Alprazolam and Addiction: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 21, 2017

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "About a year ago, I was diagnosed with severe anxiety with panic attacks. Anxiety runs in my family, so for me, it was not a huge shock to have anxiety. I have tried about three different medications that just made me feel awful. I did not feel like myself, and I was always sleepy. Once I got put on Xanax with another type of anxiety medication, it helped subside my panic attacks. Anytime I would have a panic attack, I would take a Xanax, and it would help me be able to feel like myself again. I do not take Xanax every day just because I do not have panic attacks every day and because it is highly addictive. For me, this medication worked."

• Gar...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 7, 2020

"Have had premature atrial contractions (PACs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) for 40 years, found out at the University of Chicago, was given Xanax at that time, now it is a generic, but I must only take one type of brand. Tried many heart meds, dropped my DIA to 43, glad I was home and not driving. It is a shame how physicians treat you regarding this med, yes it is addictive but not to the point you are craving it even after all these years! But without it, I would have a pulse of 143-148. Does help with BP! An older gentleman at the pharmacy was being taken off BP meds and put on Xanax. Told him to just CHIP it when it is needed. Cardiologists without experience in this need to ASK patients about it! Not just read JAMA or whatever. Patients know their bodies and please don't push nasty meds on them. Passed all cardiac tests, even a CT with Nitro. When they did the EKG, they found it twice to their amazement and on the Holter monitor. Wise up DOCS, we all don't use this to get high!"

• KMa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 16, 2019

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Jewels411. No, you're not crazy. I took Xanax for 35 years. Yes, it definitely helped. But warning, extremely addictive. It can ruin your life. I would recommend Valium. It will relieve your anxiety, yet doesn't have near the addictive traits. Good luck."

• cap...
• January 4, 2017

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I am impressed. After 31 years on IR Xanax and alprazolam 1 mg, 3 times a day, and all the highs and lows about a year and a half ago, I started to taper off. I would break a piece off of each one or sometimes split one in half. Seriously addicted, and missing a dose would be brutal. I wanted off of these. It took a year to get to 1/2 mg 3 times a day, and I felt the same but was leery of going lower. My doctor prescribed me 1 mg XR that I take at 9 am and 1/2 mg IR to take as needed. Needless to say, I was shocked that they last so long. I used to take my last dose at 1 am, and I don't even feel like I need it now. I don't want to wake in the middle of the night, so I have, for the past 3 nights, taken 1/4 mg, and I think someday I'll be off completely."

• rox...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2017

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Xanax is a medication that must be taken seriously and with precaution. This is not a game. Taking it when you don't need to will only create addiction, and the withdrawal is worse than living with the actual anxiety. Please don't take this med unless you suffer from anxiety and you are having a panic attack. It works well in these situations, but my advice is to stay away from it and only take it in an emergency. I prefer lorazepam. When you take lorazepam, the withdrawal symptoms are more tolerable than Xanax. Xanax is awesome, but it can become Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. You can die from this or get a DUI if you are caught in a driving accident. This is serious."

• Sta...
• August 12, 2017

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "I was on Xanax for a couple of years for severe panic attacks. I started out on .25 mg, and soon that was not enough. I had to keep increasing the dose as my panic and anxiety increased. I ended up becoming agoraphobic. I could not leave my house without taking a handful of Xanax first. In the end, I was taking way, way, way too much, enough to kill an elephant. I know it sounds hard to believe. It's amazing I am still alive. I had to beg my insurance company to put me in the hospital to detox. I tried to kill myself. I almost died while in the hospital. They took me down to 8 mg a day, and I had a grand mal seizure and almost died. It was the most horrible experience of my life. Be careful. It's highly addicting."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 24, 2019

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I suppose one reason why Xanax is so addictive is because it works, and it always reliably will. (There's also a 'high' that you get at the higher doses, but it quickly fades with ongoing use.) A significant problem with Xanax and all other benzos is the amotivational symptoms that result from chronic use. It certainly becomes increasingly hard to perform basic tasks, as one feels too relaxed to get anything done. Even more serious of a problem with Xanax in particular are its rebound effects that make the symptoms worse than before. Because Xanax is so powerful but short-acting, within just a couple, or maybe a few, hours of taking it, one feels the urgent, overwhelming need to take more. It can quickly form dependence. It also makes it difficult to sleep because you rebound in the middle of the night."

• Sas...
• March 17, 2016

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I started taking this medication since I was 18 years old, on and off. Let me put it in simple terms: it is highly addictive. Yes, it cured my anxiety, but only temporarily, as long as I was on it. Miss a day, and you want to crawl out of your own skin. The withdrawals are horrendous. Xanax just masks the problem. As soon as I got back on it, my brain just wants it, and that's all I think about. Valerian root is healthier and natural, think twice before taking Xanax. Go for natural products if you can."

• D i...
• January 7, 2016

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I started taking Xanax over ten years ago for my anxiety. I started with 0.5 mg twice a day and ended up at 0.5 mg every 4 hours and still feeling like I needed more as I was addicted. I had one heck of a time weaning off. I now take 1/2 of a 0.25 mg tablet every 3 to 4 hours when needed for my tinnitus. It works to lessen the anxiety caused by the constant ringing in my ears, and I try some days to take it only once or twice. It has worked great for me, but I suggest being very conservative with your dosing because it is very easy to build a tolerance and form an addiction."

• Joy...
• October 12, 2017

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "Life saver for me. BUT only because I take it when I truly need it. I suffer from day-to-day anxiety, but I do not take it for that. I try to get rid of anxiety other natural ways. But I do suffer from severe panic attacks, especially nighttime. So I only take it when I am having an attack. I am on the lowest dose possible (0.25), and I can get away with taking even just half of that sometimes. It takes the edge off very fast, and I feel so much better shortly after. Take it on average 1-2 times a month, sometimes less, rarely more. Extremely addictive med, so I urge you to stay away from it for daily use or if you have an addictive personality."

• lio...
• November 27, 2015

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Thankfully, I only took this med for a few weeks and at the lowest dose possible. I was taking .25 mg 2-3 times a day for a few weeks until my long-term anxiety medication started to kick in. This medication truly does help for extreme anxiety and panic attacks but should only be used short-term. The use of this medication for any longer than a month on a daily basis is a recipe for disaster, this drug can be very addicting and is really hard to come off after long-term use. Luckily, I researched this drug and knew this shortly after taking it, so I was aware because the doctors never informed me of the risks."

• sab...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 30, 2019

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I was first very fearful of taking any kind of medication. However, I eventually gave in, and I am very happy I did. Xanax is a very effective drug. However, you must be careful because this medication is a benzodiazepine, and it can be super addicting. Therefore, I personally only take it when I absolutely need it, mostly to sleep. This medication relaxes me, which makes me happy and especially hungry. It really takes the anxiety right out of your stomach if that's where you hold it. I do notice since I've started on birth control it affects me differently, not bad, just different."

• Anv...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 9, 2017

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "So many other reviews on here, but this drug is important. I will chime in as well since it has been prescribed a little differently for me. I used to wake up in a panic a couple of times a week, but it's pretty easy for me to gauge my stress level and predict which nights are going to be bad ones. I take 0.25 or 0.5 mg 1 or 2 nights a week, before 2 am, or I'll be so zonked I don't respond to my alarm. It does the trick so I can fall right back to sleep after waking, instead of panicking and then ruminating for 5-6 hours, and being a mess at work and with my kids the next day. It works so well, and I can easily see how it would be addictive, but it's a life-changer, so I am very careful."

• Ber...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2020

For Panic Disorder "I was a bit scared of taking Xanax as I had heard how addictive it was. After having 10 panic attacks daily regularly, I had a frank conversation with my doctor, and he said I needed to think about the quality of life I was living. I take 3 mg daily. I have been off of it for a month or so, and while not feeling anxious, my body was constantly tense. People can tell the difference between me on and off of it. Honestly, I feel like a normal person on it. I’m not a zombie. I don’t get tired. I’m normal and functioning. I can handle anxiety-inducing situations better with the help of Prozac."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2009

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I had anxiety so bad from work I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I didn't take it until I got home from work because it made me sleep. I was on it for 6 weeks and I noticed I had an addiction to it. I was hurrying home after work to take it (no, really doctor, I can stop it any time I want to). My doctor said to stop taking it. I was awake for 3 days, but I did it. I know now that I needed to reduce it a little at a time because I had been taking a high dose for a while. It's a lifesaver for bad anxiety, just watch the dosage and be careful about how long you are taking it. If you keep those 2 things in mind, it's the best anti-anxiety medicine."

• bar...
• June 13, 2010

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I have been prescribed alprazolam (Xanax) and a variety of other benzodiazepines for the past ten years when I was first diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. My dosage is 2 mg 2 x daily. This was recently reduced from 2 mg 3 x daily, and I admit I do suffer a little, but I make the best of it. The most important thing about Xanax is it is addictive, and NEVER suddenly stop taking it! You could suffer from what's called a 'benzodiazepine withdrawal seizure.' You need to taper your dose down. This is a proper and safe way to wean off. But overall, wonderful medicine for anxiety!"

• jus...
• August 30, 2015

For Depression "As a person who suffers from insomnia because I can't get my mind to leave me alone at night, Xanax (alprazolam) is most effective. I can take 1 mg at bedtime and experience the most restful sleep, waking the next morning calm, but alert and refreshed. I also experience anxiety, and it seems that 1 mg at night carries over to the next morning to help calm me. However, this drug is addictive, and if stopped without a doctor's supervision, a person may suffer from withdrawals, and it is possible that withdrawals could lead to seizures and/or stroke. STOPPING COLD TURKEY IS NOT ADVISED AND MAY LEAD TO DEATH. If you take Xanax regularly, DO NOT STOP TAKING IT WITHOUT CONSULTING A PHYSICIAN, regardless of where or how you get it."

• Cha...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 12, 2020

Alprazolam for Depression "I’m sorry my doctor ever put me on Xanax. It’s an evil drug. If your doctor puts you on it for more than a few weeks, you will have a Xanax addiction. It’s not safe. Read up on Xanax. This will be my third relapse, it’s not in your mind. I almost died twice trying to get off of Xanax. My heart stopped six times and five seizures. Other benzodiazepines are safer. The doctors are at fault, not the company. Pfizer has a warning: no more than two weeks on Xanax."

• Anx...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2023

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I love Xanax, and it also ruined me. If you have extreme anxiety, panic attacks, etc., Xanax will make it disappear almost magically. The problem is, it’s so addictive. And if you have persistent anxiety, Xanax cannot be the answer. I became dependent on it twice and couldn’t function without it. I started with taking 0.5 mg, which was strong at first, and ended up taking 5 mg daily just to function. It was a nightmare. It works so well, it’s scary. In 20 minutes, you feel like a new person. But 4 hours later, the anxiety comes back. This drug is really dangerous. Be cautious. I struggled to get off this medicine for 3 years."

• LBa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 25, 2020

For Anxiety "I was given Kalma (generic alprazolam) for anxiety, panic attacks, and agoraphobia. I've been on it now since 2004 after the doctor finally talked me into taking them, as I didn't want to be taking an addictive medication. Started on 1 mg 3 times a day and increased to 2 mg 3 times a day. After all these years, I am 1 million times worse than I have ever been, totally addicted to the Kalma, severe anxiety disorder, severe panic attacks, and agoraphobia like you wouldn't believe. I haven't left my house now for over 6 years and am totally housebound. The fear the panic attacks have left me so scared that I can't handle being on my own, so I have someone with me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I've lost my wife, my 2 beautiful children, and all of my friends. This would have to be one of the worst medications I have ever had."

• Agi...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 15, 2019

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I will never take this medicine, Xanax, again. One of my worst decisions ever. Made me addicted, couldn't get off it, and for 3 years had bad side effects: increased panic, sweating, heart racing, and 3 seizures if I didn't take another dosage. I weaned myself off Xanax with Lexapro. Thank goodness I will never go back again. Worst drug ever!!"

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 11, 2014

For Anxiety "My doctor tried me on a few anti-anxiety meds prior to Xanax. I wish it didn't take so long because nothing helps me better than this. Not only has it improved my life positively (when I'm taking it), but it helps with a variety of stresses - we are only human, and I believe no matter how pure your life is, sometimes you just need a Xanax. It can be addictive, so I do not recommend taking it daily or in large doses."

• Smo...
• February 6, 2015

For Anxiety "I was on Ativan (Lorazepam) for a while but found it highly addicting. I switched to Xanax (alprazolam), and it's fast-acting and settles your anxiousness, sense of panic, and has a calming effect. I take them as needed. But if I have had a long stretch of taking them, it's not difficult to lower the dose and take them as needed. Your body doesn't go into absolute fits or seizures (as Ativan does). I'll take this forever. It's helped me live more normally."

• Ram...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 4, 2017

For Panic Disorder "I get severe anxiety even to go to the store. I would not feel comfortable eating in public. Just to leave my house, my anxiety overwhelms me so much, costing me to the point I will isolate myself from the public. Then came along Xanax and did its job, what it's supposed to do, and all the nightmare anxiety went all away. Yes, it is addictive, but it works magic. In my opinion, it's like a Godsent medicine for people like me with extreme anxiety and insomnia. I tried Vistrail, and others didn't help like Xanax."

• Gec...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 20, 2021

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Been prescribed 1 mg a day. I try to get by with 0.25 or maybe 0.5. I am using colloidal gold, and I think it helps. Also, black seed oil and lavender pills at night. Spent over 2 grand on alternatives for anxiety. Waste of money. Tried lithium orotate, helped a little. I would feel better if I took it as prescribed, but I'm scared I will get addicted. Reading my Bible helps, and meditation and exercise."