Xanax for panic attacks...

[Apples+Oranjes]

Has anyone tried it?

I got it for my panic attacks, because I get very frequent, very BAD attacks...however, I only agreed to try the medicine because the panic attacks were getting to the point where I couldn't function sometimes.

But, now I hear, that this medicine can possibly just knock you out. I don't want that either!!! I want to be able to drive, and FUNCTION without a panic attack.

So, has anyone tried medicine like Xanax, or... anything LIKE xanax? Did it make you fall asleep or could you still carry on and function just fine??

I'm just getting so sick of dealing with it altogether. And I'm in therapy, but I really don't know if I can afford to be patient and wait til it starts REALLY impacting my anxiety.... I'm screwing up at work and everything. ahhhh!

[interval_illusion]

when i was having a FULL BLOWN, large scale panic attack i went to the hospital and the doctors shot me up with something stronger then xanax (i forget the name)... but they had to give me four injections before my heart rate even settled down to normal. they told me that was uncommon though.

for your regular, run of the mill panic attack- as long as it really is an ATTACK and not just anxiety- a xanax isnt going to knock you out. if you take it when you're not having a panic attack but just some mild anxiety, who knows?- it wouldnt knock ME out but everyone is different...

i was presribed and took some narcotic anxiety pills for a short period of time before and that is fine- if you cant deal and function with your panic attacks, that is understandable. ive been there and it sucks. however, i want to point out that you really should only be taking them for a couple of weeks while you are looking for other ways to dealing with your anxiety/panic attacks... there are many ways- from sorting out the underlying issues (yes, it can be done... even if you dont know what the "issue" is), to herbal supplements, to diet, to excercise, meditation, etc.

[Xac]

Yes, i still take Xanax but not often, i find that they do make you feel a bit sleepy but you still feel motivated to do things, personally they really helped me but it is also important not to totally rely on them.

They basically give you a break from the adrenaline which is really useful and although i was taking them alot, i barely do anymore, however i had a panic attack last week the night before school and it helped alot.

Just see how they affect you and always remember it is a medication for a specific purpose and to respect that and not abuse them because Xanax can be addictive and the more you use them the less affective they are/ more side affects.

Wanna know why i spell my name Xac here instead of Zac? :D

[interval_illusion]

Wanna know why i spell my name Xac here instead of Zac? :D
oh geez..... :)

[spooner]

I wouldn't bother. Benzos have a bad habit of leaving people more fucked up than when they started taking them.

[La Dulce Vita]

JUST wondering is XANAX ok for treating stress?.

[hiro]

Xanax is not for stress relieft, no pill can truely remove stress. Pills can lessen stress though. Xanax is HIGHLY addictive, so be careful. If you are having severe panic attacks make sure you aren't just popping a pill here or there. Take it as prescribed and if you think you need a higher dose, let your doctor know. Are you on anti-depressants?

[La Dulce Vita]

no . but the stress level is so high is actually killing me.

[Apples+Oranjes]

Thanks everyone....

I don't plan on taking them often, so no worries--- I hate medication altogether. I don't want to be on anything, and this is only temporary for when I have full blown, intense attacks, that I can't get out of myself. Most of the time I can do the breathing, and calm MYSELF down, but not always, and when I can't it gets really scary, and then I usually end up having multiple attacks later on.

If I'm at work, or driving, I'm not going to try the pill then, but if I happen to have a panic attack while I'm at home and the like, I'm going to try it then, and see how it affects me...if it makes me tired or not.

I just started therapy, so I don't expect to be on these long, if at all. Who knows, maybe I won't need them at all...

But yeah, to the first reply, I've never been to the hospital for an attack, although there were a few times I was tempted to go, because it was persisting, and fucking me up beyond belief. That's why I agreed to have this medicine handy...so that I don't have to ruin a whole day having panic attacks.

[RELAYER]

They work for me and my girlfriend, although they do sometimes make me really lazy ;)

[spooner]

Xanax is not for stress relieft, no pill can truely remove stress. Pills can lessen stress though. Xanax is HIGHLY addictive, so be careful. If you are having severe panic attacks make sure you aren't just popping a pill here or there. Take it as prescribed and if you think you need a higher dose, let your doctor know. Are you on anti-depressants?
Anti-Depressants do not treat anxiety in any way shape or form.

[spooner]

I just started therapy, so I don't expect to be on these long, if at all. Who knows, maybe I won't need them at all...

A. Make sure you see a clinical psychologist/psychiatrist rather than a "therapist" (which requires no licensing/training). When choosing one, make sure you actually check their degrees as well their insurance (up to date? coverage up to at least one million?)

B. If you aren't seeing any improvement within the first couple weeks, you are at an unskilled psychologist. If he tells you "you have to get better before you get worse" he is wrong, leave immediately. After about 8 weeks, improvement tends to plateau - you shouldn't have to see him for an excessively long amount of time.

[La Dulce Vita]

is Lorazepam ok as a Xanax temp drug for similar problems?

[Apples+Oranjes]

A. Make sure you see a clinical psychologist/psychiatrist rather than a "therapist" (which requires no licensing/training). When choosing one, make sure you actually check their degrees as well their insurance (up to date? coverage up to at least one million?)

B. If you aren't seeing any improvement within the first couple weeks, you are at an unskilled psychologist. If he tells you "you have to get better before you get worse" he is wrong, leave immediately. After about 8 weeks, improvement tends to plateau - you shouldn't have to see him for an excessively long amount of time.
She's a liscensed psychologist, has a PhD. :)

And I am noticing a bit of a change ALREADY. I feel like I understand my panic and anxiety a little better now, so it's not bringing me down quite as much as before.

[spooner]

is Lorazepam ok as a Xanax temp drug for similar problems?
They're both benzos. Xanax has relatively unproven antidepressant characteristics as well.

Both are fairly addictive.

[spooner]

She's a liscensed psychologist, has a PhD. :)

And I am noticing a bit of a change ALREADY. I feel like I understand my panic and anxiety a little better now, so it's not bringing me down quite as much as before.
Just making sure. There is a lot of sketch therapy out there.

[Apples+Oranjes]

Just making sure. There is a lot of sketch therapy out there.
I know :) I was careful with choosing though.

[fulmah]

In my experience, and of the many people I've talked to, Xanax is one of the benzo's more likely to knock you out. The first time I took it I felt like a zombie for an entire weekend, and didn't take it for a long time afterwards. If I know I'm going to be dealing with large amounts of stress, I pay a visit to my doc, and in the rare case that the doc prefers Xanax over Ativan (lorazepam), I'll split the Xanax in half or even into fourths, depending on dosage. Most docs don't seem to mind prescribing Ativan, though, and it seems much milder in comparison.

Anti-Depressants do not treat anxiety in any way shape or form.

Unless you mean treating anxiety in a way that I'm not familiar, this isn't true. All sorts of data has been coming out over the last two decades showing exactly how effective antidepressants are at treating anxiety disorders. They might not be used like valium to stop a panic attack in its tracks, but people who consistently suffer from attacks have a significant reduction of them when they're on certain antidepressants. Imipramine is probably the most noted.

http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/50/11/884
http://www.cochrane.org/cochrane/revabstr/ab003592.htm

[onelovemission]

I took all sorts of shit in the past for panic attacks. ALL OF THEM ARE BAD. I can't stress that enough. They all have massive side effects and cause harm to us mentally, emotionally as well as physically sometimes. The only thing I can truly recommend it meditation, yoga and breathing exercises as well as staying away from any controlled substances and stimulants such as caffiene, nicotine, etc.

[jahsun]

I have been to the ER and doctors many times for panic attacks that last days even weeks. They continue to prescribe me anti depressents. But I won't take them and the problem continues.

[Apples+Oranjes]

I have been to the ER and doctors many times for panic attacks that last days even weeks. They continue to prescribe me anti depressents. But I won't take them and the problem continues.
I know how that goes....

Blah.

[interval_illusion]

Anti-Depressants do not treat anxiety in any way shape or form.Lexapro does and that is an antidepressant.

[interval_illusion]

btw, i took something weaker then xanax for my panic attacks for a short period of time.. something that is still in the same catagory as xanax... it started with an "a"...
still works but makes you less tired and less chance of being additive. cant remember what it was though. :(

[hiro]

Anti-Depressants do not treat anxiety in any way shape or form.Some do actually. If you are on both though they tend to make you less lazy, thats all I was asking her. If she is on them, don't assume buddy.

[Apples+Oranjes]

Some anti-depressents DO help anxiety and panic..... Paxil is one, as well.

[lynsey]

be careful I was highly addicted to lorazepam (generic for ativan). I was taking about 20 mg's a day (was supossed to be taking .5 mg's a day) I would love to eat a few and have a drink the high was the best I ever felt. I was very social, I haven't told anyone about this. I just got off of them last week actually. I was addicted to them for a little over a month until I found myself sleeping in the back of my car and did not know how I got there.

I take xanax now and am addicted to those as well but not as bad.
I used to have a valium addicted as well.
I like benzos but ativan (lorazepam) is the MOST addictive of all of them so be careful
is Lorazepam ok as a Xanax temp drug for similar problems?

[lynsey]

ativan, less potent but more addictive-for me anywaybtw, i took something weaker then xanax for my panic attacks for a short period of time.. something that is still in the same catagory as xanax... it started with an "a"...
still works but makes you less tired and less chance of being additive. cant remember what it was though. :(

[lynsey]

Lexapro is not approved for anxiety only as an anti-depressant. I was misperscribed it for my anxiety by my GP and had never had depresion in my life. My psych took me off of it and I have never felt better.Lexapro does and that is an antidepressant.

[fulmah]

Lexapro is not approved for anxiety only as an anti-depressant. I was misperscribed it for my anxiety by my GP and had never had depresion in my life. My psych took me off of it and I have never felt better.
Lexapro is approved by the FDA to treat major depression, depression with anxiety, or generalized anxiety disorder.

[Kendi]

I had the worst experience of my life with Xanax addiction. I was prescribed it for panic attacks but I was reluctant at first. I would only take one every now and then when I needed it. 2 years later my life was a 24 hour panic attack. Then I had to take more and more. I ended up in rehab it was the worst withdraw I've ever expeience in my life. It took about a month just to be able to not feel like I was dying or that I was permantly fucked for life. It was so bad they almost had to kick me out of rehab and into a psych ward because I wasn't able to participate.

One day I woke up and I felt better, and I stayed better the whole day long. All I can say is Don't Take It! Someone said Benzos leave you more fucked up then when you started, that is the truth. And I've heard good things about Lexapro ellimnating panic attacks as someone else said. Anyway, good luck.

[Apples+Oranjes]

Kendi, thanks, and sorry to hear about your experience, however I don't even plan on taking Xanax period unless it's an extreme day.

I'm going to therapy, and it's already helping a lot. I don't think I'll even need to try the Xanax, but it's something I was up to try if I absolutely needed to in that grey period before I really started weekly therapy.

Right now, I'm going to start using light therapy [I have seasonal anxiety disorder terribly], learn more breathing, mindfulness, and meditation. Along with decrease in caffeine consumption, relaxation teas [those help me a LOT], and softening my environment. [I have a ticking clock now, by my bed to sort of drown out other noises that keep me up at night, take smoother roads because bumpy roads freak me out, wear softer clothes, get new linens and mattress pads, etc.]

:) I think everything will be just fine.

And I'm NOT worried about an addiction, as I don't really ever plan on using them unless it's severely interfering with my daily responsibilities or something. And I STRESS the word severely.

Also ----and if years to come, I'm out of therapy and I start getting the attacks again and what not, I'll return to therapy if I must, rather than turn to something like Xanax.

[Night_Owl49]

Xanax made me feel very hypnotic and carefree.

Can't say I didn't like it...

[lynsey]

I use light therapy too and I love it I use a level 5 bed that has all the same rays as the sun for 15 minutes at least 4 times a week and on the plus side I went from being pale as fuck to the tannest I've been since I was a kid (which is still prtty light bet I cant see the veins in my boobs anymore yay!)Kendi, thanks, and sorry to hear about your experience, however I don't even plan on taking Xanax period unless it's an extreme day.

I'm going to therapy, and it's already helping a lot. I don't think I'll even need to try the Xanax, but it's something I was up to try if I absolutely needed to in that grey period before I really started weekly therapy.

Right now, I'm going to start using light therapy [I have seasonal anxiety disorder terribly], learn more breathing, mindfulness, and meditation. Along with decrease in caffeine consumption, relaxation teas [those help me a LOT], and softening my environment. [I have a ticking clock now, by my bed to sort of drown out other noises that keep me up at night, take smoother roads because bumpy roads freak me out, wear softer clothes, get new linens and mattress pads, etc.]

:) I think everything will be just fine.

And I'm NOT worried about an addiction, as I don't really ever plan on using them unless it's severely interfering with my daily responsibilities or something. And I STRESS the word severely.

Also ----and if years to come, I'm out of therapy and I start getting the attacks again and what not, I'll return to therapy if I must, rather than turn to something like Xanax.

[lynsey]

not it is not. it is approved to treat depression and depressionw ith anxiety. I did not have any depressiion so it zonked me out and made me fat and lethargic and like i could not give a shit about naything or anyone or even my self. i would never get manicures or my hair done or wear anything cute at all it was horrible for me had no motivation for anything and no sex drive at all. I had to fake itLexapro is approved by the FDA to treat major depression, depression with anxiety, or generalized anxiety disorder.

[fulmah]

not it is not. it is approved to treat depression and depressionw ith anxiety. I did not have any depressiion so it zonked me out and made me fat and lethargic and like i could not give a shit about naything or anyone or even my self. i would never get manicures or my hair done or wear anything cute at all it was horrible for me had no motivation for anything and no sex drive at all. I had to fake it
read the fda pamflet for yourself: http://www.biopsychiatry.com/citalopram/escitalopram-lexapro.pdf

lexapro is most definitely approved for generalized anxiety disorder. however, just because it works in a significant amount of people doesn't mean it's going to work for everyone.