Alprazolam and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 3)

• 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."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2020

For Anxiety "I started having severe anxiety back in September. I think it was triggered by nicotine withdrawals, but I was horrified. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me at 27 years old. I was on vacation in Aruba and had to go to the ER over a panic attack! Once I got home, things were better until November... I stopped juuling (electronic cigarette) again, and the anxiety was even worse than it was before. I was having panic attacks daily that lasted for hours. My mind was in the darkest place. I even started to smoke cigarettes again to take off some of the tension. The only thing that made me feel better was alprazolam! I split a .25 into four little pieces and take them as needed (that is how it was prescribed to me). I hate admitting this, but it’s really a miracle drug. I try really hard not to take it unless I desperately need to because I fear getting addicted. This stuff works, no doubt about it."

• Fit...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 29, 2017

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "I’ve been on Xanax for several years, and it works wonders for my anxiety and panic attacks. I only take it as prescribed and try not to take it or taper down 1 day a week. When I take half of a bar, I feel clear-headed and normal. Any more than that, I become sedated, so that’s why I regulate it so carefully. The only downside is the withdrawals are almost unbearable. When I go a couple of days off it, I feel extra anxious, nervous, mildly depressed, and at times it feels like my mind is messing with me. Overall, a great short-term medication for panic or anxiety, but if you choose to take it long-term, please be careful and take exactly what you’re prescribed, and if possible, less."

• Amy...
• June 2, 2015

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Recently was prescribed Klonopin because my doctor didn't like how Xanax had such a quick onset but also a quick fall. I was okay with the change initially because even at 0.5 mg, Xanax would make me so sleepy I couldn't function. That made it pretty impossible to take during any day panic. I've been having anxiety the last couple of days, so I took a Klonopin last night hoping that I would wake with a sense of calm like I usually did with the Xanax. Nope...the anxiety is actually worse. Xanax isn't perfect; like I said, I generally try not to take it unless I am at home, so I've suffered a lot when I shouldn't have had to, but it has a much more calming effect than Klonopin is giving me. I never took it long-term - only as needed."

• cjb...
• March 14, 2023

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I've taken Xanax for 5 years. I do not take it daily. I take half of a .25 mg occasionally, only when I need it. Most days I am fine, but when I have extreme panic attacks or social anxiety, I take half of the .25 mg. That's plenty for me. It calms me down, and I am functional. I do not take it daily, I did for a while, and it made me have more panic attacks and anxiety. I use it only for severe days now. I take a half of .25 mg 2 or 3 times a week at most. That way it actually works when I need it to."

• don...
• June 1, 2011

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I started using Xanax XR about 2 years ago, and it has been a lifesaver for me. I was suffering from really bad anxiety that would bring on bad panic attacks that sent me to the ER twice. My doctor started me out at 1 mg once a day, then she decreased it to 0.5 mg about a year ago, and that's what I've been taking. I hated the way I felt for a day or two when I was brought down to 0.5 mg, so that has made me too scared to even try to start weaning off of it. I can function perfectly well on this medication."

• 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."

• 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."

• Ste...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 28, 2017

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "I was having many issues with anxiety attacks, panic attacks. First started on 1 mg 3 times daily. Then was having night terrors too. So, I ended up on 2 mg, 4 times daily, and 2-3 pills of 2 mg Ativan at night. I got to say not many doctors would give you that, I would not ask! I had a job accident 3 years prior to this and was on OxyContin 60 mg twice daily and 30 mg oxycodone 6 times daily. Sounds like quite a mix, I know. But with proper monitoring, it was a godsend. The pharmacist was not impressed, but that's not his problem, his is to count and fill. If they wanted to be a doctor, then that's their issue. Moral is don't judge yourself by how a pharmacy makes you feel. Now I'm just on the 2 mg of Xanax and 1 mg of Ativan and am normal thanks to a brave, understanding doctor."

• Tev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 18, 2019

For Anxiety "It takes an act of Congress to get this help from this medicine anymore. So many people have abused it to the point doctors will force you to spend hundreds of dollars on trials of medicines that simply don’t work on a lot of people. I have chronic pain after several very serious surgeries and have never in 12 years had a count issue. I even had my medicine lowered in mg. Then I now am depressed and have several anxieties, and the doctors treat you like a drug addict on the street. I’m very seriously thinking about just stopping going at all anymore, a 0.5 pill isn’t helping me and all the money I’m spending on the other medicines that don’t work. Why on disability actually makes the anxiety and depression worse. You’re truly fighting a lost cause."

• hap...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 15, 2017

Alprazolam for Panic Disorder "I take it at night in order to sleep because of a bad insomnia side effect from a MAOI. But now, if I miss just one night of the med, I wake up with paralyzing anxiety - chest tightness and heart palpitations. This drug does its job most of the time, but it creates physical and psychological dependency and an AM hangover. I am looking to wean off of this soon once my new psychiatrist introduces other med changes. I see other users below saying they cut them in half - my psychiatrist said that is dangerous because of the XR properties. That is why the XR pills are not scored. I repeat - regular use of this med creates dependency."

• mes...
• August 20, 2010

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks for years. It got so bad I would actually be driving, pull over to the side of the road, and call 911 because I thought I was having a heart attack, it was really scary. I've been on Xanax for 10 years, off and on. I take 0.5 mg once a day when I start feeling anxious, and my insides feel out of control. It does frighten me to think I could be addicted to this medication, but on the other hand, if it relieves my symptoms, then I guess I need to take Xanax as needed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 26, 2021

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I read most of the comments and see myself in them. I am 76 years old, was on Xanax for 12 years. My doctor also retired, and right away the PA working on me to give up Xanax. Just 4 days ago, I finished with the withdrawal, what a nightmare. Can't sleep, had anxiety attacks, hot tingling feeling in my chest area. They started me on Effexor, was on for 3 days, got myself off, can't deal with this."

• Nev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2021

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I was prescribed Xanax after I had anxiety attacks daily at school and only used them when I had anxiety because I knew how addictive they were, and nothing in the world helped like Xanax did. My anxiety 100 percent disappeared, but after a few months, I began to have anxiety every time I didn’t take them! One month, I used 1 bottle so quickly my mom wouldn’t let me refill my prescription since my uncle had a drug problem, but now I don’t have it. I’m so anxious all over again! Long story short, this is a very effective medicine that works wonders if you only use it during panic, but it’s a lot harder than you think, especially if you have anxiety often! I hate to see this medication with an 8.7 because it’s so dangerous. I just want people to be aware!"

• Tap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 29, 2018

Alprazolam for Anxiety "Xanax is one of the hardest, if not the hardest drug to quit taking. Even harder than heroin, according to my doctor. It was so hard for me for almost 3 months after using them every day for 2 years. I will never take one of them again. They actually just take away your anxiety while you are on them. The problem is that all of us are using them for a period. Then you get all the anxiety back again, and the problem is now it is 5 times worse than what it was to begin with. Stopping my Xanax like I wanted to do the first day - just stop taking them - is dangerous. My doctor said that would not be possible since I actually could die from it. So instead, it is a slow, painful reduction of dosage day after day. Just as a warning, take Valium, or in that range instead, it is much less stressful when you are quitting them."

• Anonymous
• March 27, 2012

Alprazolam for Anxiety "When the world is closing in on me, I take a Xanax, and suddenly I'm able to function again. I can learn and adapt, and I feel like I can capture and retain information better. Without it, any new information is lost on me, and my learning process is inhibited. The little stuff is not a problem anymore, and I can focus on accomplishing anything I need to. I didn't start having anxiety attacks until after college. I did really well, and all of a sudden I felt like in the real world I could not meet the expectations because of how well I did in school. Everything became too much: debt, learning a new job, reading (which is my favorite thing to do), being with family and friends. I hit a wall. Even with anti-depressants, I could not function."

• Gre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2016

Alprazolam for Anxiety "For several years, I have been prescribed 1 mg to take up to 3 times per day - sometimes I take less, some days even none! But I find that Xanax does for me what Adderall does for children suffering ADD. For some reason, the drug helps me have precision focus, a clear mind, better communication, rapid-fire thought processing, and motivation - just for starters. I don't expect to take it for the rest of my life, but I go through prolonged periods of anxiety and antisocial behavior (will urinate in bottles in my room when at my worst). Glad to know there are a few people who experience the same effects using Xanax as maintenance. It's been a lifesaver for me! Curious to understand why it has this off-label effect on us select few."

• Tes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2021

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I was given a small script of 0.5 alprazolam tablets to try after a panic attack, which I suffer from. Compared to 1 mg Lorazepam or 0.5 mg Clonazepam, I found it closer to Lorazepam, with its effects being felt faster, but with more sedation and confusion. Alprazolam and its effects left faster than Lorazepam. It was harder to stay on 1 dose daily. I can see the advantage of rapid onset, but there are other benzodiazepines that leave your system more gradually, so you will have less rebound anxiety or other side effects taking a different benzodiazepine. From my experience taking them."

• Msk...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 19, 2018

For Anxiety "Xanax works so much better for me than Klonopin, which I am prescribed only 2 mg per day after 15 years! I know I need an increase after all these years, but no doctor will give me any more than that. I am so fed up with doctors not prescribing the meds that I need to function. I have GAD, a totally ruined spine with a failed microdiscectomy at L4-L5, which took out my S1 disc, leaving me almost completely crippled with extreme bilateral sciatica from my butt down both legs into both feet, ankles, and toes (I also need bilateral knee replacements). I have over 16 herniated discs from my neck, thoracic, and my lumbar spine is completely destroyed, causing me so much pain, which causes even more anxiety that is hitting all the nerves in my spine along with 4 spinal diseases and just turned 51. I can barely walk, stand, sit, or drive for more than 1/2 hour. The DEA has destroyed my life completely!"

• Vin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 16, 2021

For Depression "I've been on several SSRIs the past years, but none of them managed to work for my depression as a monotherapy. For my depression, it is necessary to associate SSRIs + alprazolam. If I am not taking alprazolam, I start to feel depressed and anxious. So this drug really works great for me, and I am glad to take it. It allows me to live very well, without being stressed about everything."

• jan...
• April 16, 2013

For Depression "Xanax is a great medicine when taken moderately and carefully. I take 2 to 4 mg every once in a while to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom. Although alprazolam is incredibly effective, I must warn that it is also extremely dangerous when taking too much or if taken for a long period. Secondly, it works great for panic attacks, but don't forget that if you stop taking the medication, your stress and anxiety will return with a brutal vengeance."

• jan...
• April 16, 2013

For Depression "Xanax is a great medicine when taken moderately and carefully. I take 2 to 4 mg every once in a while to relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and boredom. Although alprazolam is incredibly effective, I must warn that it is also extremely dangerous when taking too much or if taken for a long period. Secondly, it works great for panic attacks, but don't forget that if you stop taking the medication, your stress and anxiety will return with a brutal vengeance."

• zag...
• February 20, 2017

For Anxiety "I have been on Xanax since my first attack in my mid to late 20s. I'm now 59. At first, I was taking 0.5 mg 3x a day, it worked wonders for many years. Then my mother was dying of cancer, my anxiety came back 10-fold, also, my child became a severe alcoholic and almost died. I now take 1 mg 4x a day just to cope with the daily anxiety, and it helps me to feel normal in an unnormal world. Unfortunately, now my new med doc wants to start weaning me off, which has caused me more anxiety. I feel, don't fix what's not broken. But I was told at my age it could cause me to start falling down or lose my balance and become forgetful. Really, please, those things come with age anyway. I've never abused my meds, I'm not falling down or forgetting either."

• mil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 11, 2017

Alprazolam for Anxiety "I have been taking Xanax 0.25 for less than four years to control anxiety, mainly before sleep. It works really well until it does exactly the opposite of its purpose, causing more anxiety and distress. I have been taking Xanax randomly only to relax me before sleep, say 3 times a month, 10 times a month, and most of the time half of the 0.25. I noticed that over time, especially in the months I took it more often, the anxiety, the fast heartbeats, confusion, and strange muscle weakness were getting beyond tolerable. In a few words, I would tell anyone there that NO ONE should even begin taking this very addictive Xanax. Better to suffer through your difficulties than using Xanax to ease your anxiety and panic. The drug will take you to the abyss."

• Lad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 7, 2015

For Anxiety "I've taken this medication for about 5 years now. I was originally prescribed by my doctor after I had my son for moderate anxiety and to prevent possible panic attacks. I also take Wellbutrin for depression, but that medication does not calm me down like the Xanax does. I have taken less of a dosage in the past, but recently it's been a little bit more because of getting divorced and a close family member unexpectedly passing away, so I've felt better on more and a lot less anxiety taking just that one more dosage or so per day. I know it is a difficult medication to stop, but believe that it is better to lower dosage over time rather than completely stop taking it."