized than I am in certain aspects) but it is still a touchy subject because he expects me to do it all at home and I just can’t.
I feel like we’re kindred spirits because I feel exactly the same way. It’s hard for me to function most days, despite treating my depression and adhd(which I take vyvanse for and I STILL can’t get myself to do as much as I feel I should)
For my depression, I take sertraline, and it has been a godsend. I have tried Wellbutrin as well, which worked at first, but the generic version didn’t work at all, only the name brand. Doctors have told me it’s quite common for that generic to not work, compared to name brand. Doesn’t make much sense because they should have the same chemical makeup, but that is my truth.
I didn’t expect xanax to help me in this way, but you’re definitely not alone in your feelings.
I get the exact same way. I am prescribed .5 Xanax and have been on it for five years. I was prescribed 1 mg 3x a day a couple years back, for a while, but my dr wanted to lower my dose. I am also prescribed adderall 20 mg as needed, Effexor, and trazodone. I have been on all of these medications for a while. Xanax has always given me a huge burst in energy, makes me go on crazy hours long cleaning sprees, go shopping for things I don’t need, organize, re arrange rooms in my house and talk like crazy. Usually that is how adderall would make someone act. But not for me.. and when I take my adderall it actually calms me down. They both do the complete opposite for me as they are supposed to, and I’m not sure why, my dr has never been able to give me an answer. It bothers me because although the Xanax helps my anxiety with everyday stressors, it gives me a different kind of anxiety that makes me want to get a ton of stuff done. I would like it to just relax me and help me sleep but it doesn’t so that’s what I have the trazodone for.
I feel definitely the same. When I am on Xanax I can do everything what is on my to do list. I never cancel anything. I can concentrate very well. I can talk with people really fast.
I'm really curious - I feel the exact same way when I take Xanax, but I have to be completely honest and say I don't have a prescription for it. I buy it from a friend who very clearly told me that while it's alprazolam, it's a counterfeit pill. I wouldn't say I've ever abused it; I take a small amount to help me get to sleep, but the next day I feel absolutely wonderful. I'm extremely productive, my brain feels like it's working at 3 or 4 times the speed it normally would, I feel endlessly motivated to complete every little task that comes across my mind. Basically, I have no mental fog whatsoever and my motivation levels are through the roof. To be honest, I would go so far as to say the effects that it had on me were almost entirely responsible for me getting a massive promotion at work.
I can't help but wonder though - considering that I know I'm buying counterfeit pills - does alprazolam actually do this to me? Or am I ingesting some other wonder substance that has this effect on me? For that reason I'm curious, since your experiences seem analogous to mine, do you all have prescriptions for Xanax and can confirm it's alprazolam that makes you feel this way? Or are you also buying counterfeit xanax and reaping these odd, but welcome benefits?
I can't believe I just found your comment! For years this has been the case for me. I have to take a pretty significant amount, probably far over therapeutic levels but it is the only time I can clean and organize effectively. In fact it's almost to a manic degree. I organize everything and I mean meticulously! I really thought I may be the only one. I can grocery shop, make all of the necessary phone calls I've been putting off . I tend to make plans that I otherwise would never be able to keep and often if I don't have Xanax on the day the plans are made for, I cancel anyway. No one else I know has this effect from Xanax even in large quantities. I often have wondered if it has something to do with a chemical imbalance however I've never been diagnosed with anything other than Maybe generalized depression that only comes and goes.
Is it possible that there is something else specifically that is activated in my brain, only through benzodiazepines? Let me know if you found out any information about this. I really appreciate your comment. Thank you so much.
Hi there,
I feel exactly the same way. If I have Xanax, I will do everything I have planned to do that day. For example, last week on my day off work, I had half a xanax and I was able to go into the city for an appointment, do an assignment, clean up the house, take my dog for a walk etc. However this morning, on a normal day off work, I had an appointment in the city and didn't go, I was meant to meet a teacher and didn't go, I also think I will bail on my yoga class. I just can't seem to do what I want and have planned when I don't have xanax. I don't know too much about psychopharmacology, but I do this that perhaps it is related to GABA. I know that you can also buy GABA tablets on IHerb that I really want to try as Xanax here in Australia is now super scarce.
Im so glad I found this! I’ve been taking a small amount of X for at least a year. Initially it was to get me to sleep as I had terrible insomnia and the doctors wouldn’t help. I had to resort to getting it from a reputable dealer. The first day I took it I slept like a baby then bounced out of bed full of joy and manically cleaned my house within an inch of its life. I was like a Duacell bunny. It certainly makes me productive. But maybe because it helped me do that one thing that’s good for you... A FULL NIGHTS SLEEP!!!
Hi KarrieAnn,
I was going to say the same thing your therapist said! I think it's true. I take Xanax for panic disorder and unfortunately, it doesn't have that effect on me, wish it did.
I bet you are slowed down enough to know what needs to be done and prioritize the chores. Valium also just helps my neck pain, it doesn't relax me. So who knows why Xanax specifically makes you better able to concentrate, but it does.
How much do you need to take to get this effect? Why are you running out of your Xanax early? Are you taking them to clean or for anxiety? If you are running out early and you take them on a regular basis, be careful! Your seizure threshold is lowered when you run out.
Best wishes to you KarrieAnn,
Lara
KarriAnn,
I am the same exact way! When I don't take my Xanax, I feel frozen and paralyzed. Once I take a pill I feel relaxed enough to get up and do things (most of the time, not always). I can't even go to the grocery store without taking them. So you're not alone. And my therapist says it's okay. Best of luck!
Thank you both so much. I actually want to show my husband your responses. He doesn't understand it. And we have had huge fights about this. He isn't asking for much. I get that. I just ask that he wait until I have some. See... I didn't come back on this site until just now. And I just got my xanax's filled. When I don't have them, my heart races and I am so overwhelmed and so not organized. Today, I got so much accomplished. I think I run out because after a week or so, I feel like one isn't working so I take two in the morning. Which has me running short at the end of the month.
When I did laundry (on a xanax), when I through Tide Pod in..I was thinking to myself "Was that too hard??" lol And of course, being on a xanax, I said "no" to myself. But, it's a battle to get me to do anything unless I have them. Valium's just relax me... which is awesome. But I'm not productive. I am so glad it's just not me. Obviously others have this "balanced" stuff in their head where they don't need a xanax to get organized... I sure wish I had that. But, grateful for my xanax.
And there has been times I would walk in a grocery store, only to walk right back out. I don't mind grocery shopping at all on a xanax. Or shopping for that matter. I just feel "normal". I feel like this is how others feel on a regular basis. Without them, I have no confidence, self-worth, etc..I'm also on depression meds, too..
Thank you for your answers. I feel so much better knowing I am not alone!!
Related topics
xanax, depression, anxiety, panic 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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