Xanax XR and Panic Attacks: What Users Say

• DEE...
• September 28, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I was on 0.5 mg (1/2 mg) 2x daily of regular Xanax for 15 years for panic attacks and anxiety disorder. It worked wonderfully, and I had a very good quality of life with it. Suddenly, last month, my psychiatrist of 20 years decided he no longer likes to prescribe regular Xanax anymore. Well, I had a very bad anxiety relapse when he prescribed me Xanax Extended Release 1 mg one time per day instead. It was horrible! It felt like I didn't even take my Xanax, and I had waves of normalcy mixed with horrendous rolling anxiety and intermittent panic attacks daily and nightly. What I didn't know was that it was only giving me 0.25 mg at a time 4 times per day. Well, I was used to the 1/2 of a mg 2 times per day, which was much stronger. People with anxiety or panic disorder notice every subtle detail and bodily change, so I started panicking when I felt like they weren't working. My anticipatory anxiety shot through the roof, and I felt panicked for the past month. It has been a roller coaster ride!"

• MoM...
• September 27, 2014

For Panic Disorder "I have been on and off Xanax since its release in the '80s. Two years ago, I attempted to wean myself off. My reasoning was that 0.25mg twice a day was too much and I was still panicking. After 3 days, I had a full panic attack. I took 1/2 of a Xanax and called my MD. He said that he did not know what to do. I called a psychiatrist. I continued on the 0.25 mg twice a day. I continued to be panicking and paranoid. He prescribed Xanax 0.5mg XR in the morning and 1mg XR at bedtime. I feel so much better. I continue to worry about withdrawals, but having to take two pills a day is no big deal if you have ever had an attack. I also did not try to hide the fact from people I thought would find me flawed for taking Xanax. This was freeing."

• Ale...
• October 1, 2014

For Panic Disorder "I used to live with severe panic attacks and overall was always full of anxiety. This medication works so well that I feel very normal again. The nightmares, shaking, nausea, panicking, sweaty and restless feeling, and anxiety all stopped. I highly recommend this medication for people who genuinely need a benzodiazepine to regulate the central nervous system. Make sure you don't abruptly stop taking them though, as you will feel extremely ill! Do keep your doctor informed of any side effects. They are pretty mild, however, they can cause weight gain and lower sex drive."

• sam...
• July 21, 2014

For Anxiety "I started this medicine about 2 months ago for severe anxiety. I tried everything they had out there for anxiety, but nothing worked until now. I still get a panic attack once in a while, but something I can handle. Anxiety caused me to have heart disease and other health problems. I recommend Xanax XR."

• sha...
• May 3, 2011

For Panic Disorder "I've been taking Xanax for 7 years. Been taking Xanax XR for the past 2 years. It's great. Before I started taking the XR, I was taking 2 mg bars 2 or 3 times a day and would start to have panic attacks after taking one in about 5 hours and would always wake up around 4:30-5:00 am in severe panic, heart pounding, shaking uncontrollably, vision distorted, sweating, and totally paranoid. After taking the 3 mg Xanax XR once in the morning, all that stopped."

• don...
• June 1, 2011

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."